Respect and rejoice in the force of life itself.
~ James Baldwin
In 2019, Springhouse called together a group of community members to explore the question, "What makes Springhouse remarkable?" This group included Springhouse staff, learners in our youth and adult programs, and members of the Board. We learned that what makes Springhouse remarkable is this: We put life, or vitality, at the center of everything we do. We know that life is a gift and it is our responsibility to take care of it and share it.
From that exploration, eight years of experimentation at Springhouse, and the research and practice of Springhouse Founding Visionary Dr. Jenny Finn (learn more about her research that informs this platform here), the five principles of Sourced Design were articulated. This open source curriculum was then developed, and the Sourced Design Lab was formed as a place to invite others to join us in the practice of vitality-centered design.
THE FIVE VITALITY-CENTERED PRINCIPLES
These five practices protect, foster, and make useful the vitality that lives within, and around, us. We have learned that when a community engages these practices in ways that are authentic to their place, vitality grows in each person, in the community itself, and in connection with the Earth and its wisdom.
TAKE CARE OF VULNERABILITY.
Welcoming vulnerability leads to authentic relationships and a deeper intimacy with ourselves, each other, and the Earth.
CULTIVATE PERSONHOOD.
Personhood becomes a gift to the world when it is strengthened in body, heart, and mind and given opportunities to express itself fully and courageously.
BUILD BELOVED COMMUNITY.
The greatest currency we have is community. The principles of beloved community guide relationships within the learning community and in the larger communities in which they are embedded.
RESPECT LIVING SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES AND THE WISDOM OF THE EARTH.
The wisdom in the living system of the Earth is at the heart of vitality-centered design. When practiced, it can lead to more vital and interdependent learning communities.
LOVE AND SERVE OTHERS.
Learning communities that practice these principles are prepared to serve the world with the courage, creativity, clarity, and compassion needed to meet the current challenges we face.
We know first hand that when a community decides to step into a new way of being and design, it helps to have principles for guidance, a community for support, and a living example to inspire and participate with. This design is not prescriptive, and does not offer a single answer to the very complex problem of the dominant cultural design that is perpetuated by conventional educational systems. Sourced Design is one pathway that can shape a regenerative vision, and frame our common cultural design work in ways that take care of this gift of life.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
These five practices protect, foster, and make useful the vitality that lives within, and around, us. We have learned that when a community engages these practices in ways that are authentic to their place, vitality grows in each person, in the community itself, and in connection with the Earth and its wisdom.
TAKE CARE OF VULNERABILITY.
Welcoming vulnerability leads to authentic relationships and a deeper intimacy with ourselves, each other, and the Earth.
CULTIVATE PERSONHOOD.
Personhood becomes a gift to the world when it is strengthened in body, heart, and mind and given opportunities to express itself fully and courageously.
BUILD BELOVED COMMUNITY.
The greatest currency we have is community. The principles of beloved community guide relationships within the learning community and in the larger communities in which they are embedded.
RESPECT LIVING SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES AND THE WISDOM OF THE EARTH.
The wisdom in the living system of the Earth is at the heart of vitality-centered design. When practiced, it can lead to more vital and interdependent learning communities.
LOVE AND SERVE OTHERS.
Learning communities that practice these principles are prepared to serve the world with the courage, creativity, clarity, and compassion needed to meet the current challenges we face.
We know first hand that when a community decides to step into a new way of being and design, it helps to have principles for guidance, a community for support, and a living example to inspire and participate with. This design is not prescriptive, and does not offer a single answer to the very complex problem of the dominant cultural design that is perpetuated by conventional educational systems. Sourced Design is one pathway that can shape a regenerative vision, and frame our common cultural design work in ways that take care of this gift of life.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
- Are you practicing these principles in your life? In your community? If so, how? We'd love to hear about it!
- Which principles are more difficult to practice in your life and community? What are some ways you might start?
- If you already orient around vitality in your design, are there principles you practice that don't fit within these principles? What are they?
- Would you benefit from practicing these principles with a community of support? How so?