how we work
embodying what we value
We operate from a wholehearted belief that the internal culture of our organization, and the deliberate pace of our work, determines the quality and efficacy of what we are doing.
Our organization is intentionally small — and we have grown at a discerning pace over the last decade, since receiving our nonprofit status in 2016.
Within our organization, we are most interested in embodying right relationship with one another, creating non-hierarchical and decentralized leadership structures, actualizing a path of disability inclusivity, and exploring models including gift economy as a vehicle for our work.
We are inspired by author and organizer adrienne maree brown, who challenges us to engage liberated professional relationships so that our work is relevant as a living resistance to the social systems we are seeking to transform (brown, 2017).
Through fostering nurturance within our organization and with our partners, a culture of care and collaboration can spiral outward into our communities, repeating liberating fractal patterns that mimic seashells, sunflowers, fiddleheads, and galaxies.
In her book, Emergent Strategy, adrienne maree brown offers these words about this approach —
“… it’s like... ways for humans to practice being in right relationship to our home and each other, to practice complexity, and grow a compelling future together through relatively simple interactions. Emergent Strategy is how we intentionally change in the ways that grow our capacity to embody the just and liberated worlds we long for… and maybe, if I’m honest, it’s a philosophy for how to be in harmony and love, in and with the world" (brown, 2017).
Joyful Mind Project holds emergent strategy as a core organizational value — and approach to social change.
We believe in fostering collaboration and adaptability, allowing our strategies to emerge organically from the experiences and insights of our community. By valuing a small and intentional organizational structure, we prioritize deep connections and meaningful engagement.