Co-op Community Agreements

Why Community Expectations Matter

Having a clear set of community expectations (sometimes called community agreements) helps set the tone for how we come together. These expectations aren’t about rules for the sake of rules. They’re about creating safer, more respectful spaces where everyone knows what to expect before the conversation begins. By naming how we want to engage, we provide a common framework that can help balance perspectives, reduce misunderstandings and ensure that all voices have the chance to be heard. Whether in a meeting, workshop, or ongoing group, shared expectations support us in building trust, accountability and more meaningful connections.

We’re hopeful these resources will be useful to you as members, and we encourage you to reach out with any questions, concerns or ideas for additions to our shared toolbox. We’ve intentionally made them available in Word format so they’re easy to adapt and edit to fit your co-op’s needs.