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Building Your Team

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Learn about Nothing about us Without Us

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"No policy should be decided by any representative without the full and direct participation of members of the group(s) affected."

James I. Charlton

Considerations for Building Your Team 

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  • What effort has been made to incorporate diverse stakeholders in the planning of the meeting?

  • Is there a conscious effort to be welcoming of diverse opinions and perspectives?

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To gain a better understanding of how to have inclusive and welcoming events for all, consider:

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  • Contacting your local ADA Coordinator. Unsure who that is? You can find out here. 

  • Consult with local organizations that are already creating accessible spaces and ask for suggestions

  • Build relationships with the community! Even if those relationships aren’t strong enough to help with your event planning this time around, you can continue to cultivate them and hopefully have more viewpoints available next time.

  • Community members and leaders should partner on planning and execution.

  • Set the agenda with input/partnership of community members.

  • Have community members and leaders facilitate different parts of the event.

What if I am planning alone?

 

Often you can be the only person planning an event. If this is the case take time to reflect on your biases and privileges and consider:

  • What viewpoints do you bring to event planning?

  • What viewpoints might be missing? 

  • You can and should still consult with others to help build a more inclusive event even if you’re just one person!

Volunteers

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Even if you’re the only event planner (and even if “event planner” isn’t your official title), your event is going to need help and input from other people. When thinking about volunteers, consider:

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  • How are you recruiting volunteers? Who has access to your volunteer opportunities?

  • How are you communicating with volunteers? Be aware of the inherent power differential between volunteers and paid staff in your communications. 

  • What are the specific roles and responsibilities that volunteers will be completing, both before the event and day of? How can you distribute those roles and responsibilities in a way that plays to the strengths of your volunteers?

  • What are your volunteers receiving in return for their time? Volunteers do not usually expect monetary compensation, but you can show your appreciation in other ways. Common volunteer benefits include free admission to the event, free items (such as t-shirts, water bottles, pens, and/or notebooks), free or reduced admission to future events, and networking opportunities

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