Inspired by the principles of the Zapatista movement and the moral stories of old Antonio. This checklist is a guide for deep listening, horizontal governance, and building collective dignity.
I. The Practice of Leadership
Goal: To ensure leadership serves the collective will, rather than imposing its own.
| Status | Actionable Item | Discussion/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| [ ] | The Good Government Mandate Check.
Have we clearly defined the limits and duration of every organizer’s role? Is their mandate written and revocable by the base?
| Principle: The people command, the leaders obey. |
| [ ] | Deep Listening Session Held.
Did we allocate dedicated time in the last planning cycle where organizers only listened to grievances and ideas without interrupting or defending decisions?
| Principle: Ask questions before speaking. |
| [ ] | Rotation Prepared.
Is a transition plan in place for every primary role? Is the next generation of leadership currently being shadowed and trained?
| Principle: No permanent stay in power. |
| [ ] | Accountability Report Issued.
Has every decision made by the organizing committee been transparently reported back to the full assembly, with clear reasons for the choices made?
| Principle: Transparency and non-delegation. |
II. Process, Pace, and Consensus
Goal: To move at the speed of the collective, ensuring no one is left behind in the decision-making process.
| Status | Actionable Item | Discussion/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| [ ] | The Slow Consensus Audit.
Before launching any major action, did we actively check in with the quieter, less-represented members to confirm their support?
| Principle: The slowest person sets the pace; consensus over efficiency. |
| [ ] | "We/Us" Language Check.
Did we eliminate all "I/Me" language from our public statements and internal planning documents, reframing every goal as a collective achievement?
| Principle: The whole is greater than the individual. |
| [ ] | Horizontal Structure Review.
Did we structure the meeting layout (physically or digitally) and agenda to actively prevent any one person from dominating the discussion? (e.g., strict time limits, round-robin format).
| Principle: Horizontalism and shared authority. |
III. Dignity and Moral Action
Goal: To ground all organizing in human dignity, rejecting cynicism and opportunism.
| Status | Actionable Item | Discussion/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| [ ] | The Dignity Test.
Does the proposed action or policy uphold the dignity and autonomy of the most marginalized and vulnerable person in our community?
| Principle: Everything for everyone, nothing for ourselves. |
| [ ] | External Self-Critique Session.
Did we review our recent failures, mistakes, or missed opportunities, not to assign blame, but to extract collective lessons for future action?
| Principle: Honesty and self-reflection. |
| [ ] | Rejection of Short-Term Gain.
Did we confirm that our current strategy avoids co-opting or selling out the long-term project for short-term visibility or funding?
| Principle: Building, not grabbing power. |
IV. Autonomy and Concrete Alternatives
Goal: To focus energy on creating new social realities rather than seeking reform from existing power structures.
| Status | Actionable Item | Discussion/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| [ ] | Building the New World Now.
Is at least 70% of our current energy and resources dedicated to building a tangible, autonomous alternative (e.g., community garden, shared tech platform, autonomous education)?
| Principle: Focus on creation over lobbying. |
| [ ] | External Dependency Map.
Have we identified the top three resources or systems we currently rely on external powers for, and begun planning how to replace them autonomously?
| Principle: Autonomy and self-sufficiency. |
| [ ] | Bridge Building.
Have we reached out to a non-affiliated group or community we don't usually work with this month, offering solidarity rather than demanding alignment?
| Principle: A world where many worlds fit. |
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Next Step: Determine which section requires the most immediate attention based on your group’s current challenges.
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