Premises + Principles
What is the basis of our transformation and why?
The Nature Connection Network’s mission is to encourage and support the healthy growth of nature connection organizations and their leaders in building resilient, regenerative, and just communities.
We believe our budget shows where action and commitment are taking place.
As such, the NCN budget for fiscal year 2022/2023 is based on advancing our collective commitment towards practicing right relationship and building greater capacity with foundations of Justice, Equity, Decolonization, and Inclusion as an avenue towards deep connection to nature for future generations.
We believe in reparations, land back, and reparative healing. Healing requires an assessment of the sources of our material well-being, including addressing cultural misappropriation.
We believe that working people should be compensated at the cost of living. This does not mean compensation is equal, but equitable.
We believe that growing conscious awareness of when we receive and when we give informs the experience of dignity, respect, and sovereignty for everyone.
We believe that when we design to serve those marginalized by systemic racism and oppression, by centering and following BIPOC leaders and members, all of us benefit.
We believe that systems of accountability support us to acknowledge, recognize, and transform patterns that perpetuate harm.
We believe in honoring the Indigenous roots of all of the curricula we use with awareness of our current positionalities and inherited legacies.
We believe that children have the right to know the complex historical context and multiple truths about colonization and cultural appropriation, and how it continues to impact all of us today.
We believe in centering a living systems/Indigenous worldview in all our decisions, designs, and commitments.
We believe that vibrant intergenerational dialogue and community is required for healthy human development at every age and stage of life.
We believe in fostering belonging in community: there are no unwanted people. We are building our NCN culture by committing to understand ourselves and each other in both our historical and personal bodies while holding boundaries with love. We are responsible for the awareness of the impacts of our words and actions. This responsibility includes bringing consciousness to our strategies for growth and development - especially to pause and reflect when we feel righteous.
We believe that advancing “nature connection” must be rooted in service to and love for all Life on Earth.