Ground Game

When two soccer teams go on the field to compete against one another in a match, the mission for each team is to win the game, but the ground game for each team can be considerably different. For CEE-FAR, we have developed a ground game that is centered around four key components, as seen in the figure above. These four components are considered key to the organization's pursuit of its mission and vision:

1) Value Every Second: The well-being of the members of CEE-FAR is more important than the well-being of the organization itself. This is a volunteer organization and no one owes CEE-FAR a second of their time. Let there be no misunderstanding: the work of CEE-FAR can't be done without the work of the volunteers in action groups, but we also understand that every small act of sacrifice is a gift and should be cherished and not be taken for granted. Everyone is welcome to give the amount of time that they can, however small or large, and we want to help members of CEE-FAR get involved in the most optimal and healthy way possible.

2) No Guilt Tripping: We want people to be involved with CEE-FAR because they want to actually be involved with the group. When intense issues such as antiracism, social justice, and equity take center stage, it can conjure up a plethora of emotions. We want people in CEE-FAR to challenge others and to challenge themselves when thinking about these serious issues, but we also don't want to make anyone feel guilty for what they aren't doing when it comes to being involved in CEE-FAR. Let's just say what we all know to be true: there is always someone out there who is "doing more" than ourselves, but that doesn't mean that our efforts should be neglected or diminished. The pursuit of the mission and vision of this organization is a team effort and that team effort will be most strengthened when people are volunteering because they have a desire to see the mission fulfilled, not out of misplaced guilt, obligation, or duty.

3) Dexterity in Partnerships: CEE-FAR does not exist in a vacuum. There are an immense amount of other organizations, stakeholders, and personnel in the department, and many others outside of the department that have an influence on the climate of the department and the unique experiences of its members. It will be important for the organization to collectively examine when it is appropriate to build alliances with entities and when to constructively challenge entities in pursuit of CEE-FAR's mission and vision. This will take consistent iteration, learning from mistakes, and a resilient commitment to overcoming adversity.

4) Superb Communication: It may seem superfluous to say this but it must be said: superb communication is essential to the success of CEE-FAR. We must aim to communicate well within the group amongst members and with others not affiliated with the group. Within the group, we must respect our own boundaries, respect the boundaries of others, be respectful and courteous when communicating with others, and aim to respond in a timely manner whenever possible given the collaborative nature of the initiatives happening in our action groups. Communication is something we each can improve on each day, and superb communication will help the group achieve its goals and reduce toxicity in the space that CEE-FAR exists within.