Emergent Commons is doing better than many other online communities in the SPACE. As we move into our third year, it seems important to understand why this is so. As we grow and evolve, what do we want to preserve?

I was approximately the 233rd member to join EC in July 2021. The organization was already up and running quite well by then. As I write, we have 743 members. Although it seems that membership growth was never an objective of the Founders and Elders, EC is growing. But at EC we do not focus on growth and we have not actively promoted our community, not yet.

However, there was a clear focus and it was on relationships. HOW we engage with each other was seen as more important than WHAT we engage about. I did not understand this at first and I tried to push against this objective. I believed that WHAT we talked about was equally important and I wanted to talk about The SPACE and the MOVEMENT. Thankfully, I was unable to sway any founding members. Over time, I have come to see the value of this emphasis on HOW. What we engage in and what we do is important, but at Emergent Commons we value our relationships above all.

Emergent Commons relies on its dedicated volunteers to accomplish its Purpose. Success does not happen by accident; from the very beginning, EC had a core group of hardworking volunteers, and this tradition continues today. These individuals work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the community runs smoothly.

Unlike other communities I tried to join, I got off to a good start at EC and I later realized that this also was not by accident. EC had Greeters and Engagers and still does. From the beginning, there were a significant number of early members who wanted to greet and engage with new members who joined. And it was meaningful engagement, not merely polite small talk. I would like to thank my Greeter and my Engager for giving me a good start at EC.

After joining EC I noticed something that I soon put to a test. Emergent Commons had spaces, (CREWs), where anyone could experiment any way they wanted to. I organized a secret crew which I limited to five people, although about ten members expressed interest. I asked for a commitment to a specific number of meetings. This experiment succeeded beyond my expectations. I would like to again thank the Crafting Communitas Crew. And I have captured that experience, Crafting Communitas - Reflections, as an article published on my website.

Of course, the freedom in Crews is not unconstrained. There are Community Guidelines and these are not just words on paper. These values are modeled by those members who joined EC early and have become part of the EC culture.

There was something else that I noticed as I first checked out EC, something I did not see elsewhere. There was a Moderation and Conflict Support Team. This signaled to me that there was a recognition that if there was authentic, meaningful engagement, there would be conflict. The tagline of this team is significant: We support a space safe enough to not silence voices and brave enough to discuss difficult topics.

And I witnessed a bold attempt to live up to this aspiration, Two people on opposite sides of Vaccine Mandates Actually Listen to Each Other. I thought that this event would tear EC apart, but I was wrong. And in other circumstances I later learned that EC was a safe space where I personally could be triggered and be supported.

There are two more reasons why I think Emergent Commons is succeeding.

EC has been very strict about isolating commercial activity in a designated space. Of course, members have a right to sell products and services. But, in my opinion, in some other online communities the hidden motive is to sell courses and that kills meaningful engagement.

Last, but definitely not least, the strong presence of women at Emergent Commons is one of the reasons for our success. And EC has a significant number of men that are comfortable with women leading. EC is a community that wants to explore what it means to have healthy femininity and healthy masculinity.

Why is Emergent Commons succeeding? In summary,

The above factors, although important, are not a formula that other aspiring communities can follow. Every group of people wanting to build an online community is unique. Such groups can be thought of as a chaotic system from which something emerges. One characteristic of chaotic systems is extreme sensitivity to initial conditions. The key initial condition shaping the creation of Emergent Commons was its incubation in Rebel Wisdom. This can never be duplicated by other groups nor can its significance be adequately captured in words.

Here are the three closing paragraphs of my essay written by ChatGPT.

In conclusion, Emergent Commons has emerged as a successful online community because of its unique focus on relationships, collective leadership, and a commitment to values-based engagement. By prioritizing HOW members interact with one another over WHAT they talk about, Emergent Commons has fostered a safe and supportive space where conflict can be navigated with care, and members can experiment freely without fear of judgment. The presence of a moderation and conflict support team, as well as designated spaces for commercial activity, ensures that the community remains a place where meaningful engagement can thrive.

As a newer member of Emergent Commons, I have been impressed by the dedication of its members to supporting one another, as well as their commitment to building a community that is inclusive, equitable, and respectful. It is clear that Emergent Commons is much more than an online platform; it is a community of individuals who are working together to create something meaningful and impactful in the world. I am grateful to be a part of this community and look forward to continuing to learn from and grow alongside my fellow members.

In short, the success of Emergent Commons can be attributed to a combination of intentional leadership, a focus on relationships, and a commitment to values-based engagement. These elements have created a space where members can experiment, engage in meaningful dialogue, and build strong relationships that support their personal and professional growth. As we continue to evolve and grow, it is important that we preserve these core values and continue to prioritize the well-being of our members above all else.

Where will this successful start take us in year three? It is my personal hope that Emergent Commons will become a strong contributor to a wisdom commons that seems to be emerging. Perhaps Emergent Commons can serve as a model for other communities. 

There is probably lots more to this story. Every member has a unique Emergent Commons experience. Please add your perspectives.