Community Agreements

CW: mentions of violence, harm, abuse, trauma

UNAVSA is committed to an organizing environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. All members of and affiliated with UNAVSA deserve to both a) feel safe and b) be safe in all environments. Our commitment is rooted in a survivor-centric and trauma-informed approach to the reduction of violence, harm, abuse, and to their consequences. The 2022-2024 UNAVSA Executive Board (E-Board) focuses on community-based responses to harm.

For the event: The 19th Annual UNAVSA Conference (also referred to as UNAVSA-19 or U-19), designated organizations members including but not limited UNAVSA E-Board, Cabinet Staff, and Conference Staff may take action to de-escalate, resolve conflict, and respond to crisis if and when they arise. We're committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for everyone in our community. With this in mind, we'd like to remind you that UNAVSA’s Community Safety Committee is here as a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to them whenever you need assistance or support. It's important for us to act together proactively rather than waiting for others to take the first step. Remember, 'If you see something, say something.' Your voice is vital in maintaining the safety and integrity of our community. Let's work together to create a safe space for all.

By registering and attending the 19th Annual UNAVSA Conference (U-19), I agree to the following:

• I will do my best to be respectful of others in shared spaces with me. 
• I will do my best to avoid using racist, sexist, and oppressive language, as well as do my best to avoid using violent language.

Consent Culture

I will do my best to honor consent in all of its forms, both to myself and others. This can look like respecting someone’s requests and wishes, especially in instances where they don’t say “yes” to an action or activity.

• I will do my best to center the needs of survivors of harm, and empathetic to those who have faced traumatic experiences if they share those experiences with me.
• I will do my best to use content and trigger warnings when discussing sensitive topics.
• I will do my best to treat UNAVSA-hosted spaces which include official conference programming as if there is always a survivor present.

I will do my best to respect the explicitly expressed or implicit boundaries in any of the following spaces: U-19 keynotes, workshops, games, chats, and communication on online platforms such as Zoom. For example, in a workshop, a facilitator may have a set of community agreements they would like attendees to abide by, or in a family group chat, the family leader and members have agreed on shared boundaries and communication styles.

I will treat others, including myself, with respect and grace. If I make a mistake and get approached for accountability, I will do my best to not be defensive and take it constructively. If I am unsure about something, I will do my best to ask for clarification.

Regarding Harm

I have read the current UNAVSA Community Safety (July 2021) policy. I understand that one option that I have in responding to harm is the UNAVSA Community Safety Reporting Form. I understand that if I choose not to report and/or request an investigation, there are other steps that E-Board is willing to discuss with survivors to ensure safe spaces, to both maintain safety, while still honoring our organization’s values and current direction. Regardless of the request to submit a report, not submitting a report to undergo an investigation, or to forgo an investigation, the E-Board and U-19 event organizers (also referred to as conference staff) may take action to ensure safe spaces during U-19 Conference. 

I will do my best to support those experiencing harm by asking designated UNAVSA organization members for guidance and mediation. If I have the capacity, skills, and willingness to respond, I will intervene myself.

I understand that if I am harmful to others during my physical, verbal, written participation in UNAVSA-19 (keynote speakers, workshops, games, chats), that I may be asked by UNAVSA E-Board or U-19 staff to do any of the following:

• Stop certain behaviors. 
• Leave the space for a limited amount of time of the conference.
• Leave the space for an indefinite amount of time.

UNAVSA organization members will do our best to respond to harmful participants with compassion. We will not turn away from or dispose of each other. 

At the same time:

• I understand that if I find myself making other U-19 participants feel unsafe, I may be asked to leave the space.
• I understand that if I do harm, make others feel unsafe, or an incident cannot be resolved through de-escalation, mediation, or reparative process, I may be asked to leave the space with no refunds. 

Weapons-Free Policy

U-19 is a private event and attendees are not permitted to carry weapons of any kind, or anything that may be construed by UNAVSA staff to be a weapon, onto the premises of any official UNAVSA events. This includes, but is not limited to, bringing concealed or displayed firearms onto the premises of any official UNAVSA events.

UNAVSA reserves the right to require anyone who violates this policy to immediately leave the premises of any official UNAVSA event, and to void and/or revoke U-19 badges and registration. By attending any UNAVSA event, you agree to comply with this policy.

Please note that this document may be updated at any time. 

An email notification will be sent to communicate any such changes, and the footer of this document will be updated to reflect such changes.