Community guidelines & meeting structure

Community guidelines

Adapted with some modifications from the anti-racist/caredu bookclub in Bayreuth.

  • I recognize that we must strive to overcome historical and present forms of discrimination and oppression, such as racism, sexism and classism in our societies.
  • I acknowledge that we speak from different positions at the intersections of different identities, histories and material conditions and therefore have different amounts of privileges.
  • I’m aware that my reality doesn’t always apply to others, and I’m willing to reflect on my own privileges.
  • I acknowledge that what is a safer space for me is not necessarily a safer space for others. We strive to create a space where everybody can feel as safe as possible.
  • Discussing topics of discrimination and inequality can possibly trigger difficult emotions. If somebody needs to withdraw from the group at any time this should be fully accepted and respected.
  • I acknowledge that everyone is at a different stage in their learning and unlearning.
  • I aim to participate to the fullest of my ability to enrich the discussion - while being mindful about leaving enough space for others, especially those who have been affected by discrimination.
  • I will aim to mainly speak on my own experiences while not judging others’ experiences in the process.
  • I will assume good intentions, while also acknowledging that good intentions combined with a lack of knowledge and critical reflection can produce negative impacts and harm.
  • I will seek first to understand, then to be understood.
  • I recognize that the goal is not to always agree - it is to gain deeper understandings of the topics - so I aim to respectfully challenge other participants with critical questions when necessary.
  • These rules aren’t fixed and can be altered or extended by the group as needed.

Meeting structure

Our meetings follow an adapted version of the RADAR model. RADAR stands for: Review, Agree on Agenda, Discuss, Action points, Re-connect. The core of our model is the attempt to actualize more possibility for mutual aid and community.

A schematic meeting following this structure could look as follows:

  1. Review: we do a round of introductions as usual and then we take a bit of time to share (if we want and as much or little as is comfortable for everyone) what has been going on in our lives since the last meeting. this step also being a possibility to express difficulties we’ve been having that we might need help with, how our mental and/or emotional capacities are at the moment, ideas/projects we have or just stuff we want to share.

  2. Agree on Agenda: in this step we agree on the structure for the following points. if anything came up during the review that we want to discuss further we can decide to put it before or after the discussion of the current book

  3. Discuss: the relatively most self-explanatory step :), we discuss the book as usual or whatever else we decided on in step 2.

  4. Action points: in this step we (possibly) decide on some things to do until the next meeting, as a group or just specific people. this could include more research on a topic that came up during the discussion or organizing an idea that came up.

  5. Re-connect: do a check-out round.