Centering Care: How Collectivity’s Values Continue to Evolve

Reflecting on Growth, Change, and the Practices That Strengthen Our Work

Since our inception, Collectivity has been guided by three core values: equity, collaboration, and gratitude. These values serve as our moral compass, shaping our approach, guiding reflection, and strengthening our organizational culture.

Over the past 11 years, Collectivity has grown alongside a rapidly changing world. Our team, our work, and the broader social and political landscape continue to evolve, often in ways marked by uncertainty and volatility. In response, throughout 2024 we invested intentionally in practices that strengthen democratic processes; equity, inclusion, and belonging; and thoughtful, transparent communication. Central to this work was building the capacity to communicate through discomfort in pursuit of shared understanding; skills we believe are essential for long-term organizational sustainability.

One practice that proved especially impactful was guided circle conversations. With leadership from Jamie Williams, a circle keeper with decades of experience, our team deepened our abilities in active listening, mindfulness, communicating through discomfort, and embracing moments of non-resolution.

These conversations led to many important learnings in 2025, including one with a lasting public impact: the adoption of a new core value - care.

Recognizing misalignment in values

Equity, gratitude, and collaboration have long served as Collectivity’s north star. Yet through intentional dialogue, our team recognized a gap between our stated values and the ways we showed up in practice. Certain activities central to our work did not feel fully named or justified by our existing values, signaling that something essential was missing from our shared framework.

Through guided conversation, Collectivity identified care as a core value:

CARE

We approach our work with the intention to be thoughtful and attentive to the varying demands and priorities of life.

We recognize that the weight of the world - and the systems we move through - shapes our capacity from day to day.

With this awareness, we aim to act with empathy and compassion toward one another, affirming each individual's right to wellness in everything we do.

Beginning in 2026, Care will formally join our core values. For partners who have worked with us before, this addition may feel less like a change and more like a naming of what already exists. Our commitment to care is reflected in practices such as impact contributions, team volunteering, pro bono support, and our approach to working alongside partners. Naming this value helps clarify and guide our future actions.

Guided strategic conversations like these strengthen organizational mission and vision. This reflective practice is something Collectivity offers to partners and clients - and actively engages in ourselves. If you are interested in a guided strategy workshop for your team, please contact Zara Zanussi to learn more.