&Rise Sexual Harassment Policy
As an organization that primarily serves survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, it’s important that the &Rise community understands we have a zero tolerance policy for assault, harassment, and inappropriate comments of any kind. We’ve put formal systems in place to ensure we’re communicating this explicitly and proactively with board members, volunteers, and event attendees.
This article outlines our sexual harassment policy as well as the systems we have in place for communicating it, enforcing it, and supporting any survivors who come forward.
What is &Rise’s sexual harassment policy?
We’ve created sexual harassment bylaws outlining clear procedures to address inappropriate behavior. We have a zero tolerance policy for unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. This includes innuendos, jokes, and comments. You can read the full policy here.
How does &Rise communicate and enforce this policy?
We'll do our part to talk about what we expect from all representatives of &Rise and event attendees. We have an agreement for all volunteers, employees, board members, and event collaborators to sign. We post frequent reminders in our digital spaces and mention our zero-tolerance policy to attendees at our public events.
We also encourage all women who experience this kind of behavior in their interactions with &Rise to report it to us immediately so we can respond. We will never retaliate against someone for speaking up about sexual harassment. We will take survivors seriously, talk about what they need to feel safe again, and ban the offender from our organization.
Again, retaliation against any individual who reports harassment or participates in an investigation is strictly prohibited. Complaints will be taken seriously, handled promptly, and kept confidential to the extent possible. Board members are required to report any sexual harassment they have experienced or witnessed. Violation of this policy by board members may result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the board.
We need your help to keep &Rise free of sexual harassment
Safety is a necessary prerequisite for healing trauma. &Rise leadership is doing everything we can to create a culture where we believe and support survivors, not just in our organization, but in our communities and society at large. We want your input on how we could be doing that better, and we also value your active collaboration.
We understand that it can be hard to speak up when you’re feeling unsafe. At the same time, reclaiming your voice and your boundaries is a critical way to step into your power. We’ll always believe and respect women who take brave steps to defend their peace and dignity. When you stand up for yourself, you’re also standing up for all of the women around you. If you see something, we highly encourage you to say something.
Do you have any concerns or feedback? We want to hear from you. Please contact Jennifer at jennifer@womenrisechicago.org.
