Creating Intentional Space
Engagement in concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion, DEI, can evoke vulnerability, discovery, and challenge. The assumptions shared below frame Mary C. Parker’s approach to teaching and facilitating concepts of bias and oppression.
Applied theatre as a medium is experiential in nature. This medium can include and is not limited to improv, playback theatre, and theatre of the oppressed. As such the code of conduct creates a framework for how to engage in settings that may be in-person or online as training, webinars, keynotes, dialogue facilitation, or consulting.
Both the assumptions and code of conduct are part of creating an intentional space during our time together.
Assumptions
To facilitate work of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) there are some assumptions I use to execute my work.
Oppression exists.
Fighting oppression can be both painful and joyful.
Power dynamics make it difficult for marginalized people to speak to their experiences.
Targets of oppression (non-majority and marginalized) have more to risk by engaging in these conversations.
Present group dynamics impact participants individually, and as a group; this affects your overall experience in our work together.
Code of conduct
Speak for yourself and your experience: Use I statements, speak for your experience(s) and not on behalf or for someone else. This includes minimizing “we” language.
Curiosity and Consent: Curiosity is encouraged in play and in learning about folx in the room. You are encouraged to ask for permission when you want to learn more about what someone has said so they have the choice in what they choose to share.
Be attentive and minimize distractions: Recognizing we are in a pandemic, it is ok to let life in, a pet cameo, a child in the frame, etc. Where you can minimize distractions so you can be attentive and present in the space.
Practice seeing each other as human: Part of our humanity is the identities we carry. We invite you to share pronouns as a way to allow full selves into the space. Sharing pronouns minimizes our assumptions about how people identify. Additionally, let’s not assume perfectionism in saying someone’s name.
If you don’t know how to pronounce a name, ask.
If you forget pronouns, ask.
Receive the correction and make the change
Confidentiality: Stories stay, lessons leave. What is said in stays, and the impact and learning you’re taking without you can leave, minus the names of who said what.
Take care of yourself, honor your needs: You know yourself best. Make adjustments as you need, take breaks. In every playshop or corporate event over 90 minutes, there will be at least one break.
Engage and play: Be curious and play, push yourself to a growing edge and try something new.
Creating explicit space to speak and honor queerness and differences in the space
Written by Sisi Reid, Storyteller & Theater Artist, Adapted by Mary C. Parker
This is an anti-oppressive space. This is a space for Black people. This is a space for transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and gender-expansive peoples. For queer folks and the vast diversity of genders and sexualities beyond the binary. This space is for people who are living with disabilities and chronic illnesses. For people who are immigrants and who aren’t citizens. This space is for people from many places within and around the world. For people who are biracial, multiracial, multicultural, and multilingual. This is a space to exist in our many intersecting identities because we are many beautiful layers.
Creating intentional space is inspired by and adapted from Aorta Collective, Summit Against Racism, and Sisi Reid.