Originally posted by Juan Carlos in medium

When we talk about Gravity in the context of Token Engineering, we refer to a decentralized group of people that embody a cyber physical force whose ultimate purpose is to pull community members (and DAOs) toward each other.

Gravity is the name of a trust creation & conflict management initiative born from the Token Engineering Commons, where we are training individuals to encourage synthesis from dialogue and transform distress into opportunities for improvement.

We promote methods for peacefully addressing conflict as something needed for the success of organizations, its continued sustainability and its ongoing evolution.

Instead of antagonistic / antithetic positions for understanding otherness, through Gravity we are spreading a dialectic / synthetic mindset that tries to perceive all parts as constituent particles and consequences of the same. Our approach is marked by a profound interest in finding ways to develop trust before, during and after disputes, to foster peace as a continuously evolving and developing quality of relationship.

Looking at conflict in a very comprehensive way lets us embrace it, and ourselves, to make the best from stressful situations, overcome difficulties, integrate multiple points of view and improve our institutions, governance and personal relationships.

“Without it (conflict), life would be a monotonously flat topography of sameness and our relationships would be woefully superficial.” — J.P. Lederach

We embark on this often difficult topic in an inclusive, flexible, pacific way, with the goal of supporting and facilitating Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms for decentralized ecosystems, while cultivating mindful communication and recognition of each member as a valuable human being. Practices employ observation, understanding feelings, identifying needs, and making honest requests, aiming to build strong relational fabrics bring us closer together.

Gravity’s Graviton training empowers individuals to become Conflict Management representatives in the TEC and their communities. To earn the Graviton designation, participants must complete an 8- session course that includes training in Nonviolent Communication, theories of conflict transformation, negotiation techniques, soft governance insights and role plays, with a deep dive on the conflict transformation process Gravity is trying to implement.

Gravitons must also commit to certain exigences and requirements to join and stay in the collective, which involve amongst others, self determination, competence, confidentiality & professional responsibility.

For each session, Proof of Attendance badges have been issued using POAP.xyz. And Showing four or more will allow you to join the first generation of Gravitons and act as a third party in diverse disputes, easing communication and providing Mediation in Decentralized Organizations.

The practice of mediation is very antique, and the role of peace builders (or conflict managers) has been a central element for small and big communities throughout history. So rather than creating something new, we are importing certain commonly used Alternative Conflict Management Mechanisms into DAO ecosystems, to support the development and wellbeing of their social structures.

Because “we tend to over-technologize and underestimate the might of the equivalent of these small wheels on suitcases that will be staring at us for the next millennia.” — N. Taleb, Antifragile

This project is possible thanks to the work we have been doing in the Soft Governance & Culture working group at the TEC, learning and applying Elenor Ostrom’s principles for Governing the Commons, where is highlighted that one of the shared characteristics of enduring Common Pool Resources is the ability of their individuals to access ways for solving some of the inevitable problems that are inherent to the activities they are involved in.

Gravity is advancing the field of Token Engineering by providing conflict management in a digital commons, relevant in the design of sustainable socioeconomic systems.