Safe space policies, WTF definitions, greeter scripts!
Hi all you fine folks,
In Winnipeg we've been running a series of workshops for Women, Trans, Femme and Non-binary folks both for people already involved in community bike shops and those entirely new to bikes and the cbs world. While most of the workshop have been mechanically-focused, last night's was a facilitated discussion about safe space creation and being assertive in (traditionally) male-dominated spaces. It was a really good workshop and included a number of people already involved in Women&Queer/WTF nights. The workshop was relatively broad and there was strong interest to follow up with a discussion about more tangible details that could be incorporated into shop experience.
Before we reinvent the wheel, we'd love to hear what you folks have been doing at your shops. Specifically:
- How do you decide who is included in WTF etc nights? How do you describe
this (in advertising, in talking to people about it...) without it getting to be a super long and cumbersome title?
- What sort of a script does your greeter use on WTF nights to let people
know who is welcome and who is welcome to come another night without making everyone feel overly policed?
- What sort of a script do you use with people who insist on using the
space when it is a time designated for a WTF night?
- Does anyone have clear and detailed safe-space policies including
consequences of behaviour outside of those policies/guildelines? It'd be great to work out some more specifics beyond the relatively general shop rules all of the CBSs!
- How have you approached educating new volunteers about safe spaces in
volunteer orientation? We're interested having a more expanded section about safe space discussion in our various shops' orientation sessions (how to conduct yourself as a volunteer; how to approach others who are behaving inappropriately...).
I know many of you have put a lot thought into these sorts of questions and we would love to hear your wisdom! Thanks! Benita
Edmonton Bikes has a great page on this, their FAQ has come in handy for me! http://edmontonbikes.ca/services/bikeworks/women-transgender-program/
On Mon, Nov 14, 2016 at 7:01 PM, Benita Kliewer thewrenchca@gmail.com wrote:
The comment conversation with Edmonton Bikes is very interesting!
We have our "Safe Space Policy" written into out Volunteer Orientation Guide.
"The Recyclery is a safe space that is welcoming of people of every race religion, income level, sexual orientation, gender identification, and cycling experience. We work to maintain a space that is friendly and supportive. Thus, people engaging in intimidating, offensive, aggressive or belittling behavior will be asked to leave the shop."
Then we have a "Code of Respect" on our wall. Collective members are especially responsible for upholding these organizational values.
*CODE OF RESPECT *Welcome to The Recyclery! As a community bicycle project, we thrive upon an atmosphere of mutual aid and respect. We are dependent on each other to share our skills and talents. *By entering into this space, you are agreeing to abide by the policies and expectations of our community.*
- We expect all members of our diverse community to hold themselves and
each other to these same standards:*
We respect ourselves and others and treat each other with common courtesy.
We respect our diversity – including race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, physical and mental abilities, class, and age.
We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind in our community.
We are respectful of our environment and take pride in it.
We care for the tools available to everyone and use them appropriately.
We look out for each other both in and outside of the shop space. When conflict arises we seek to resolve it through direct communication in a calm and honest manner.
On Mon, Nov 14, 2016 at 6:24 PM Johanna Bleecker johanna.bleecker@gmail.com wrote:
Matthew McMunn -Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator-
http://therecyclery.org/ Facebook @TheRecyclery Twitter @RecycleryChi Instagram @TheRecyclery
participants (3)
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Benita Kliewer -
Johanna Bleecker -
Matthew McMunn