This is How We Take Care Of Each Other
TakeCareTMU is our bystander intervention community-created program that uses an intersectional, community-based approach. Through education, campaigns and workshops, #TakeCareTMU strengthen campus members’ skills to recognize and respond to harm when they witness it.
Sometimes when we witness harm, we can feel frozen, unsure or worried that if we address it, we could make it worse. TakeCareTMU provides concrete options to act at the moment, too, directly and indirectly, to address harm. We work with communities to build specific educational opportunities and campaigns tailored to your experiences. Contact us to work together at osvse@torontomu.ca
This is how we #TakeCareTMU.
At TMU, recognize and address harm. If you are harmed or see someone being harmed, here are some ways to intervene and follow up.
We interrupt harmful actions or words before they escalate.
“She spilled her drink on them so I could slip away.”
We talk directly to the person causing harm, letting them know why their words or actions aren’t okay.
“My buddy pulled me aside and told me to stop.”
We ask the person harmed what they want in the moment, listen to the response and respect their decision.
“He gently asked if I wanted him to get help.”
Together with survivors, we think of ways to support them when they feel unsafe.
“We used a signal when things got weird at a party.”
We gather resources and support people to address the situation.
“They ran to get my friends to get me out of there.”
The TakeCareTMU Bystander Intervention program was adapted from the Centre for Anti-Violence Education's Five ‘Ds’ of Bystander Intervention, I Have The Right To Be 5D’s and Possibility Seeds' How We Show Up program.