Good neighbors

Civility Project, Ferndale Good Neighbors

We are so excited about our new Good Neighbor project! Hopefully, you have heard about the community discussions held over the past year (formerly known as “the Civility Project”), which has led to the development of the Good Neighbors Civility Pledge that we are launching at this year’s DIY Street Fair.

Stop by our booth near the front of the Library, and the question How will you be a Good Neighbor?  We will even take your picture as you proudly show your answers.  The uploaded pictures will be on rotating display in the booth all weekend.  Imagine the wonderful community collage these pictures will create!  Visitors can also review and sign on to …

The Ferndale Good Neighbors
Civility Pledge.

Ferndale Good Neighbors (a Committee of Citizens for a Fair Ferndale) believes in building community and strengthening our democracy. The best way to do this is to develop our capacity for quality communication around difficult issues. Communities like ours have taken conscious steps in this direction by adopting resolutions that define the qualities of civility and by encouraging individual pledges to uphold those qualities. We offer the Civility Pledge to help all of us as community members reflect on the quality of our own behavior and to work to engage each other in even more productive ways. By taking this pledge, you are committing to promoting civility in Ferndale and beyond. Please check each item to signify your commitment to the stated principle; then sign at the bottom.

  • I will work to PAY ATTENTION (Be aware of and attend to the world and people around me)
  • I will work to LISTEN (Focus on others in order to better understand their points of view)
  • I will work to BE INCLUSIVE (Invite all groups of people to work for the greater good of the community)
  • I will work to BE TRUTHFUL (Act in good faith; speak with accuracy and integrity)
  • I will work to AVOID GOSSIP (Be discrete; don’t participate in destructive communication)
  • I will work to SHOW RESPECT (Honor other people and their opinions, especially in the midst of a disagreement; don’t assume bad intentions in others)
  • I will work to SEEK COMMON GROUND (Look for points of agreement; don’t contradict just to do so)
  • I will work to REPAIR DAMAGED RELATIONSHIPS (Be sincere; apologize and forgive)
  • I will work to USE CONSTRUCTIVE LANGUAGE (Be mindful of the impact of the words I choose)
  • I will work to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY (Practice accountability in language and actions)

Click here for a printable copy of the pledge.