In accordance with our adherence to the Jemez Principle for Democratic Organizing, the Heartwood Core Council has adopted these Safer Spaces Protocols for all our events as of March 2016:
❖ Heartwood mediators will be identified for each Heartwood event.
❖ If any Heartwood member believes that he/she or his/her child has experienced some form of threat or harassment from another Heartwood member, a designated Heartwood mediator should be contacted for consultation.
❖ It is the responsibility of the mediator to hear each side of any potential conflict; both the alleged victim and alleged perpetrator will have the opportunity for a private consultation with the mediator.
❖ An identified mediator may recuse himself/herself/themselves if he/she/they is too closely/personally connected to either alleged victim, alleged perpetrator or both.
❖ The identified mediator may ask another mediator to sit in on consultations for both parties involved.
❖ Mediators will listen to both sides, seeking first for common means of reconciliation and healing.
❖ Mediators will attempt to come to some form of consensus that meets the need of both parties.
❖ Mediator will seek the most comfortable compromise that ensures the safety and good will of all involved.
❖ No behavior deemed contrary to the Safer Spaces Guidelines will be tolerated.
❖ Any formal action recommended by the mediator will be presented to a quorum of the core council for confirmation prior to any permanent action being taken.
❖ Heartwood recognizes that some situations cannot be resolved to everyone’s comfort. We will make every effort to assist in the process, and encourage communication between conflicting parties when appropriate.
❖ Safer Spaces doesn’t mean a place where we go where nothing bad happens,
but where we know that it’s expected that we are engaging in the work.