Partnering w/Swing R&R
(Info for Event Directors)

We provide a point of contact for event participants who are in need of support, who are concerned or confused about an experience they’ve had, who have experienced or witnessed a Code of Conduct violation, and/or who are concerned about the potential presence of another community member at an event. 

The Swing R&R team is available virtually before and after affiliated events, and in-person and on-site 24/7 during an event, to offer support and greater safety and access for attendees. Event directors are juggling an unimaginable number of tasks and systems before and during an event, and we provide timely and experienced support to event participants, only escalating concerns to event directors as needed for the improved safety or access of their event. 

Content Note: Brief mention of SA

We provide an opportunity for event directors to make informed decisions about ongoing safety concerns within the community, and to support Restorative- and Transformational-Justice based programs for people who have been reported for harm and/or misconduct. 

Ahead of an event, we meet with event directors to present anonymized cases of people who have been reported for harm, along with any information we might have about how those people are engaging in restorative and/or rehabilitative efforts. We currently have about 150 different report cases, ranging from harmful interactions on the social floor to sexual misconduct and assault, many of which are associated with safety-based requests from the reporters and/or rehabilitation plans for the person reported for harm. Event directors decide case-by-case what level of intervention they’d like us to facilitate and whether they have the resources and confidence to support ongoing reintegration and rehabilitation plans. The Swing R&R team can offer insight, but will facilitate event directors’ decisions, whatever they may be. 

Please note: In support of reporter safety and restorative values, all anonymized disclosures of ongoing cases and safety concerns require that event directors sign a Confidentiality Agreement. 

Before an event, we coordinate with the head judge(s), scorer, event director(s), floor coordinators, and MCs to make sure everyone is on the same page for a number of safety concerns that might be brought up before or during a contest. 

There is inherent risk in living everyday life, and even more so at dance events. While we hope that all attendees adhere to the law, hotel policies, and event policies, and that they show up prepared for any legal and consensual activities they engage in, we also offer harm reduction supplies for common increased-risk activities. We currently offer Narcan, fentanyl tests, sexual prophylactics, high-rated face masks, earplugs, COVID/Flu tests, and grounding objects/tools. And we are always looking for more ways to provide harm reduction resources! 

Leading up to an event, our team offers 30+ hours of preparatory work, meeting with event leads to discuss event safety and access, receiving reports, and addressing concerns in a resourced, nuanced way that focuses on the value of each human’s experience. During an event, it’s common for us to provide 10+ hours of direct, attendee-requested support, with additional engagements with attendees throughout the weekend who are curious about us and what we’re there to do. 

1) Reporter Safety
2) Centering Marginalized Experiences
3) Applying the Praxes of Restorative Justice
4) Applying the Praxes of Transformative Justice

(You can learn a bit more about each of these guiding values here)

In order to sustainably provide work that upholds our values, we have the following needs:

• Airfare covered for two team members (if applicable; team is based in San Francisco Bay Area)

• Event passes for two team members

• One private room to be shared among the team. 

• Payment of $1 USD per event pass sold + $0.25 USD per day or evening pass sold; minimum of $500 USD.

In order to provide our best work, we have the following requests:

• Access to a private meeting room close to the ballroom OR a hotel room that is on a low floor and near the elevator. This can help us provide quick and comfortable support during the event. 

• Access to a printer while at the event (if traveling by plane).

• One hour of time on the event schedule, ideally on Friday, to host a Q&A/social hour so attendees can learn more about what we can offer.

• Five (5) minutes of time in the staff meeting to discuss safety and access with event staff. 

• A table in the event registration area where we can display materials and resources.