made with PageXLI want to make sure that anyone in the skoolie community that might be interested in this proposal is able to participate. However, my awareness of issues and solutions there may be is limited. If you, or someone you know, needs assistance or have some to offer, please click the button below.
In the next section I have provided audio recordings of the proposal and its introduction.
Wherever you hear or read the word “skoolie” in the proposal may be equivalently read as bus, van, camper, RV, motorhome, etc. The incidents which motivated the creation of this proposal occurred within skoolie specific environments, but the issues it aims to address readily extend to these other types of tiny homes, and beyond.
I realize that not everyone may be up for reading through the details of the proposal and its introduction, so I have recorded audio of both for your convenience. However, you will still need to reference the text for the many links to resources that are provided therein.
What follows is my personal, sincere account of and response to recent events happening in our world. I acknowledge that the scope of my views is limited to those of my life experiences and the meanings I’ve attributed to them - as is the case for us all. My education in all these matters is ongoing, and these words are the best that I can do with where I’m at right now. My intention is to keep a spotlight on serious issues, motivate as many as I can into positive action, and prevent backslide into the shallow comforts of everyday complacency. So, I would like to take a moment before getting into the proposal to share what specifically sparked its creation, and hopefully in the process shed a little light on a sensitive, intricate, and important topic.
When the Black Lives Matter movement and global protests were first bringing attention to the brutal acts of police violence which resulted in the murder of George Floyd, plus numerous others, and the toxic patriarchal white supremacist system which routinely sanctions such atrocities, a divide surfaced within the skoolie community.
The two spaces where this divide became apparent were a Facebook group and an Instagram post. I was not a part of the events that took place in the Facebook group, but my understanding is that the admin expressed strong support for the BLM movement and what followed was a particularly disgraceful display of racist comments against the admins decision. On Instagram the controversy centered around a post made on an account which positions itself as an official skoolie association, but in reality is just two men that feature skoolie builds on an account that was started late last year as a school project and business venture. There, they stated that they would continue to “stay out of current events, politics, news, etc.” , and added the vague claim that “We do more than one could imagine for our local communities, but we choose not to post it on here because it is not what this page was created for”. The men did not reply to any of the 70+ comments made on the post, the majority of which were strongly against their privileged, harmful, and poorly reasoned silence. While they were apparently comfortable self-appointing themselves as representatives of the greater skoolie community, it seems they were not prepared to be accountable to it.
I was the most outspoken of commenters on this post, offering up other IG accounts that could help them learn to be a better ally and ultimately requesting “If the ways that you’re currently being asked to grow are too much for you right now (totally conceivable) I ask that you step back from claiming to represent the skoolie community because it’s not something you can live up to yet”. They went on featuring skoolies as usual, kept their account name and description as it was, and deleted the post (that I have screen captures of).
Before I go any further let me make it clear that I’m not here to launch an attack on anyone. That would be very counterproductive to my stated intentions. I have compassion for the difficulty and discomfort of being called out, of not yet understanding something, of being overwhelmed, and the fear that can accompany all of that. But it’s not more important to me than the changes that can be made, and the lives that can be both saved and enriched, by bravely facing these issues. So while I’ve taken great effort in this letter to be honest, accurate, and thoughtful, I’m not going to tip-toe around the topic of racism, skip over it, or placate sensitivities to the conversation.
What may feel like sudden upheaval has really been a long time coming. The pre-existing oppressive worldview has been losing ground to a more evolved perspective at an accelerating rate for well over a century. But the old ways are deeply embedded in our societal structures. And as much as we may not want to believe it, the white supremacist patriarchy we’ve all inherited is not only terribly insidious, but also largely designed to be that way. As this is revealed and starts to be understood, it can be disorienting, and painful.
There’s an almost overwhelming lexicon of terms we’re now being faced with, like: white privilege, white fragility, performative activism/allyship, virtue signaling, spiritual bypassing, and gaslighting. But we can’t knowledgeably or graciously navigate these conversations when we’re severely lacking in an education of how racism actually plays out in our world, and our dictionaries supply such an incredibly narrow definition of what it means to be racist, omitting the complexities of the subject, including: internalized racism, colorism, horizontal racism, racial microagressions, the mythical reverse racism, and the considerations of intersectionality. This leaves us tragically inept and it’s therefore no wonder why there’s so much defensiveness around the subject.
I don’t believe that at the core of our hearts is hatred or indifference for one another. I don’t believe that most of us intend to be racist or have yet learned how to recognize when we’re being racist. We certainly haven’t learned to be anti-racist, so it’s easy to think we’re not causing harm when in fact we are, and to deny that our actions are violent because we’re not directly responsible for physical threat or injury to another person.
The overt cases of racism that form most of our understanding equates to a person intentionally being “mean” or “bad” and consciously believing in the superiority of the white race over “others”. We therefore incorrectly limit the idea of being racist to an identity which describes a certain kind of person, rather than a wide range of actions with serious implications and consequences that don’t necessarily contain conscious intent. The reality that’s just now starting to be widely acknowledged is that the majority of racism and white supremacy is covert and goes mostly unnoticed in our society. These more subtle forms of systemic oppression have been normalized and their detrimental and far-reaching impacts are consequently denied. It’s like a racism iceberg where most of it is actually hard to see because it’s still considered socially acceptable and is therefore hidden beneath the surface of everyday life.
The bedrock of our societal institutions is a desire for oppressive power and control over others, and it draws in multitudes of well-meaning people to be complicit in this agenda. Our current social structures relentlessly pull us into behaviors which are destructive by misrepresenting them as non-destructive or minimizing their negative impacts. All of this makes defending ourselves as “good people” a lot easier because we rarely have to confront or feel the true adverse repercussions of all the things we regularly say and do. So how do we reconcile a world full of people that self-identify as good and believe themselves to be living benign lives, while the actual results of how we live is a world that, in just a few hundred years, has reached a tipping point of global malignancies?
Since we each have to live with the outcomes of our collective human choices I don’t think it’s to our benefit to seek exemption from taking ever-increasing responsibility. No matter how we might assign blame for specific events, or if we identify as part of the many groups of people being harmed by these systems, or if we live to see the world transformed by our actions. We ought to be willing to accept as much responsibility as it takes to evolve humanity to be in harmony with itself and the planet which supports us. Right now this looks like decolonizing our minds, dealing with our blindspots, processing our grief, and freeing our hearts. It also means improving our overall ability to sense and respond to the destructive mechanisms of dominance verses the creative mechanisms of cooperation. This is where I find it so valuable for us to have relationships and communities that can mentor and motivate us through the difficulty, confusion, and exhaustion that comes with making the necessary internal changes that then become reflected in our external environments.
One of the ways I’ve felt called to take action has been to draft this proposal to co-create an official skoolie alliance that is actively engaged in the work to build an equitable world for all. I’m excited to see just how much more we can contribute to creating a better world, and to explore how adopting some pioneering organizational practices can facilitate this. Importantly, I’m inspired to focus on building this forward-thinking alliance, rather than on trying to convince and convert anyone who feels otherwise. If you do happen to be interested in investing in an anti-racist education and discovering what actions may be aligned for you to take there are tons of resources online and I hope you’ll find the numerous links in this opening letter helpful, along with these additions: Anti-Racism Resources, 8 Online Classes and Workshops That Help You to Examine Your Own Bias, Project READY, Unlearning Racism: Resources for Teaching Anti-Racism, Social Science Hub for Race and Racism, and The Black Struggle for Freedom Syllabus.
The world is always gradually changing, and as the proposal will get into a little, humanity also evolves in sudden leaps. To me, it’s clear that we aren’t going back, and it’s time to leap forward. With more and more people taking notice of skoolies, van life, tiny homes, and intentional living in general, I hope to see us compassionately and courageously step up, because the changes calling to us aren’t just needed at the level of governments and major institutions, but everywhere.
Sincerely,
Bunny White
@roam_and_root
To co-create an official skoolie alliance that functions as a decentralized “teal organization”; prioritizes community wellbeing, inclusion, and representation; improves resources available to the community; and values environmental stewardship.
In order to move forward with this proposal I’m looking to assemble a small circle of people within the skoolie community that are currently willing, ready, and able to become versed in creating a teal organization, synthesize feedback from the poll that accompanies this proposal, and establish the foundational structure of the alliance.
In terms of management, centralization refers to power and authority that resides with one person or a few who occupy higher positions over others, as is demonstrated in a hierarchy. By contrast, decentralization distributes power and authority across a group.
For the purposes of this proposal, it means that each member of the organization naturally receives and shares the rights and responsibilities of being a decision maker. Which rights and responsibilities a member specifically has is determined by the role they are filling (and members can fill many roles).
In this way we utilize collective intelligence to co-create the alliance together, including its purpose, roles, and operational procedures.
Teal is a specific type of decentralized organization that is engaged in progressive, or evolutionary, self-governing practices. The terminology of “Teal” comes from a model (or a few really) which illustrates the development of human consciousness as occurring in stages that are defined by differing worldviews. Each stage is identified by a color and “Teal” would be the stage, or worldview, that has most recently emerged.
To make more sense of this, right-click on the links to view this chart and this image.
The founding idea here is that human consciousness, and how we organize and manage ourselves, goes through cycles of spontaneous evolutionary leaps and each new stage emerges from the previous one. That is to say that the new things which begin to occur to us do so as a function of the tensions and limits of the previous stage. And every new stage both includes the one before and goes beyond it.
This is easily compared to the stages of physical human development as it relates to childhood, adulthood, and advanced age, where no one is better or worse than any other; it’s just different and a natural process we go through.
Teal is characterized by three particular breakthroughs (or new ways of thinking and being):
1. SELF-MANAGEMENT… the distribution of power, authority, and responsibility across an organization so that it governs itself
2. WHOLENESS… the ability to be one’s whole self in an organization
3. EVOLUTIONARY PURPOSE… an organizational purpose which is both noble and allowed to naturally evolve through self-management practices (rather than the vision and forecasts of a few rule-makers)
When you put these breakthroughs together and get a teal organization things work very differently than they do in the preceding Orange-stage where managing groups happens in a top-down hierarchical fashion which is increasingly disempowering, slow to adapt or change, and makes minimal use of collective intelligence.
Teal organizations favor what is referred to as sense-and-respond over the traditional predict-and-control methodologies used in most of today’s organizations. This means any person can sense a tension (also known as a problem/opportunity) and then choose to investigate or propose a solution. This happens in an ongoing, organic, and dynamic way. Without directives from governing boards people are free to sense what the organization needs or wants and then respond with trusted authority.
So, in a fully Teal organization there are no CEO’s, presidents, upper management, board of directors, or elected officials making the decisions and then passing them down the line to direct the behaviors of everyone else. Instead, all people in the organization can self-elect themselves into roles where they can demonstrate leadership. There is a high degree of flexibility within the organization for roles and circles/teams to assemble and dissolve organically, and for people to occupy many roles across the organization that are a fit for their unique abilities and availability. Destructive qualities which often go unchecked in most of our organizations today (ex: greed and egotistical power plays) are naturally inhibited from gaining momentum.
The “Advice Process”:
Teal organizations use what’s called the “advice process”, which allows anyone that senses a tension (aka problem/opportunity) to make a decision regarding it, as long as they seek the advice and feedback of those who would be meaningfully affected by their decision. The person still retains ultimate authority and may choose not to take specific advice offered to them. (Note that accountability is naturally the other half of having authority.)
When providing feedback there are various ways teal organizations emphasize clear language and better communication that benefits the collaborative process. One of these ways worthy of highlighting exists in how people oppose or criticize an idea. In such cases people are steered towards identifying if they feel that an idea would actually do harm to the organization, and if so why and how. If it’s not found to be harmful then it’s generally considered good enough to try and therefore would not be blocked by people who just “don’t like” an idea or disagree with it for personal reasons. This protects the evolutionary purpose of the organization.
The online decision-making platform Loomio is one tool I’ve seen referenced numerous times to facilitate this process.
Ex: I have sensed a tension within the skoolie community and this proposal and poll are me investigating a possible solution. I’m sending it out to those in the skoolie community that I think could be meaningfully affected by the solution I’m investigating. Even if everyone says it’s an awful idea, I can still make the choice to proceed in whichever way I choose. If the alliance were already created then I would be bound by agreement to be accountable for my choice. What accountability looks like can be decided through the advice process as well. (Note that the simplicity or elaborateness of a proposal is up to the individual, but generally should be proportional to the issue it’s addressing and the solution it’s offering.)
Member Roles, Rights, & Responsibilities:
In a teal organization it’s your choice whether or not you want to step into the role of a decision maker. You don’t have to create or join any circle. As long as you agree with what the alliance is about and how it operates then you are a member with the privilege to sense tensions, respond with authority, and accept accountability. You are not required to do any more than demonstrate your affiliation in ways that are in alignment with the principles and procedures of the alliance.
If however, you did want to take advantage of your ability to sense tensions and take action, you would need to learn the specific protocols and use the proper channels expected of decision makers. This would also be expected of you in the event that you were called on for advice; otherwise you would forfeit your right to influence a decision.
Money Management:
In a teal organization even the funds can be co-managed using the advice process and a tool such as Open Collective, which allows organizations to collect and spend money transparently.
Ex: Imagine some members of the alliance sense an opportunity to establish a community emergency relief fund to help offset the financial burden of being broken down and stranded somewhere. They could create a circle that then raises funds from the community and distribute the money to those in need in a way that is documented in a public ledger.
Time and time again I have heard people say, in some way or another, that part of why they took to skoolie life is to simplify and better focus on their wellbeing. We all seem to be sharing in an understanding that much has been lost in living a lifestyle which is dominated by consumerism and the pursuit of money to afford things that ultimately don’t enhance our lives or sustainably enrich our world. Getting back to Nature, developing resilience and self-sufficiency, spending more quality time together, and just taking an extended break from the pace and superficial priorities of modern society has moved to the top of the list for so many of us.
It then follows that an alliance by and for the skoolie community should actively care for our wellbeing. But as current world events and the opening letter to this proposal have addressed, there is a great need for us to re-examine and re-educate ourselves about what actually does and does not contribute to the wellbeing of people, especially those minority groups that have historically been disenfranchised by our existing social structures. So in an intentional effort to create an equitable environment for all members, specifically inhibit the unintended harm of racism and other discrimination, and to live up to one of the defining characteristics of being a teal organization - that of wholeness - I therefore propose the following three foundational directives:
1. We do not permit the discrimination of any of our members on the basis of a person’s race, ethnicity, nationality, religious identity, immigration status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, health (including mental health), or socioeconomic status.
2. We consciously and actively ensure that the diversity which exists within the skoolie community is inclusively represented in our various activities and how we present ourselves as an alliance to the world.
3. We design and/or adopt communication protocols that assist us in practicing a shared language of inclusion and wellbeing (such as Nonviolent Communication), as well as provide resources and opportunities for members to continue their education in such matters.
Further specifics of how this would actually look and function are things we would determine together, and you can immediately contribute to that process by sharing your thoughts in the poll.
If there’s anything that showcases what the skoolie community has thus far really been all about I would say that it’s in the generosity and spirit with which we share with each other the process of converting a school bus into an extraordinary livable home. The ups, the downs, the tools, the costs, the timelines, and all the rest.
We instill in one another the courage to live unconventionally or dare to cut a bus in half and jack up the roof two feet. And we don’t just motivate each other to take on enormously challenging and life-changing projects, we help each other with the step-by-step of making it happen.
The insta-worthy photos of a job well done and the beautiful places then traveled to are incredibly inspiring and have undoubtedly contributed to the increase in popularity of skoolies. But our community is witnessed through the stories of how we did it, and is what makes an attractive concept accessible and attainable.
I therefore find it to be central and critical that any skoolie alliance serve to make it even easier for people to navigate their bus life journey. Currently resources are scattered about, and we’ve all made great use of things as they are. But, I don’t doubt they could be better, and possibly much better.
How this exactly looks and functions would of course be something we determine together. You are invited to share your thoughts in the poll.
I’ll start by mentioning that the vast majority of skoolies are ones that travel, and the places they go tend to be postcard-worthy (or Insta-worthy as it were). Skoolies don’t invite us into the mundane, and so neither are the places they generally travel to. From stargazing under protected dark skies, to coastline drives with stunning ocean views, or hikes through the remaining ancient forests - whether humble or grandiose - these experiences contribute mightily to our wellbeing. Most certainly here in the US visiting the National Parks and other public lands are a primary and beloved part of the skoolie life. And they exist for us to enjoy largely because their value was and is seen as worth protecting and investing in. But while we may currently be the grateful beneficiaries of these treasures, they are not guaranteed to us.
In the early 1800’s the human population reached one billion. Since then the industrial revolution has enabled our numbers to rise exponentially, and now just over 200 years later, we’re approaching 8 billion people on planet earth! Half of our habitable land mass is dedicated to an unsustainable agricultural system, and human-driven biodiversity loss is a serious and present danger. The quality of our lives is inextricably linked with the health of the environment, but our economy values profit more than it does people or the planet, so it continues to destroy the systems of Nature which we rely upon for our basic survival. We can’t afford to overlook the necessity of immediately accepting the role of environmental stewardship.
This proposal began as a call to better care for each other, the complementary side of which I believe is being better caretakers of our planet, and I therefore conclude this to be within the scope of duties this alliance should respectfully embrace. Once again, the specifics of how this could look and function are things we would determine together, and you can immediately contribute to that process by sharing your thoughts in the poll.
The alliance will officially be considered established when we have an online headquarters where members are able to learn about, participate in, and track the activities of the alliance.
To get to that point, numerous decisions will have to be made, many of which are likely to be technical in natureー managing social media, video production, web design and development, fundraising, etc. But there are also many other knowledge and skill sets that could serve well in the circleー experience in community outreach, facilitation, or conscious leadership for example. And of course it will be important to prioritize learning teal principles since this is what guides our decision-making process.
The founding circle will exist as long as it takes to establish the alliance. And anyone that joins the circle may participate for as long as they have the time and energy for it. Initially, the circle will be hosted in an Instagram group chat, so if you’re interested in joining, you’ll need to be able to keep in contact this way. Details of how we can collaborate in this space (or other if that’s decided at some point) will unfold as we go along. To get things going I (Bunny) will be giving updates and asking questions which may open up discussion and generate new ideas among the group. It is intended to be a space where we can get to know each other, teach and learn, collaborate on various aspects of the work to be done, offer support and encouragement, share in the progress towards establishing the alliance, and have a bit of fun along the way.
If you are interested in joining the founding circle, please be sure you are in agreement with the following statements, and complete the application form below.
1. You have read through the entire proposal and offered your feedback in the poll.
2. You feel energized by and in personal alignment with what this proposal is offering.
3. You have the capacity to share mental and emotional space, time, and energy with others in a collaborative environment. (There is no set schedule for this, it’s more of an ongoing and organic communication process.)
4. You are able to participate in circle discussions via Instagram group chat.
I am still very much a student of all this myself, but if you’re similarly interested in exploring the vast rabbit hole of this topic, below are some resources I recommend. Note there is variance in how different authors present the stages and their associated colors. Also, check your local library and their virtual apps for titles on this list!
I have gone ahead and created social media accounts to serve as a communication platform for this proposal. All accounts will share the same info, just follow whichever one suits you best to stay updated.
*Note that the name The Skoolie Alliance is just a placeholder; a name for the alliance has not actually been chosen.
Please note that skipping to the poll without reading over the proposal will significantly limit your ability to provide useful responses. It’s 12 questions long and I recommend giving yourself about 20 minutes of uninterrupted time to complete it.
There is a limit of 7 people who can be completing the poll live at the same time, so if you’re unable to get through please just wait and try again later.
This survey is intended to be a learning opportunity for us all. Your honest feedback is important. Do be aware that while your identity will remain PRIVATE, all responses will be PUBLIC. Please do not share anything which could be harmful to anyone.
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