It Takes a ‘Micro-Village’: A new understanding of the relationship between socio-spatial infrastructure and equitable resilience

: Humanity’s values and priorities are reflected in the spatial organization of the environments we create and occupy. Yet ecological instability and societal inequity, intrinsic to the growth-prioritized societal model, demand an urgent shift in socio-spatial organization. In understanding that actionable investment is contingent not only on scientific consensus and political will, but also on psychosocial culture, this research endeavors to communicate the importance of linguistic and visual framing as crucial tactics capable of influencing culture away from a growth-prioritized organization, and towards a model which comprehends needs as an ecosystem of interdependent variables; an understanding necessary to effectively construct a more resilient paradigm of living. In order to ensure this new paradigm will facilitate equity, resilience must be understood from the bottom-up and assessed as Personal Operating Power [POP].


Introduction
Ecological instability and societal inequity clearly demonstrate the inadequacy of the growth-based model, commonly known as capitalism, and establish an indisputable need for systemic change in societal organization. Yet at current, two simultaneous forces are at play-the need for large-scale, globalized investment in order to shift the globalized societal infrastructure from one of growth to one of ecosystemic prioritization, as well as bottom-up control in decision-making, to subvert existing hierarchical abuses of power which have exacerbated both injustice and ecological instability.

Current State
The 2018 UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report comprehensively illustrates the absence of ecosystemic resilience and an immediate need to shift away from the current growth-based societal system. Yet, even if the reality of these ecological consequences were not considered, the hierarchical structural inequity of access to the fulfillment of human needs shown to be perpetual in this model-despite overwhelming wealth and capacity of production-simultaneously demands this systemic shift away from growth as well (Piketty 2004;Chomsky 2013;Baradaran 2017). Sea level rise threatens to displace millions from their homes within the next few decades 1 , including over 380,000 households in the US 2 , where skyrocketing rental costs from market-dominated housing is increasing displacement via speculation and gentrification, increasing housing insecurity and homelessness (Gee 2017). Industrial monoculture agriculture increases vulnerability to climate change impacts such as increasingly intense droughts and heatwaves, as well as crop loss due to disease and storms of increasing severity 3 . Dependency on fossil fuels and large-scale monopolydominated electrical networks greatly exacerbates ecological instability, environmental contamination, and the vulnerability of disenfranchised communities, particularly in the aftermath of large-scale storms  which will only increase in intensity and frequency as sea temperatures rise. A lack of access to fresh produce and local grocery stores-commonly termed 'food deserts' but more accurately described by food justice advocate Karen Washington as food apartheid 4 -has had a range of implications for infrastructurally marginalized neighborhoods (Anguelovski 2015), including a reemergence and upsurge of scurvy in the United States, due to a rise in nutritional deficiencies 5 . And, crucially, as expressed in Figure 2, all of these consequences intersect with and affect individual health and psychological well-being. With the release of the 2018 United Nations IPCC report, consensus has confirmed what manyeven the Pope 6 -have urgently sought to warn-the consequences of the existing growth-based model of societal organization have impacted the biosphere at a rate of change that is causing ecological instability which will result in a multitude of ongoing, devastating consequences for both human society and the natural environment, and much sooner than social society comprehends. Anthropologist Jason Hickel explains that "even if we do everything right, decoupling economic growth with resource use will remain elusive and our environmental problems will continue to worsen. Preventing that outcome will require a whole new paradigm.
[…] Ultimately, bringing our civilization back within planetary boundaries is going to require that we liberate ourselves from our dependence on economic growth-starting with rich nations" (Hickel 2018 In similar sentiment prior to a post-growth conference held in September of 2018, a coalition of 238 academics signed an open letter toward policymakers declaring that "We are now exceeding the safe operating space for humanity on this planet, and there is no sign that economic activity is being decoupled from resource use or pollution at anything like the scale required.
[…] Right now the response is to try to fuel growth by issuing more debt, shredding environmental regulations, extending working hours, and cutting social protections. This aggressive pursuit of growth at all costs divides society, creates economic instability, and undermines democracy" 7 .
The coalition of academics then made four demands of policymakers, with the third being of crucial note:

Turn the stability and growth pact (SGP) into a stability and wellbeing pact.
The SGP is a set of rules aimed at limiting government deficits and national debt. It should be revised to ensure member states meet the basic needs of their citizens, while reducing resource use and waste emissions to a sustainable level.
This demand critically articulates the imperative need to shift from a growth-prioritized to ecosystemic paradigm of socio-spatial organization, one which prioritizes the fulfillment of needs and well-being, for both humans and the biosphere. Shifting paradigms will require a corresponding shift in cultural psychology and valuation of needs.

Linguistic and Visual Framing as Psychosocial Societal Infrastructure
It does not feel unusual to observe an individual seemingly act against their own well-being. Yet while an outside observer may view an individual's actions as illogical, there is still an internal narrative of logic driving the individual's motivations that the outside observer is not privy to (Lakoff 1996). Cognitive linguist George Lakoff argues that this internal logic reflects an individual's psychosocial framework. To effectively communicate with those who hold a different cognitive logic, Lakoff suggest that attention to intention in linguistic communication is essential, and that linguistic framing functions as a form of psycho-social infrastructure which can either reinforce or change a given perspective or comprehension (Lakoff 2004).
Examples of growth-based linguistic framing include the categorical dichotomies of 'formal' vs. 'informal', 'legal' vs. 'illegal', and 'developed' vs. 'developing', among many others. All of these terms are framed with a value-based judgement, which perpetuates the normalization of Global North culture, the growth-prioritized power hierarchy, and capitalist infrastructure.
Similarly, visual framing can influence comprehension of data. An example of how the chosen parameters of a graphic can influence perception can be seen in the New York Times November 2018 post-election results coverage. Fig. 3 (left) portrays the electoral outcome in terms of land area, while the pictogram in Fig. 4 (right) uses population as the secondary parameter. If an individual were only informed by the image on the left, a perception of conservative dominance would seem logical. When population density is accounted for, the pictogram more accurately reflects the results, and it becomes clear how accurate comprehension of data is contingent on the representational parameters chosen.

Reframing Needs: from 'Hierarchy' to 'Ecosystem'
The linguistic framing of needs as a 'hierarchy', originally conceived of by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 "Theory of Human Motivation", suggests an internalized understanding of human needs as having a relative hierarchy of importance. The original interpretation of Maslow's theory dictated that lower levels within the hierarchy were prerequisite to the pursuit or attainment of the needs above. This progressive, sequential growth closely mirrors the international community's understanding of 'development', and is reflected in the labeling of 'developed' and 'developing' nations which reinforces the growth-based psychology of liberal capitalism. While there is validity in articulating the differences in temporal urgency of needs, the linguistic framing of 'hierarchy of needs' has transferred to reinforce the psychology of global management; a management system which has perpetuated societal inequity, and ecological imbalance derived from the maintenance of the societal power hierarchy.
To adequately internalize the value of ecosystemic interdependence of needs, a new visual model is required to reflect the ecosystemic nature of needs. This new paradigm recognizes that internal needs, both physiological and psychological, are interdependent with one another. Simultaneously, these internal variables both affect and are affected by social influences of interpersonal interaction, as well as the physical environment-both built and natural. Where the old model infers that experiences such as respect and self-actualization are pursued upon the fulfillment of more "basic" needs -such as safety and food-this new framing proposes that well-being is predicated on a healthy ecosystem of inter-related, multi-scalar variables and their related needs. In this sense, a healthy ecosystem is the source of motivation, rather than the continual pursuit of 'development'.

Understanding 'Resilience' as 'Personal Operating Power'
In listening to systemically marginalized perspectives, both historic and contemporary, through an extensive literature review, informal interviews, and analysis of primary and secondary sources, a takeaway that becomes clear is that when it comes to prioritizing time and labor-physical and emotional-childcare, putting food on the table, and paying the energy bills will always take precedence because these are needs, while political and/or community organizing is considered a luxury. Yet within the current top-down system, political engagement is one of the only means for influencing large-scale public, economic investment; an investment, which is necessary to achieving the scale of change necessary for adequate ecological impact. When there are also additional barriers to political engagement such as voter disenfranchisement targeting already systemically marginalized communities, this instability in Personal Operating Power [POP] cyclically perpetuates the existing infrastructural power dynamic. Learning from this is critical and understanding how to transmit that comprehension to achieve critical mass in societal internalization is fundamentally important.
Typically, in community and regional resilience, there are three commonly understood traits: preparedness, diversity, and self-organization (Schipper and Langston 2015). At the individual scale, resilience should be understood as 'Personal Operating Power' [POP]. (1) Security of localized, flexible access to the fulfillment of the ecosystem of human needs (2) Aforementioned access should include a range of readily available tactics which can accommodate and flexibly adapt to the range of context and individual experience (3) There should be autonomy in deciding which tactics are most suitable for one's own ecosystem of needs, which can be understood as 'sovereignty'.
To empower POP, it becomes necessary to facilitate comprehension of the needs of the environment, individuals, and society as interdependent. Therefore, this ongoing body of research endeavors to propose linguistic and visual framing which promotes the cultural understanding and internalization of the ecosystemic model.

Proposal: Linguistic framing to facilitate comprehension and communication
As both ecological instability and societal inequality must be addressed, the following terminology is proposed in order to psychologically link the vital interdependence between the ecosystem of needs and socio-spatial context--individual, interpersonal, and environmental. Understanding socio-spatial environments as ecosystems can contribute to building resilience. 'Micro-Village' is a term which refers to the personal or domicile ecosystem, however that sociospatial organization may manifest. This means all living arrangements can be expressed within the Micro-Village framework. To further clarify, socio-spatial organization refers to the relationships within a given parameter of space. The following socio-spatial examples can provide insight into the range of possible organizations, which include but are not limited to: a nuclear family living in a detached house; individuals co-habiting in a shared unit; a self-organized encampment of unhoused individuals; a housing cooperative of like-minded individuals pursuing a specific goal; a co-parenting arrangement between single parents in duet-style townhouses; a re-entry facility for formerly incarcerated individuals; or a needs-based care facility for the elderly.
'Macro-Village' refers to the community/neighborhood/city/regional scale. Examples of Macro-Villages include school districts; sanitation districts; ecological watershed regions; or a city, town or neighborhood depending on scale of population density.
'Multi-Village' refers to the co-ordination between Macro-Villages; a network of Macro-Villages; specifically the communication and coordination of infrastructure between them, Examples of Multi-Village networks include: transportation infrastructure; communication infrastructure; mechanisms to regulate exploitation; as well as knowledge and learning infrastructure, among others.

Proposal: Visual framing to facilitate comprehension and communication
As this article is part of a larger body of ongoing research, the following diagram represents the inprocess development of a new visual framing of the 'ecosystem of needs' at the Micro-Village scale. The goal of diagrammatic development is to help facilitate assessment of one's own personal ecosystem, and after analysis, help guide appropriate action-planning to build POP and empower wellbeing. An extensive literature review of academic studies and examination of primary and secondary sources has been conducted in order to establish the following categories of priority within the Micro-Village ecosystem. The following diagram has been derived from this research in the attempt to establish a visual framework for ecosystemic, socio-spatial resilience at the Micro-Village scale.  Figures 9-11. Images created by author.
The diagrammatic sequence above endeavors to highlight how socio-spatial environments function as ecosystems, specifically through three interdependent mechanisms of resilience which empower POP.
Similarly, the chart below includes much of the same information, represented in a different manner.

Resource Stewardship
Water + Waste Management

Renewable Energy Autonomy
Health + Well-being Food Sovereignty Knowledge + Awareness

Restorative Justice
Developmental / Needs-Based Care

Self-Organization Shared Responsibility
Accountability + Cooperation

Pipelines of Autonomy Livelihoods
Localized Networks Understanding Mechanisms of Resilience within Micro-Village ecosystems Micro-Village resilience necessitates 'preparedness'or needs fulfillment-which includes access to food and energy, and considers both waste and water management. These aspects correspond to health for equitable well-being, and resource stewardship-a necessary consideration in ecological stability. Preparedness subsequently relates to the second resilience mechanism of diversity, specifically through agro-ecology in facilitating food access, as well as in protecting environments, in particular, potable water sources.
Micro-Village resilience should also empower 'diversity'or equity, which includes aspects of both restorative justice, and an emphasis on regenerative environments. This is of crucial consideration because this mechanism reflects the understanding of the reality of how people experience life differently-they come from different cultures, all of which deserve respect, and experience a range of physiological and psychological conditions, which are person-specific. Similarly, habitat security refers to the need and corresponding right of all life to stability and security. For humans this may translate to current concepts of land rights and tenure, yet in general for all living species, it refers to the ecological stability necessary within their contextual environments for ongoing well-being, as well as protection from threats posed by an external hierarchy. From an ecological perspective, this security is closely linked with the tactics of Agro-Ecology and Agro-Forestry, which the international peasant's movement and indigenous leaders have determined are critical for successful stewardship of land management and environmental well-being 8 .
The final mechanism of Micro-Village resilience is 'self-organization', or sovereignty. This mechanism specifically recognizes the accountability, cooperation, and trust necessary for equitable, shared responsibility. A pipeline of autonomy makes the most of the lateral trust developed through equitable, shared responsibility, and helps create a network of support between Micro-Villages. This network facilitates equitable growth through the tactic of cooperative, restorative economics. Nwamaka Agbo describes the methodology of restorative economics as one which "leverages community-owned and community-governed projects to bring residents together to create shared prosperity and self-determination and in turn build collective power" 9 .
By localizing the fulfillment of needs within parameters of ecological stability, regions will become increasingly self-sufficient. The consequences of climate change as outlined in the IPCC report will require context-specific action-planning, and this autonomy can provide regions with the flexibility to respond to challenges that arise with specificity. Furthermore, this localization of needs fulfillment and thus governance increases the likelihood of legitimately democratic control over the systems which affects individual lives.
While self-determination is touted as a principle of the growth-prioritized model, the diverse reality of lived experiences demonstrates that there is hierarchical power and systemic privilege in access within-in the socio-spatial infrastructure of capitalism. As societal inequity has been demonstrated to be intrinsic to the growth-based model, bottom-up decision-making control must be prioritized to subvert the existing hierarchical power dynamic.

Next Steps
As this article is written in the preliminary stage of a larger body of doctoral investigation, this section endeavors to explain how this research intends to proceed.

Linguistic and Visual Framing of the Ecosystemic model: Continued Development
This research aims to facilitate individual understanding of one's own personal operating power [POP]. Subsequently, comprehension is predicated on an individual internalizing the ecosystemic nature of needs, and how that correlates to one's own experience and context. To this end, this research intends to develop a glossary to support the linguistic framing of the ecosystemic model, which can be used to propagate assessment, analysis and action-planning that facilitates societal equity and ecological stability. Furthermore, corresponding visual framing will be developed to additionally facilitate successful comprehension through diagrammatic representation.

Developing a Participatory Process: Making Theory Useful for Individuals and Communities
Development of a participatory process will be crucial for translating theory to practice (Hamdi 2010). In order to reach critical mass of societal acceptance, said process should be presented in a flexible manner to facilitate widespread and diverse access to bottom-up assessment. Yet the usefulness of such a process will be dependent on successful communication, which requires specific attention to linguistic and visual framing. If successfully internalized, subsequent peer-to-peer, lateral sharing of the participatory process can further facilitate the normalization of ecosystemic framing. This research subsequently intends to test the developed participatory process through a series of semi-structured interviews, specifically with community organizers, who function as conduits of knowledge and facilitators of interpersonal connection and action-planning.

Conclusions
The growth-based paradigm which governs societal organization and infrastructure has been conclusively demonstrated by the 2018 IPCC report, amongst a litany of evidences, to be intrinsically incapable of ensuring ecological stability and societal equity. With this understanding, humanity must re-evaluate the priorities which have been embedded within our cultural psychologies; priorities which reinforce the growth-based paradigm through intentional linguistic framing. In the effort to promote this vital shift towards an ecosystemic model of living, this body of research endeavors to facilitate comprehension and communication, through the development of linguistic and visual framing tools.
In the effort to facilitate a paradigm which can empower societal equity and ecological stability, the following takeaways are crucial prerequisite understandings to the future development of this research: i.
Linguistic and visual framing are powerful tools that influence comprehension. Language choice, as well as graphic representation must be paid close attention, to facilitate internalization of the needed ecosystemic paradigm.
ii. Rather than as a 'hierarchy of needs', needs must be understood as an ecosystem of interdependent variables. This 'ecosystem of needs' includes the internal factors of physiological needs, psychological needs, as well as the external variables of interpersonal needs, and environmental needs, both built and natural.
iii. Resilience at the individual scale should be understood as 'Personal Operating Power' [POP]. The successful facilitation of POP can be understood by the following attributes: