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FYP Code of Conduct

Purpose

This Code of Conduct is our commitment to creating spaces where every one of us can flourish - where our individual well-being fuels our collective power, and our collective strength supports our personal growth.

This is our promise to each other about how we'll work together, support each other, and create change together. It outlines clear standards and enforcement mechanisms that grow stricter the closer you are to FYP's core - because the more influence you have in our community, the greater your responsibility to model and maintain our values.

Scope

This code guides everyone in the FYP family, with increasing levels of responsibility:

  • FYP Associates & Operation Team: Highest standards for self-love and authentic leadership
  • FYP Assistants & Event Organizers: Strong commitment to values and community support
  • Community Members & Partners: Basic standards for respectful participation
  • General Followers: Guidelines for engaging with our spaces

By joining FYP in any capacity, you're committing to nurture both individual and collective flourishing, with the understanding that your responsibilities grow as your involvement deepens.

Agency

Our power begins with self-love

I. We commit to radical self-love and self-actualization.

In Practice:

  • We prioritize our well-being over any work, because we can only sustain our impact when we first sustain ourselves
  • We choose work that lights us up and moves us forward
  • Leadership initiates supportive intervention if member's wellbeing appears compromised

Research shows that individuals with higher levels of self-acceptance and self-actualization demonstrate greater resilience, lower rates of anxiety and depression, and increased capacity for social impact (Ryff & Singer, 2008; Maslow, 1971).

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Authenticity

Because being real is revolutionary

II. We commit to enriching work and meaningful engagement.

In Practice:

  • We only take on what truly matters to us. No busy work, no box checking

Engaging in purposeful work significantly increases life satisfaction and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety (Steger et al., 2012; Frankl, 1959).

Read More:

  • "The Happiness Trap" by Russ Harris
  • "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl

III. We commit to authentic self-exploration and expression.

In Practice:

  • We use FYP to discover what moves us. This space is for finding yourself
  • We bring our whole selves - interests, dreams, fears and all

Authentic self-expression and identity exploration during youth significantly improve mental health outcomes and foster psychological well-being (Ryan & Deci, 2000).

Read More:

  • "True to Ourselves" by Cameron Anderson
  • "Authenticity" by Stephen Joseph

IV. We commit to boundary-conscious collaboration and self-advocacy.

In Practice:

  • We set clear limits and honor others' boundaries. Always
  • We say "no" without guilt when work doesn't align
  • Protected right to decline what doesn't serve us or our community

Strong personal boundaries and effective self-advocacy skills are fundamental to preventing burnout in youth advocates and maintaining long-term mental health (Cloud & Townsend, 2017).

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Compassion

Because kindness transforms everything

V. We commit to radical compassion.

In Practice:

  • We meet our struggles with kindness. No harsh self-judgment here
  • We communicate without violence or emotional abuse. No exceptions
  • When we disagree, we listen first. Hard conversations need soft hearts

Self-compassion is strongly correlated with reduced anxiety and depression while increasing resilience and capacity for social connection (Neff & Germer, 2017; MacBeth & Gumley, 2012).

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Openness

Because growth requires curiosity

IX. We commit to critical engagement.

In Practice:

  • We question everything - especially our own work. Sacred cows don't help anyone
  • Our impact shapes youth futures. We take that responsibility seriously
  • When something's not working, we say so. Growth requires truth

Critical thinking reduces anxiety by increasing agency (Paul & Elder, 2020)

Read More:

  • "Critical Theory and Social Justice" by Iris Marion Young
  • "Teaching Critical Thinking" by bell hooks

VI. We commit to open knowledge sharing

In Practice:

  • We share what we learn on FYP Wiki. Knowledge hoarding helps no one
  • We document our mistakes and victories. Others can learn from both
  • When we discover something useful, we make it accessible to all

Open knowledge sharing multiplies community impact (hooks, 1994).

X. We commit to cultural humility and epistemological advocacy

In Practice:

  • We actively embrace diverse cultural perspectives on well-being and mental health, striving to build systems that honor and uplift different ways of knowing and healing.

Culturally responsive approaches to mental health and well-being lead to significantly better outcomes across different communities, with research showing up to 40% higher engagement and effectiveness when interventions honor cultural perspectives (Sue & Sue, 2016).

Read More:

  • "Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain" by Zaretta Hammond
  • "How To Be An Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi

We commit to collective accountability

In Practice:

  • We participate in peer reviews. Growth needs feedback
  • We report serious violations. Safety requires courage
  • We hold standards higher as involvement deepensRequired participation in peer review processes

Joy

Joy is a form of resistance

X. We commit to revolutionary joy, play, and purpose

In Practice:

  • Have fun

Integrating play and joy into purpose-driven work significantly reduces burnout while increasing both personal well-being and movement sustainability (brown, 2019; Brown, S., 2009).

Read More:

  • "Pleasure Activism" by adrienne maree brown
  • "Play" by Stuart Brown

Enforcement & Accountability

Types of Enforcement

[Strike System]

A structured, progressive system for addressing repeated violations.

Process:

  1. inital three strike: Documented warning & Intervention at third strike
  2. fourth and fifth strike: Disciplinary hearing

Reset: Strikes reset annually

[OM Supervision]

Direct oversight parenting by Current Operation Manager with escalation to Principal for serious concerns.

Process:

  1. OM provides regular check-ins and support
  2. OM documents concerns and growth areas
  3. OM can initiate intervention when needed
  4. Principal involvement for serious or unresolved issues

[FYP Family Peer Support]

Any Associate or Assistant can call for peer support intervention.

Process:

  1. Member raises concern to involved parties
  2. Facilitated conversation with neutral peer mediator
  3. Collaborative development of resolution plan
  4. Community support in implementing solutions

[Standard Committee]

For serious violations requiring formal review.

Process:

  1. Committee formed of 3 Associates and 1 Advisor
  2. Formal investigation and hearing process
  3. Binding decisions on serious matters
  4. Appeals possible through Principal

Enforcement Tags

  • [Strike] - Subject to strike system
  • [OM] - Under Operation Manager supervision
  • [Peer] - Peer intervention appropriate
  • [Standard] - May require Standard Committee review

Serious Violations

Certain actions may require immediate Standard Committee review:

  • Harassment or discrimination
  • Intentional harm to community
  • Breach of core values
  • Violation of trust

These cases bypass standard progressive enforcement and move directly to Ethics Committee review.

These commitments serve not as mere guidelines but as our collective pledge to each other and to the movement we are building. Together, we demonstrate that authenticity, agency, and compassion are not just ideals but practical tools for transformation.

In solidarity and with fierce hope for our collective liberation,
The Youth of ForYouPage.Org

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