What exists so far?
A reporting form. A group of people who put it together and continue to meet to discuss next steps.
What/who is this group?
An interim group that formed to start organizing safety-related input and next steps — not a permanent safety board.
This is a group who saw a need for safety in our West Coast Swing community and got together. Our goal is to get the process started but not to hold long-term authority. Our role is interim, to gather input and help move toward a clearer, more accountable safety structure that others will ultimately carry forward.
We recognize that you within the WCS community want to share your input and need transparency and trustworthiness, which is why we’re giving more background here and providing open venues to join in the process of creating a safe, welcoming community.
Why a safety team?
It’s important that the WCS culture is inviting and comfortable for everyone. We have also all known instances where safety was compromised, and recognize that without structure, there are opportunities for harm. Most other major WCS communities already have norms and processes to support community members, and we recognize that this is overdue in our circle, too.
A safety team prioritizes safety - physical, emotional, and more - and inclusion. What we have seen from other groups is that a team benefits communities logistically and people specifically. A safety team bridges the gap between different dances run by different organizers, supports communication between participants and organizers, allows for a wider view of the community’s needs, and can be a resource for an individual’s safety in the moment.
Who will do this work long-term?
Not this group. Part of the goal is to define a responsible transition to people who are better positioned, supported, and accountable to do this work.
Who is all of this for?
These resources are not associated with any particular business or organization. Colorado Westies (as a concept) is various groups of people getting together at the grassroots to create change in our communities. We hope these initiatives and resources can benefit people all over Colorado, and inspire and support others as well.
Why isn’t there a code of conduct?
Every dance organization has their own code of conduct and/or waiver that reflects their needs and priorities as their own entity. This makes it difficult for now to have an overarching code of conduct. As many have pointed out, it can be hard to share safety concerns when those are not well-defined. This is something that we would like the swing safety team in the future to work with organizers on, and it will take time.
For now, individual dances or their organizers’ information and documents are linked here and examples of expected conduct are available there. If you have any to add, please share them.
Most dance events’ organizers and teachers will announce expectations of interaction and safety. These are often: ask another person to dance, anyone can say no to a dance for any reason, don’t teach or give on the dance floor, speak up if someone is doing something unsafe or uncomfortable.
What is the safety form for?
To help safety-minded people and information coalesce, and to identify themes, concerns, and resources that can eventually be shared with dance organizers. It is not a finalized reporting or enforcement system.
The form is a document that allows community members to report safety concerns or incidents. The form can be anonymous, and outcomes are led by the person reporting. It will allow the safety team to coalesce information to share with leadership of specific dances if the reporter so desires, and takes into account different dances run at different venues. Take a look here! Feel free to click through; a PDF version so you can view only is coming soon.
If I submit a report, what happens next?
The result is private and confidential. Reports are shared to the interim safety team at coswingsafety@gmail.com. Prior to a finalized board being formed there won’t be any decisions made on reporting, but any reports will be held for the future board. Also, anyone is free to click through the reporting form to explore it. The goal is to work toward the restoration of safety whenever this is possible.
How do I get involved?
We’re getting ready to transition from the interim swing safety team to the real thing! We need community members to contribute to the work of discussion and leadership. Please email, contact anyone in the interim team directly, or look for upcoming opportunities like the forum to get involved.
What’s the forum?
We will be having a structured discussion space with the community to collect ideas and concerns toward selecting a committee. This forum will NOT address how to approach safety in our communities, as those will be the responsibility of the elected committee. We will be discussing:
How many people should be on the committee, how long their terms are
What kind of restrictions should apply to people on the committee, what qualifications should someone have to be on this committee, how to ensure diversity of background and opinions
What does the application and election process look like (how long the process is open, how this process is made accessible and visible)
How to ensure appropriate structure for transparency and trust
The interim committee will handle the logistics of this process, starting by consolidating everything from the forum and presenting it back to the community.
What might the elected safety team deal with? (and will not be addressed in the forum)
What safety leads would and would not be responsible for
Accountability, checks on power, and trust-building
How feedback or concerns would be handled, how information flows between safety leads, organizers, and the community
How safety standards and codes of conduct are communicated, especially to new dancers
We’ve compiled a list of questions and thoughts from the WhatsApp group discussion, email, and in-person conversations to bring to the final safety team. These are included below.
As the interim safety team, we don’t have all the answers yet. That’s why we’re looking to the community to join and continue the work.
How can people contribute right now?
By participating in the forum, sharing ideas and resources, helping host or moderate discussions, or offering perspective from other communities.
Other resources which we have used and recommend for further information on safety and justice in West Coast Swing communities: MN Swing Safety, Swing Diversity, Swing Reports and Restorations. Have more resources? Please share them!
This is a compiled list of questions and considerations from community spaces (message groups, emails, in-person discussions) for the official (rather than interim) safety committee to take into consideration.
Choosing the future safety team
How to ensure diversity in safety leadership
Structure of leadership to ensure trustworthiness and balance - examples: other safety teams have members who do not concurrently run dances and members are voted in
Process for selecting long-term safety leads
Where to direct feedback (for concerns on someone’s capacity to fulfill a safety role) and concerns with reporting that to the safety team
Actions and abilities of the safety team
How claims will be vetted by the safety team
How power will be exercised, and what power or influence the safety team holds.
Ultimately the safety team can advise and it is at the discretion of dance organizers for certain actions to occur
How communication happens if an incident occurs (both with the reporter and the person reported)
How those in positions of power will be held accountable, too; what checks will be present
How to prevent the reporting system from being abused
Code of conduct information
What and where is the code of conduct for each of the dances?
Any code of conduct needs to be clear and more accessible.
What safety looks like for this community specifically
Examples of what constitutes misconduct
Use examples from other dances (i.e. salsa/bachata community, Austin fusion consent example, Minnesota swing safety form and system)
Information dissemination
Methods for incident information or general safety information to move between safety team members, community, and dance organizers
How safety information will be communicated, especially to new dancers: access to resources
Appropriate practices
How to ask people to dance (verbally as opposed to offering hands)
Lead/follow language (degendering, etc.)