What is the FEC?
The Federation of Egalitarian Communities is a network of communal
groups spread across North America. We range in size and emphasis from
small agricultural homesteads to village-like communities to urban
group houses.
Principles of the FEC
Each of the FEC communities:
- Holds its land, labor, income
and other resources in common. - Assumes responsibility for the needs of its members, receiving
the products of their labor and distributing these and all other
goods equally, or according to need. - Practices non-violence.
- Uses a form of decision making in which members have an equal
opportunity to participate, either through consensus, direct vote,
or right of appeal or overrule. - Actively works to establish the equality of all people and
does not permit discrimination on the basis of race, class, creed,
ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. - Acts to conserve natural resources for present and future
generations while striving to continually improve ecological
awareness and practice. - Creates processes for group communication and participation
and provides an environment which supports people's development.
Why We Exist
Because we share so much, and because we are committed to a vision of community which transcends our individual groups, we have joined together to cooperate on publications, conferences, recruitment efforts, community support systems including health care, and a variety of other mutually supportive activities. Our aim is not only to help each other; we want to help more people discover the advantages of a communal alternative, and to promote the evolution of a more egalitarian world.
Connect With Us
We cannot promise utopia, but if you are seriously interested in
our joyous struggle, we invite you to come and see for yourself. To
arrange a visit, read here and then contact the individual community
you want to go to. Other opportunities to connect with us include internships and conferences on community living.
If you are part of an existing community that is interested in potentially joining the FEC, see info on becoming an FEC community.
Becoming an FEC Community
Becoming an FEC Community has many benefits for your community and its members!
All FEC Communities are given instant access to PEACH, our catastrophic health care fund. Members may also engage in our Labor Exchange program, called LEX. The FEC also provides support for recruitment and outreach for your community, among many other projects and programs. And by becoming a member of the FEC, your community joins a group of like minded yet diverse communities that work together to try to make a better world.
The first step in becoming an FEC Community is to contact the FEC Secretary. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The FEC Secretary will help guide you through the process.
The Secretary will send you information and a questionnaire to fill out.
You will then be invited to come to our next FEC Assembly and meet members of our communities.
History of the FEC
The Federation of Egalitarian Communities (FEC) was founded in December 1976
when the first assembly was held at East Wind Community in Missouri. The
organization was originally inspired by the networks of mutual support observed
among Israeli kibbutzim by Kat Kinkade. Early ideas for cooperation ranged from
loans and labor exchange to sharing community-building skills with low-income
people, and eventually settled upon outreach as the core activity.
The FEC is presently comprised of 6 full member groups and a number of Allied Communities and Communities in Dialogue.
FEC Businesses on the Web
Every FEC community business is a worker co-op, because all FEC
communities are cooperatively and democratically organized. If you'd
like to support the FEC but you can't see yourself moving to an
egalitarian community, please consider supporting our businesses!
Sandhill Farm - sorghum, honey, mustard, salsas and condiments.
Skyhouse Consulting - web hosting, web design, and general programming
