In a society that is seeking social, political, and economic stability all organizations have a socially sustainable moral responsibility to support the social sustainability of their host communities and societies. This begins with supporting the development of functional, loving family environments.
1. The ultimate priority comes from the genetic mandate to sustain the species.
2. The second priority is to sustain individuals/families to support the continuity of our species and culture. In a society that has chosen to move toward social sustainability, efforts are made to support the maturing social evolution of family dynamics so that families socialize and enculturate next generations to support a socially sustainable society.
3. The third priority is dependent upon the willingness of organizations within communities and society to adopt socially sustainable values and practices to sustain the existence and continuity of sustainable communities and societies, beginning with the family/individual.
Contributions by organizations to individuals/families and communities have three symbiotic functions:
1) To aid the sustainability of the species;
2) To aid the sustainability of the individual/family/community; and,
3) To empower individuals, families and communities to reciprocate in that symbiosis by contributing their energies to the sustainability of their mutual society.
Societal sustainability becomes possible when organizations are designed to become sustainable, to stay in business, and make contributions to the continuity of communities and societies by contributing to the sustainability of individuals and families. This symbiosis is only sustainable when individuals and families also make decisions and take actions that support the social sustainability of the organizations of their communities and societies.
An example of an enduring “wisdom” to pass on to each new generation: What the illustration does not reveal is the innate capability of our species individually and collectively to adapt to changing conditions. This ability stems from our choice-decision to defer the gratification of our wants and needs to a later time and condition. That outcome becomes possible with the foresight to design goals for future completion that provide more fulfillment later than in the present moment. Yet, overcoming present uncertain and unpleasant circumstances to achieve future goals is not something every child is taught. It is a necessary choice-decision that can be learned, even by organizations. This is a “wisdom” that is not passed on genetically but shared from an older generation and learned by a younger generation.