Covid Safety Precautions and BPOC’s commitment to Safety and Accessibility

We are still in a pandemic. 

We have been throwing events the last few years with Covid in mind and want to commit to leveling up our covid precautions as an organization going forward in 2024. We have made sure to have outdoor events as much as possible, we have required and/or encouraged masking, and we have put on virtual/hybrid events for years. However, we have taken the time to do some reflecting and realize we have come up short. COVID disproportionately affects Black, queer, and trans people. COVID leads to death and further disablement among disabled, chronically ill, and immunocompromised/ immunosuppressed people. It leads to disablement of people who are “healthy” and able-bodied.  

We realize it is difficult to completely change your precautions, but we did it before when the pandemic started and now, we have more data and more ways to keep each other safe. We see these steps as a form of accessibility (because they are) that includes disabled people in our communities, prevent death and disablement amongst our communities, and fight ableism at every turn. We also approached this decision by centering the most impacted and vulnerable, which will only in turn keep us all safe.

·      Require and enforce masks at all in-person events.

·      Provide a variety of masks for different head sizes, face sizes, hair styles, etc, including head strap KN95/N95, ear loop KN95/N95, and a limited supply of adhesive no-strap masks.

·      We will be masked if we attend events that we did not collaborate on or plan.

·      Provide air purifiers, both portable and larger in indoor spaces we occupy 

·      Provide, when necessary, far uvc technology in the form of UVC lamps 

·      Our team commits to frequent COVID testing:  48 hours before events, 48 hours after events, and consistently weekly regardless of events. We will do this to do our part in stopping or limiting the chain of transmission.

·      Whenever possible, we will provide tests at our events and spaces for attendees to take home and test.

·      Provide ample opportunities for virtual and hybrid events, whenever possible.

·      Hold our events outdoors, whenever possible.

·      If indoors, we will monitor C0^2 levels using an Aranet and make sure ventilation is sufficient, including opening windows, doors, running fans, etc.

·      We will consistently be working with COVID cautious individuals and organizations to stay on top of relevant information and adjust this commitment, if needed.

·      We will openly share any and all information regarding accessibility, protections, precautions, and data.