Our Values
What is the Soup?
The Soup is a private, volunteer-produced event that builds community and fosters organic fun while raising money for worthy beneficiaries.
There is no set recipe and each Soup tastes unique but gathering like-minded people to share their natural gifts and talents and encouraging each other to un-tap their potential are nourishing ingredients. Sprinkle in some groovy tunes, primal rituals and collectively cooked meals and things are starting to simmer.
And watch out! There’s a lot of spontaneous fun.
But, The Soup does not insist on only one way.
The Soup is beyond an event, beyond a group of organizers, beyond even a community. It’s a way of thinking, a way of enriching our lives and a way of making the world just a little better.
What is a Soupster?
The key ingredient that makes The Soup so delicious is the participants—the Soupsters. As they come together they become a rich broth that has become more than something good to ingest, it has become something good to be.
Community
The Soup community and the annual Soup event are so delicious because of the openness, generosity, trust and playfulness that each of its members brings to share. That nourishment allows participants to try new things and take risks and feel safe surrounded by a supportive community. By being active participants, rather than just attending an event, Soupsters build a community that isn’t just a mass, it’s an active body. That body has the power to do things far greater than one individual can hope for.
Creativity
From the first seeds that sprout as the community picks the theme to the magical manifestations that happen during The Soup, Soupsters are dedicated to being creative and fostering creativity in others. When a Soupster dares to dream up an idea and offers it the nourishment of hundreds of supportive and open minded old and new friends, they watch their dream blossom beyond their wildest imaginations. From cooking meals to providing entertainment, from set up to clean up, Soupsters are not just attending an event, they are bringing a community vision to life, and leaving with the wisdom that with a little belief, imagination and risk, anything is possible.
Kindness
Soupsters that thrive in the community have one tasty thing in common: They are very, very kind. Whether reaching out to new friends or lending a hand when a hand is needed, the way we do things is much more important than what we do. The Soup is quite a happening event and things can get a little wild. Whether on the late night boogie train or the early morning breakfast crew—Soupsters treat each other with both tolerance and respect. By trusting and inspiring each other and being true to their hearts, Soupsters become stronger and use that strength to spread magic into the world.
Justice
Soupsters believe in equity and striving for a more just world. We take action to acknowledge wrongs and create a more inclusive and equitable community where everyone is welcome and seen. Through deep listening, learning, examining ourselves, and owning our mistakes, we lovingly hold each other accountable, create systems of positive change, and take action against all forms of oppression. In this life-long journey, we don’t expect to be perfect, but we are unstoppable.
Our Statement of Shared Values
A Soupster is: