Held & Rooted

Community Guidelines

Effective Date: April 30, 2026

Welcome to Held & Rooted.

Held & Rooted is an invite-only community for mothers raising Black children. We exist to build intentional maternal infrastructure rooted in cultural understanding, real-world connection, ethical technology, and long-term protection in a rapidly evolving digital world.

This is not social media.
This is not a service platform.

This is a protected, participatory community ecosystem.

Membership in Held & Rooted is a privilege, not a right. By joining, you agree to uphold the following standards.

1. Participation & Community Responsibility

Held & Rooted is built through participation.

By joining, you agree to:

  • Engage with intention and respect

  • Contribute to the collective knowledge and support of the community when able

  • Use the Platform as a space for shared learning, not passive consumption

Held & Rooted does not guarantee responses, outcomes, or individualized support.

The strength of this community depends on the collective presence and participation of its members.

2. Cultural Respect & Integrity

Held & Rooted centers the lived experiences of mothers raising Black children.

Members agree to:

  • Speak from personal experience

  • Honor cultural realities without dismissal or minimization

  • Engage with empathy and intellectual humility

  • Avoid debate for sport, provocation, or performance

This is a space for support and strengthening — not argument or spectacle.

3. Confidentiality & Privacy

What is shared inside Held & Rooted stays inside Held & Rooted.

Members may not:

  • Screenshot, record, or redistribute discussions

  • Share another member’s story externally without explicit permission

  • Repost member content outside the Platform

We ask all members to protect the dignity and privacy of one another.

Violation of confidentiality may result in immediate removal.

4. Protect the Children

We are building long-term digital safety for our children.

Members must:

  • Avoid posting identifiable information about minors

  • Refrain from sharing school names, schedules, or precise locations

  • Be mindful of digital footprints and future implications

Child safety is non-negotiable.

5. No Unsolicited Promotion

Held & Rooted is not a marketing platform.

Members may not:

  • Promote businesses, services, or products unless directly requested within context

  • Privately solicit other members for sales or partnerships

  • Post affiliate links or sales content without prior approval

This protects the integrity and emotional safety of the community.

6. No Private Member-to-Member Messaging

The Platform does not permit private messaging between members.

This structure ensures:

  • Transparency

  • Accountability

  • Moderation oversight

  • Reduced risk of inappropriate solicitation

Administrators may communicate privately with members when necessary for safety, support, or operational reasons.

7. Zero Tolerance for Harassment

The following behaviors are strictly prohibited:

  • Personal attacks

  • Hate speech

  • Bullying or intimidation

  • Doxxing

  • Threats

  • Discriminatory language

  • Harassment of any kind

Held & Rooted reserves the right to remove any member who compromises the safety or dignity of this space.

8. Thoughtful Discussion of Social & Political Topics

Mothers raising Black children navigate complex social realities.

Discussion is permitted when:

  • It is relevant to parenting, safety, or community wellbeing

  • It is respectful and grounded

  • It avoids hostility, escalation, or partisan conflict

This is not a debate forum. It is a maternal support ecosystem.

9. Invite With Intention

Held & Rooted is invite-only.

If you invite another mother, you are responsible for:

  • Inviting someone aligned with our values

  • Ensuring she understands confidentiality expectations

  • Protecting the culture of the space

Community integrity is collective work.

10. Research Participation & Ethical Data Use

Held & Rooted is committed to building ethical maternal infrastructure.

Members may be invited to participate in:

  • Surveys

  • Impact assessments

  • Program evaluations

  • Pilot initiatives

  • Research aligned with our mission

Participation beyond onboarding is voluntary unless explicitly stated.

We commit to:

  • Transparency in research purpose

  • Clear communication before participation

  • Responsible handling of responses

  • Use of aggregated or anonymized data whenever possible

We do not sell personal data.

11. Conflict Resolution Process

If conflict arises:

Step 1: Pause

Members are encouraged to respond thoughtfully and avoid reactive escalation.

Step 2: Report

If a situation feels unsafe or unresolved, notify an Administrator through the Platform.

Step 3: Review

Administrators may:

  • Review discussions

  • Request clarification

  • Provide guidance

  • Remove content

  • Issue warnings

Step 4: Resolution

Outcomes may include:

  • No violation

  • Reminder of guidelines

  • Temporary suspension

  • Termination

Step 5: Final Authority

All moderation decisions are made to protect the community and are final.

12. Moderator Authority

Held & Rooted is a moderated environment.

Administrators reserve the right to:

  • Remove posts or comments

  • Close discussions

  • Restrict access

  • Suspend or terminate accounts

Membership may be revoked without refund when necessary to protect community integrity.

13. Membership Removal

Violation of these guidelines may result in:

  • Warning

  • Suspension

  • Immediate termination

We reserve the right to act swiftly when safety, trust, or alignment is compromised.

Closing Statement

Held & Rooted is being built slowly, intentionally, and with deep respect for the realities of motherhood.

This is not content culture.
This is not influencer culture.
This is not a guaranteed service.

This is maternal infrastructure — built through participation, care, and shared responsibility.

If you are here, we trust that you are prepared to show up with integrity.

Welcome to Held & Rooted.