7/29/2019 Ferry House Mission Statement, 2010

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Ferry House Mission Statement, November 2010

Living in Ferry House means living cooperativelycleaning, cooking, and sharing a

space with 19 other members. It means building a connection to our living space and an

appreciation for what goes into maintaining it, seeing it as more than simply a place to

sleep and store our thingsseeing it as a home.And in many ways, living in Ferry House means living within a familyeating a home-

cooked meal together every weeknight, doing household chores, cleaning up after

ourselvesbeing conscious of not just our own needs, but seeing that those of ourhousemates are met as well.

Ferry is more than just a co-op; it is an egalitarian community. Our weekly meetings arenon-hierarchical, and decisions are made by consensus, not majority vote. This ensures

that every voice in the house counts as much as any other, and that nobody has greater or

lesser authority over any one. The idea then that all people are equal becomes more than

just empty rhetoric; it is actually put into practice.

Since living within a non-hierarchical community offers us an escape from oppressiveand hierarchical structures, it also demands a conscious effort on our part not to

perpetuate these forms of social oppression, and may require that we question our views,actions, and everyday language in a way that exposes where we have been privileged,

where we have been racist, or sexist, or classistin a way that allows us to recognize

where we have been wrong, unjust, or even oppressive. By continually questioning whatis perceived as normal or natural we play an active role in shaping our experience,

rather than resign ourselves to living passively.

So, one might just as easily say that living in Ferry is about living intentionally,

deliberately. It means actively making collective and individual choices about how we

might best lead our lives, instead of just accepting those forced onto us by society. Itmeans choosing to live responsibly, conscientiously, ethically, and sustainably; even ifwe cant control what kind of light bulbs the school uses, or whether the restaurants we

eat at get their food from local farmers, or even how were treated by other people in

everyday social interactions, we have freedom in Ferry, and the ability to influencechange in the world around us by leading through example. We compost, recycle,

minimize waste, buy local foods, buy items in bulk with minimal packaging. We do our

best to conserve water, energy, and resources by favoring reusable, lasting resources overdisposable, short-term items.

Though our vision is in some ways idealistic, it is nonetheless one worth striving for.

Together, we attempt to live in the most aware, just, and sustainably conscious mannerwe can manage, through a collective commitment to loving each other, our local and

global community, and this planet. We are committed to learning from and growing with

one anotherto treating everyone with love, respect, and understanding.