Community Norms - Advancement Project - Advancement Project

Community Norms

ActionCamp 2018 Home

ActionCamp is a space where individuals and organizations from a wide range of communities and backgrounds come together in pursuit of a common goal. Over time, we have developed a set of community ethics that are meant to help us come together and learn from one another. Please help us achieve this goal by embracing these norms and asking questions about anything that is unclear. If you feel a norm is being violated please see a member of the training team.

1) ActionCamp is a Safe Space for ALL Participants.

As stated in the ActionCamp Framework, ActionCamp operates under an anti-oppression framework.  We not only openly condemn and challenge any forms of racism, ageism, homophobia, xenophobia, and ableism (among others), but also strive to place these communities at the forefront of the movement.  We ask that all ActionCamp participants join us in pushing back against these forms of oppression, ask questions if something is new, and support and respect each other in order to make the training is a success.

One important note is that we respect and acknowledge all participants’ preferred gender pronouns. You may be asked to give your own preferred pronoun at some points during ActionCamp. You should never assume how someone self defines based on the way they look, speak, behave, or who they have relationships with. If you aren’t sure how to address someone, ask what words that individual uses to describe his/her/them/their self and respect that preference. If you have questions please don’t hesitate to ask a member of the training team. See the definitions pages for more information.

2) “Nothing About Us Without Us” – Youth lead the way at ActionCamp

We believe that affected people should be at the forefront of the movement to dismantle the police state. We recognize that students and community are the experts on what happens in our schools and on our streets every day and can develop the solutions to many of the problems we face. Many of the youth at ActionCamp are long-term organizers and advocates and have much to teach all of us. At ActionCamp, we respect the experiences of parents and other elders and encourage youth participants to step into leadership.

3) All Hands on Deck!

The success of ActionCamp is dependent on each participant being fully committed to contributing to the best of their ability. We all need to hear about each other’s personal experiences, organizing best practices, challenges and plans so we can all grow together. That means we need everyone engaged but we also need to make sure we are making space for others to contribute. Here are some of our favorite norms for getting everyone involved:

  • Move Up, Move Back, Move Sideways – There is enough space for all of us! If you’ve been quiet, say something. If you’ve been talking a lot, make room for others. Find a new or different way to step into your leadership.
  • Don’t Yuck My Yum – Try to share your own experiences and ideas without criticizing others.
  • One Mic – please respect the designated speaker during all workshops and discussions.
  • No Shade – Everyone will feel more free to contribute if we treat each other kindly.
  • ELMO (Enough, Let’s Move On) - Let’s stay grounded and moving towards our goals, outcomes, and purposes.
  • Be a Croissant, not a Donut – The circle of a donut is closed off, croissants are open-ended. Be open minded and make room for new ideas.
  • Practice Self Care – Make sure you are taking care of yourself so you are at your best for the weekend. Try to eat well, get enough rest, and take a break when you need one.

4) Trust the Process but be Flexible

We try to accomplish a lot in a small amount of time at ActionCamp. In order for things to run smoothly, we all will need to work together. There is a pre-determined program but the training team may make adjustments based on our judgment or your suggestions. Please try to be prepared and on time throughout the weekend.

ActionCamp Framework
Program
Community Norms
Definitions and Acronyms
Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation 101
Meet the Training Team
Logistics and Contacts
Campus Map
Social Media