Regenerative Neighborhood Development Creed

The following creed outlines a new way of approaching neighborhood development

Take it all in; allow yourself to experience it coming to life. This new approach will require the dismantling of entrenched power dynamics, business practices, and social structures, and replacing them with a system that supports neighborhoods in becoming places where people and nature thrive together.

Respecting the value of Indigenous wisdom, and guided by the changemaker network that helped shape this creed, it is offered in the spirit of Sankofa, an expression in the Twi language of Ghana whose literal meaning is, “Go back and get it!”. It reminds us to reflect on the past and bring forth its wisdom. The intent of the creed is to evoke a potential future based on what we’ve learned, what we now believe, and what we cherish.

This creed is an invitation. Try to see yourself and those like you reflected in it, not at the exclusion of others but as part of a dynamic system essential to bringing this new approach to neighborhood development into being. If this creed resonates with you, join with those of us who also feel called to explore the capabilities we must build and the actions we must take to bring this new way of being into existence.

Regenerative Neighborhoods Development Creed

We are committed to reshaping how homes and neighborhoods emerge by transforming development and construction into a process that nurtures the well-being of people, places, and nature.

We represent every phase of neighborhood development, from community organizing and neighborhood-level visioning to policy advocacy and regulatory navigation at all levels of government. We incorporate everything from financing, design, and construction to long-term stewardship and management that continually adapt to changing needs. As such, we believe that:

Neighborhoods are living systems. They are constantly evolving spaces where we live and connect with each other, nature, and the economy. This complexity requires a holistic approach that fosters vibrant, adaptable communities and thriving ecosystems.

Every neighborhood is unique. When development is approached with profound caring and builds on the distinctive natural, cultural, and historical attributes of a place, a neighborhood’s full potential can be realized in ways that are welcoming, inclusive, and beneficial to people and nature.

Transformation begins when we shift our thinking, act differently, and break from fragmentation and the mindset that sees challenges as isolated problems to be solved. True transformation requires intentional, conscious thinking and a willingness to embrace complexity.

Development and construction aligned with these beliefs is regenerative neighborhood development (RND); we are committed to pursuing RND by:

Honoring the wisdom inherent in nature and respecting the interdependence between the built and natural worlds.

Grounding in the wisdom and leadership of neighborhood residents and stakeholders deeply connected to their place. Prioritizing local knowledge and experience fosters repair and healing and builds vitality.

Evolving the building industry to prioritize human and ecological well-being alongside financial success, recognizing that true prosperity arises when communities and ecosystems thrive together.

Through regenerative neighborhood development, and respectful, synergistic collaboration among all who bring relevant expertise, we can create environments that promote health and vitality by addressing housing affordability, entrenched social and racial inequity, and the climate crisis. To realize this potential, we dedicate ourselves to:

Continuous personal and professional growth and development as we embrace RND. Transforming ourselves is a prerequisite to authentically nurturing neighborhoods.

Applying RND beliefs and commitments in all of our neighborhood-building work, demonstrating what is possible.

Inspiring others to join us in growing the field of regenerative neighborhood development—as colleagues, peers, partners, and allies.

If this creed makes you hopeful and builds your will to participate in a movement to fundamentally reshape the current approach to neighborhood development in California, join us. To succeed, this movement must bring together changemakers and innovators from throughout the neighborhood development system: policymakers and regulators; community organizers and advocates; designers and builders; stewards of place; and others dedicated to regenerative neighborhood development. We know it will be messy and, at times, uncomfortable; such is the nature of systems change. The result of this transformation will be neighborhoods that are nurturing places where potential comes alive.