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<p><tt>Friends!<br>
<br>
</tt><tt>The IFF 2017 is kicking off in just under a week now, and
we couldn't be more excited to see you all!<br>
<br>
</tt><tt><tt>As you all know, our community is comprised of
individuals from diverse backgrounds who are united by a
common mission. As a result, our work must not only speak to
this diversity but truly reflect it. By ensuring that all
voices are equally heard and represented, we can ensure that
we are creating the best strategies and solutions possible. <br>
<br>
So, this year, in addition to our updated <b>Code of Conduct</b>
(</tt></tt><tt><tt><tt><tt><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Code_of_Conduct">https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Code_of_Conduct</a>)
</tt></tt>we're offering everybody a variety of
opportunities and tools t</tt></tt><tt><tt><tt><tt>o support
everyone in maintaining the IFF as warm, safe and
welcoming environment for everyone!</tt></tt></tt><b><tt><br>
<br>
<br>
</tt>### Ally Skills Workshops at the IFF ###</b></tt><br>
<tt>This year at the IFF, we're SUPER excited to be offering
attendees the chance to participate in one of several <b>Ally
Skills Workshops</b>. Designed by IFF Diversity Advisor
Valerie Aurora, these workshops will give participants an
opportunity to learn and practice ally skills like listening,
amplifying voices, and speaking up when you see problems. <br>
<br>
</tt><tt><tt><tt><tt>Each 2-hour workshop will consist of small
group discussions exploring different ways an ally can act
in real-world scenarios. </tt></tt></tt>Since a goal of
the workshop is to practice listening, it helps to have a
variety of people with different experiences - so, we <b>HIGHLY</b>
encourage you to attend and participate. <br>
</tt></p>
<p><tt><b>We currently have 3 scheduled, taking place on the
following days and times:</b><br>
+ Monday, March 6th (English): 2:30PM - 4:45PM<br>
+ Tuesday, March 7th (English): 9:45AM - 12:00PM<br>
+ Thursday, March 9th (Español): </tt><tt><tt>9:45AM - 12:00PM</tt></tt><tt><tt><tt><br>
<br>
</tt></tt>You can read more about the Ally Skills Workshops
here on the IFF Wiki: <a
href="https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Ally_Skills_Workshop">https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Ally_Skills_Workshop</a><br>
</tt><tt><b><br>
</b></tt><br>
<tt><b>### Session Role Cards and </b><b>Session Inclusivity! ###</b></tt><br>
<tt>Who doesn't love a session that flows smoothly, starts and
stops on time, has equal space for all participants to engage
constructively, and to top it all off, has well-documented notes
and action items at the end?</tt><br>
<tt><b> <br>
</b>To help everyone get the most out of every session at the
IFF, and to maintain a safe and inclusive space for all,
sessions during the IFF will be using <b>Session Role Cards</b>
that will be printed and available in every room at the IFF. At
the start of each session, presenters will be asking for
volunteers from among the participants to help support the
discussion by taking on one of these roles:<b><br>
<br>
IFF Session Role Cards: </b><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dpWuIyMyvfefwzxXeAs-Zp3kLJlMmo1yanqwO7h_9SQ/edit?usp=sharing">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dpWuIyMyvfefwzxXeAs-Zp3kLJlMmo1yanqwO7h_9SQ/edit?usp=sharing</a><br>
</tt><br>
</p>
<tt><b>### Schedule for Self-Organized Sessions & Help Desks</b><b>
###<br>
</b>This year at the IFF, we have the most space for
self-organized sessions & help desks that we've ever had! This
means you'll have more opportunities to host the sessions <b>you</b>
want to host, and to share <b>your</b> skills and projects with
over 1,200 fellow participants.<br>
<br>
A separate email will be going out with instructions for
requesting these time slots; however, the full schedule of
self-organized sessions and help desks (which will be continually
updated) will live on the <b>Self-Organized Schedule</b> page of
the IFF Wiki here: <a
href="https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Self-Organized_Schedule">https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Self-Organized_Schedule</a><br>
</tt><br>
<p> <tt>As always, please feel free to reach out to us if you have
any questions about the above - and in the meantime, we wish you
all the safest of travels enroute to Valencia and we'll see you
very, very soon!<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
<br>
Team IFF<br>
</tt></p>
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