Overview:

The inaugural “community design” of Zuzalu might appear enigmatic. A prevalent query that emerges is the criteria or methodology behind the selection of the residents. When the foundation is a group of individuals, how does one curate and mold these components into a community that embodies intentionality and celebrates diversity? To shed light on this intricate process, let's delve deeper into the facets of Admissions, People, and Community Design at Zuzalu.

Values and Goals for Community Design

• Emphasize core values: intellectual curiosity, Ethereum alignment, long-termism, philosophy, health, zero-knowledge tech, public goods, creativity & art.
• Foster curiosity, embrace novel ideas, and promote positive mindsets.
• Prioritize diversity of gender, especially for longer-term (2-month) communities.
• Promote inclusivity.
• Set clear expectations—avoid flaunting participation, shilling, power tripping.
• Balance openness to newcomers with selectivity, trust, and scale considerations.
• Encourage serendipity—welcome meaningful conversations and activities with anyone in the community.

Invitation Processing

• Host Committee Approach: Start by assembling a host committee consisting of at least 10 thoughtful and dedicated members. Each host committee member can then extend invitations to 10 individuals whom they believe will bring positive contributions to the community. Leveraging the optimality properties of the Gale-Shapley algorithm, being the proposer can offer advantages in the invitation process.
• Have an open application with a more extensive application process, including code and essays, interviews, and a vote of either the full membership or a committee. This allows us to discover people who are a good fit but wouldn’t be reachable through the host committee method, and helps with diversity.
• Key Considerations for Invitations:
  • "Vibe Check": Utilize filters to assess alignment with community values and commitment. For instance, consider whether applicants are willing to undertake less convenient travel to reach less conventionally desirable destinations—essentially creating an "artificial bear market" for commitment testing.
  • Diversity of Skillsets: Aim for a community composed of individuals with varied strengths, including connectors, operators, builders, creatives, and more. A diverse skill set within the community fosters dynamic interactions and collaborations.
  • Continuum of Participation: Envision a spectrum of involvement, ranging from short-term event attendance or online visits to full-fledged residency or citizenship. The community can offer a low barrier to entry for visits while maintaining a higher threshold for long-term stays.

As a community scales, strategies must adapt—especially when exceeding the Dunbar number, the limit of stable social relationships one can maintain.