A Research-Oriented Approach to Technical Foundation, Ethical Framework, and Operational Entity Theoretical Research Model
Community Assets today announced an AI assisted research project exploring theoretical models for community resource redistribution: the development of its ESI-CAI-CAPlatform integration research model, representing a theoretical four-domain strategy that integrates technical infrastructure, ethical governance frameworks acknowledging Indigenous rights and aspirations, operational models, and planning/strategy documentation for community-centered resource redistribution and knowledge integration. This research model implements a theoretical framework combining AI assisted technical foundation (Community Assets Platform - CAPlatform), an ethical framework operating system (Ecosystems Intelligence - ESI is an embedded planetary operating system proposal) with theoretical second level implementations and tertiary applications derived from the O/S pattern, a theoretical steward entity (Community Assets International - CAI), and planning/strategy repository (Strat-Plan-Docs) to explore how systemic barriers, resource gaps, and local/regional opportunity maximization could be addressed through community-centered approaches in the AI/AGI and Climate Change context. The project is an attempt to research, describe, and create a theoretical research model (not implementation of an operational entity in the real world). CAI was "created" within the project model to "house" the theoretical organizational/administrative entity that is the steward of the project within the theoretical project model construct itself, combining "community" "assets" and "international" to reflect both local and international aspects of the project.
Keywords: Community-centered governance, resource redistribution, ethical framework, knowledge system integration, place-based understanding, intergenerational responsibility, systemic barrier reduction, AI, AGI, Climate Change, environmental social governance, ESG, minimum viable product, MVP
Community Assets operated from the 1990s-2004. In 2023-24, Community Assets was re-activated as Community Assets Canada (CAC), a federally incorporated not-for-profit startup organization. Within the current research project, CAI (Community Assets International) was created to house the theoretical organizational/administrative steward entity, drawing from Community Assets' historical mission and experience. The theoretical CAI entity's mission would include accepting and refurbishing donated material resources for redistribution, providing education and training opportunities, supporting community initiative organization and leadership, and removing barriers to resource access.
All current documentation is regarded as "living documents" to evolve as the project evolves.
The integration project implements a four-domain architecture:
2.1 CAPlatform Domain
AI assisted technical foundation providing digital/codebase internet infrastructure for information deployment, including services, database architecture, API endpoints, and interface systems.
2.2 ESI Domain
Ecosystems Intelligence framework documentation serving as social/scientific operating system, containing 17 ethical principles (Core Principles: 0-default + 16 Principles), systems theory, policy frameworks, cultural analysis, ecological/economic analysis, and civilizational trends.
2.3 CAI Domain
Theoretical organizational/administrative steward entity applying ESI framework principles on CAPlatform technical foundation for material resource redistribution, education and training, and community initiative support. CAI (Community Assets International) was "created" to "house" the theoretical organizational/administrative entity that is the steward of the project within the theoretical project model construct itself, combining "community" "assets" and "international" to reflect both local and international aspects of the project.
2.4 Strat-Plan-Docs Domain
Planning and strategy repository centralizing planning/strategy documents that span or support multiple domains, providing strategic documentation and planning resources for the integrated research model.
The Ecosystems Intelligence (ESI) framework provides the ethical foundation for CAI operations through 17 integrated principles (Core Principles: 0-default + 16 Principles). All principles are equal in importance except Principle 0 (Existence Confers Rights) which serves as the default/baseline principle:
3.1 Existence Confers Rights (Default Principle)
Recognition of inherent, inalienable rights for all existing elements (human, non-human biotic, abiotic) by virtue of existence, not utility-based or granted recognition.
3.2 Abundance (Not Scarcity)
Systems operating from abundance rather than scarcity, enabling genuine participation and power sharing, with integration creating abundance through multiple knowledge systems.
3.3 Interconnectedness
Recognition of interconnected relationships between all system elements, understanding that decisions and actions affect multiple interconnected systems.
3.4 Dynamic Balance
Maintenance of dynamic balance within systems, recognizing that balance is an ongoing process requiring continuous attention and adjustment.
3.5 Feedback Loops
Understanding and utilization of feedback loops for system regulation, adaptation, and learning, recognizing both positive and negative feedback mechanisms.
3.6 Disruptions
Recognition of disruptions as natural system processes, understanding how systems respond to and recover from disruptions while maintaining resilience.
3.7 Tipping Points
Awareness of system tipping points and thresholds, understanding conditions that may lead to significant system changes or transformations.
3.8 Emergence
Recognition of emergent properties and behaviors that arise from system interactions, understanding that system-level properties emerge from component interactions.
3.9 Adaptation and Resilience
Systems' capacity for adaptation and resilience, recognizing how systems adjust to changing conditions while maintaining core functions and identity.
3.10 Hierarchical Organization
Understanding of hierarchical organization within systems, recognizing nested structures and relationships across multiple scales.
3.11 Celebration Requirement
Recognition that celebration, acknowledgment, and honoring of achievements, milestones, relationships, and positive outcomes are essential functions for maintaining balance, relationships, and continuity within systems. Celebration serves as both recognition of accomplishments and as a systems-maintenance function that strengthens relationships, maintains balance, and ensures intergenerational continuity.
3.12 Resource Cycling
Understanding of resource cycling and material flows within systems, recognizing how resources move through systems and are transformed and reused.
3.13 Diversity and Redundancy
Recognition of the importance of diversity and redundancy for system resilience, understanding how diversity and redundancy contribute to system stability and adaptability.
3.14 Boundaries and Context
Understanding of system boundaries and context, recognizing how boundaries define systems and how context shapes system behavior and understanding.
3.15 Entropy and Energy Degradation
Recognition of entropy and energy degradation processes, understanding energy flows and the thermodynamic principles that govern system processes.
3.16 Decomposition and System Renewal
Understanding of decomposition and system renewal processes, recognizing how systems break down and renew themselves through natural cycles.
3.17 Human Obligation and Responsibility to Non-Human Elements
Ethical obligations and stewardship responsibilities to non-human elements, requiring reciprocal relationships with balance, respect, and responsibility. This includes implementation of Indigenous Data Sovereignty, Traditional Knowledge Protection mechanisms, Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes, and Cultural Safety in system design.
Within the theoretical research model, CAI (Community Assets International) operates as the organizational/administrative steward entity that:
The integration project provides opportunities for research in:
The project employs:
CAC (Community Assets Canada) welcomes academic collaboration in:
Academic Influences:
The research project draws from significant academic influences that have shaped the theoretical framework and methodological approaches:
Dr. Jorge Nef, University of Guelph - Human Security framework, with primary focus on Latin American contexts. Contributions to understanding security from a human-centered perspective rather than state-centered approaches, emphasizing individual and community well-being as foundational to security.
Dr. O. P. Dwividi University of Guelph - Governance and Administration in local/regional and International Developement
Dr. Clarence J. Munford, University of Guelph - Black History and oppression in the African diaspora (Primarily in Americas) with a Marxist Critical Theory lens.
Dr. R. Alex Sim, University of Toronto - Local imperative for design and control of local systems and environmental, social and governance. Influential Book: "Land and Community"
For academic inquiries and collaboration opportunities:
Community Assets Canada (CAC)
Kurt Liebe
Project Founder
www.ecosystemsintelligence.com
hkurtlebe@gmail.com
Date: 2025-12-26
Institution: Community Assets Canada (CAC)
Status: Active Research Project
With Respect,
We live and work on the traditional territory of the Anishnabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Oneida (St Lawrence Iroquois) and Mohawk peoples. As settlers, we're grateful for the opportunity to meet here. We honour and thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land - for time immemorial. Long before today there have been aboriginal peoples who have loved and lived here and been the stewards of this place. We recognize and deeply appreciate their history and connection to this place and continuing and ongoing stewardship. We also recognize the contributions of Métis, Inuit, and other Indigenous peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular, and our province and country as a whole. And as settlers, we acknowledge this recognition of the contributions and historic importance of Indigenous peoples must also be clearly and overtly connected to our collective commitment to make the promise and the challenge of Truth and Reconciliation real in our communities, and in particular to bring justice for murdered and missing indigenous women, girls and the lost children across our country.