What we believe in:
- A safe place for everyone to share opinions and ideas
- Everyone’s opinion is valid and important. There are no bad ideas.
- The conversation is not meant to discredit any person, organization, group, demographic or gender.
- An open environment where we have all come to learn from each other.
- We are here to be accommodative and supportive of each other, not mean, sarcastic or attack each other
- Say “I” when expressing your opinion so it doesn’t sound like you are speaking for an unknown collective group.
What we expect:
- Listen actively -- respect others when they are talking.
- Speak from your own experience instead of generalizing ("I" instead of "they," "we," and "you").
- Do not be afraid to respectfully challenge one another by asking questions, but refrain from personal attacks -- focus on ideas.
- Participate to the fullest of your ability -- community growth depends on the inclusion of every individual voice.
- Instead of invalidating somebody else's story with your own spin on her or his experience, share your own story and experience.
- The goal is not to agree -- it is to gain a deeper understanding.
- Be conscious of body language and nonverbal responses -- they can be as disrespectful as words.
Remember to be:
- Open to real conversations where individuals can be vulnerable and open
- Honest to each other
- Respectful of different ideas and backgrounds
- Understanding of different perspectives
- Preview material ahead of time to ensure that it is appropriate for workshop participants (if possible)
- Encouraging good behavior or when individuals participate in ways that might be out of the norm for themselves
Inform us when:
- Becoming embarrassed or uncomfortable
- Feeling overwhelmed by the reaction of others in the room
- Feeling unsupported or isolated because of comments made