Post Volcano Update
One of the most exciting post-volcano projects that was born in our pre-volcano community has been our Diversity and Free Speech workshops:
Social Identity Play Communication Workshops
Designed for individuals, small groups, companies or organizations, it teaches simple tools for communication that allow people of different races, cultures, genders, identities and ages to communicate with the maximum of free speech combined with personal politeness for individual sensitivities.
Our zoom communication workshop offers an alternative way of reaching out to each other that is sorely needed in these divided times when everyone is so sensitive about being offended.
Though the workshops are held in Portland, we will always be hosting them via Zoom. That way, you can be part of these fun and entertaining workshops no matter where you live in the world. We invite you to join us.
Pre-Volcano Hedonisia Hawaii Eco-Feminist Community Mission Statement
We work to maintain an environment of safety and security on the property. Our community is a home and should be a comfortable, harmonious place to live and work. With this in mind we have created community guidelines for living in relative harmony.
i) A Community of Individuals
We do not infringe upon or discriminate against the lifestyle, characteristics, or choices of anyone who is a respectful member of the community. Hedonisia welcomes people to enjoy our unique community, as long as they do not make others uncomfortable.
Everyone is free to do their own thing as long as they respect each other'ss personal space and boundaries. As a community of individuals, we don't schedule 'community events'. Socialization happens spontaneously with different individuals doing things together when they feel like it as opposed to feeling like they 'have to' participate.
Each intern, volunteer or guest can choose what kind of brain work they work like to do from our EcoFeminist Entrepreneur Web Portfolio based on their own interests. This has proven to be very popular especially for those in the intern program.
ii) An EcoFeminist Community
Our work supporting gender equality has led to Hedonisia being recognized as a destination where women from around the world feel comfortable traveling alone. This is a global issue of its own right. Our community provides a philosophical and practical foundation for interns to learn successful entrepreneur principles to start an EcoFeminist or Activist business of their own.
iii) Intern Community Management
The day to day operational tasks are handled by Intern Managers as the Community Director deliberately lives off-site. This system encourages good communication about issues that arise, changes, and progress that is being made. Since the property and its policies are constantly evolving, the director welcomes and encourages new ideas and innovation, allowing each intern the power to make lasting contributions to the community. This management style also encourages self-sufficiency and a willingness to initiate and lead new projects since the director is not there to micro-manage every project. Interns 'graduate' with a unique work and learning experience.
iv) Free Speech Community
Hedonisia draws in a diverse crowd from around the world. We strive to create an environment that is safe and secure for everyone to stay and enjoy! As an eco-feminist community, we attract feminist and environmental activists as well as guests that are passionate about a wide range of social causes as portrayed in the Hedonisia EcoFeminist Entrepreneur Portfolio.
When living in a social community such as ours, that is also working on Big Picture issues, it is wonderful to work with friends and yet feel comfortable enough to communicate about any issue at all. It is not uncommon to find yourself with people of differing political views, religious beliefs and sexual orientations.
Anyone on the property is free to say what makes them feel personally uncomfortable. As a polite community of individuals, we would expect residents to respect that sensitivity.
However, just because a word or expression is offensive to one person does NOT mean that others will take offense. In fact, they may find it very funny. So we try to adopt a policy of personal politeness with an understanding that offensive words to one person may not be to another. We apologize for giving personal offense BUT NOT for the words we say.
This subtle distinction between politeness and free speech communication allows our diverse set of guests to feel comfortable expressing themselves and sharing their views. Guests often engage in meaningful conversations that challenge their personal beliefs, and in many cases, personal growth and development emerge from these free-flowing uncensored conversations.
v) Transparency & Privacy
With volunteers and interns, we are respectful of different community members’ sensitivities with regards to working on certain projects and would not ask anyone to work on a project they don't feel comfortable with especially in the Hedonisia Portfolio of Eco-Feminist Web Projects. We simply find areas where our interests overlap and work on those.
When an intern chooses to work on one of our more provocative projects they can also choose whether or not they wish to talk about their project. If they do not want to share the details of that project with anyone that is their prerogative.
vi) Pleasurable Activism
We have divided our web focus projects to respect the different intern sensibilities, boundaries and comfort levels of all applicants. An intern's focus project is their individual contribution to the community. Communication about these subjects is private and with the director to respect the sensibilities of other community members.
For example, one female intern described how excited she was to work on the Hedo Feminista Pleasurable Activism Portfolio. and she did a fantastic job. However, she would be shy if anyone asked her what her focus was. This encourages a culture of 'pleasurable activism'. Interns get to work on projects with a bigger impact and yet get to have fun doing so.
Post Volcano Update
Social Identity Play Communication Workshops
Designed for individuals, small groups, companies or organizations, it teaches simple tools for communication that allow people of different races, cultures, genders, identities and ages to communicate with the maximum of free speech combined with personal politeness for individual sensitivities.
Our zoom communication workshop offers an alternative way of reaching out to each other that is sorely needed in these divided times when everyone is so sensitive about being offended.
Though the workshops are held in Portland, we will always be hosting them via Zoom. That way, you can be part of these fun and entertaining workshops no matter where you live in the world. We invite you to join us.