In February of 2021, Berry College opened its Good Neighbor Center. The center exists to create safe and brave spaces, foster a Good Neighbor mindset, build an inclusive community, and provide opportunities to serve our local and global community.
The center is divided into two sections. The Think Space is where students, staff, and faculty collaborate with each other and community partners on various community-engaged projects. The Gathering Space hosts a number of events, classes, and workshops and is open to students when not in use for programs.
Additionally, the Good Neighbor Center and its community norms also provide an example for the rest of campus on how to generously listen and give space to share individual stories and perspectives. We ask that all visitors of the Good Neighbor Center join us in following them.
Community Norms
- Our primary commitment is to learn from each other. We will listen to each other and not talk at each other. We welcome differences amongst us in backgrounds, skills, interests and values.
- Assume good intentions, but recognize impact, and emergently respond to harm.
- Debate ideas, not the individual sharing the idea or practice.
- Engage tension but do so with loving kindness to others and to self.
- Step Up & Step Back. Be mindful of taking up much more space than others. On the same note, empower yourself to speak up when others are dominating the conversation.
- Respect others' points of view (even when you think and believe differently).
- Prioritize confidentiality. Share the lesson; hold the identity/story (What's said here stays here). Obtain consent.
- Be a charitable listener. Assume all you engage with have something to teach you.
- Speak openly to your experiences, values and perspectives.