Northampton Arts Council | Meeting Norms - Proposed by Equity Subcommittee
Use “I” statements: speak from your own experience and perspective; be careful not to speak for others or for groups
Assume Good Intentions: recognize your own personal privileges & biases
Call in, not out: point out problems in ways that empower people to be part of the solution
Recognize intention vs. impact: you may not intend to do harm, but if you do, apologize, accept responsibility, and do better
Lean into discomfort: hurt and discomfort are opportunities for growth
Respect people’s pronouns and gender-identity: don’t assume pronouns; if you’re unsurely defaulting to “they” is OK
Stories Stay, Lessons Leave: respect confidentiality and personal stories, especially in 1:1 conversations and subcommittee work
Stay open to feedback: when people call you in, consider this a gift and a learning opportunity
Be mindful of airtime: if you’ve spoken a lot, create space for others; be mindful of the privileged identities you may hold
