Community Guidelines

This space will be inclusive and safe. By participating in the Innovations in Democratic Leadership, you are agreeing to:

Recognize our starting point

• Acknowledge and actively address that Canada is a country that was founded upon and maintained by, a colonial genocide against Indigenous peoples in which gender-based violence and the systemic oppression of racialized peoples are key tools.
• Recognize that we must all strive to overcome historical and divisive biases, such as racism and sexism, in our society.
• Agree that no one should be required or expected to speak for their whole race or gender. We can't, even if we wanted to.

Treat all people with dignity and respect

• Name calling, trolling, harassment, excessive interruption, in either live sessions or direct messages are strictly prohibited.
• Trust that everyone has come to the Forum to learn, grow, and share. We acknowledge that we may be at different stages of learning on the content and discussion topics. We will trust that people will do the best they can. We all make mistakes and have bad days; when these occur, let's challenge and encourage each other to do better.
• Agree not to blame ourselves or others for the misinformation we have learned, but to accept responsibility for not repeating misinformation after we have learned otherwise.

Be open to learning

• Be curious, recognizing that the best way to understand the choices, actions, or intentions of one another is by asking. Default to direct communication, and ask questions before making assumptions.
  Recognize that everyone is coming to this conversation from different social locations, with different histories and experiences connected to this issue. Use I statements when sharing a personal perspective on which you cannot speak for anyone but yourself.
• Stay flexible and patient, as some presenters are speaking for the first time. Let’s cheer each other on and recognize that technology challenges or schedule shifts may occur throughout the Forum.

Care for ourselves and each other

• Speak up against harm in all its forms and strive for mutual respect and understanding.
• Acknowledge that racism has impacts on our mental, spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. Focus on your self-care and connect with support if and when it works for you.
• Respect others’ boundaries. If someone does not want to engage or discuss a subject further, listen, respond with care and attend to your feelings.
• Ask for help when needed. It's okay not to know or to need support. Keep in mind that we are all still learning and are bound to make mistakes when approaching a complex task or exploring new ideas. Be open to changing your mind, and make space for others to do so as well.

Institute leaders and facilitators will use discretion to address those that violate these rules.