[Festival] Ally Skills & Session Inclusivity at the IFF

[IFF Team]

Friends!

The IFF 2017 is kicking off in just under a week now, and we couldn't be
more excited to see you all!

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.

So, this year, in addition to our updated *Code of Conduct*
(https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Code_of_Conduct)
we're offering everybody a variety of opportunities and tools to support
everyone in maintaining the IFF as warm, safe and welcoming environment
for everyone!*


### Ally Skills Workshops at the IFF ###*
This year at the IFF, we're SUPER excited to be offering attendees the
chance to participate in one of several *Ally Skills Workshops*.
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.

Each 2-hour workshop will consist of small group discussions exploring
different ways an ally can act in real-world scenarios. Since a goal of
the workshop is to practice listening, it helps to have a variety of
people with different experiences - so, we *HIGHLY* encourage you to
attend and participate.

*We currently have 3 scheduled, taking place on the following days and
times:*
+ Monday, March 6th (English): 2:30PM - 4:45PM
+ Tuesday, March 7th (English): 9:45AM - 12:00PM
+ Thursday, March 9th (Español): 9:45AM - 12:00PM

You can read more about the Ally Skills Workshops here on the IFF Wiki:
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Ally_Skills_Workshop
*
*
*### Session Role Cards and **Session Inclusivity! ###*
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?
*
*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 *Session Role Cards* 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:*

IFF Session Role Cards:
*https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dpWuIyMyvfefwzxXeAs-Zp3kLJlMmo1yanqwO7h_9SQ/edit?usp=sharing

*### Schedule for Self-Organized Sessions & Help Desks**###
*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 *you* want to host, and to share
*your* skills and projects with over 1,200 fellow participants.

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
*Self-Organized Schedule* page of the IFF Wiki here:
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Self-Organized_Schedule

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!

Cheers,

Team IFF

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