Dear Friends,

I am so proud to be part of a 14 member Collective called We Have Voice.  We got together via email, group meetings and Google hangouts to first draft an Open Letter that stressed zero tolerance for sexual harassment in any form. Then we drafted a Code of Conduct : To Promote Safe(r) Workspaces in the Performing Arts that officially launched on May 1, 2018 (International Workers Day). The launch was buoyed by great coverage in the New York Times, NPR, and JazzRightNow.com. There is less information on where to go as performing arts workspaces are fluid, sometimes blurry.  Most artists have no HR department to go to.  We felt strongly that this document helps to bring awareness and clarity. The title of ‘SAFER(R)’ speaks to our intersectional lens as a group, the understanding that ‘safe’ doesn’t register the same for all of us.  We see this as inspiring and inclusive document.  We understand that abuse can happen to anyone. We Have Voice is a multi-ethnic collective from diverse backgrounds, sexual orientations, ages, and career trajectories.  This has been inspiring work with an incredible group.

Other than myself, the Collective is: Ganavya Doraiswamy, Imani Uzuri, Jen Shyu, Kavita Shah, Linda May Han Oh, María Grand, Nicole Mitchell, Okkyung Lee, Rajna Swaminathan, Sara Serpa, Tamar Sella, Terri Lyne Carrington and Tia Fuller.

Code of Conduct : To Promote Safe(r) Workspaces in the Performing Arts