Conflict and Non-Compliance Philosophy

Purpose

The purpose of publicly defining this philosophy is to live and practice our organizational values: transparency, accountability, equity, accessibility, and growth. Conflict is a universal and inevitable part of existing, but approaches to handling conflict differ widely. With this philosophy, we hope to clarify our approach and enhance the culture of our organization and community.

Philosophy

As an organization, we emphasize restorative justice practices and focus on reflection, repair, and reintegration. KBtL aims to cultivate a culture of reintegration rather than permanent exclusion whenever possible. This means providing opportunities for individuals to learn from their actions, make amends, and re-enter the community in a manner that aligns with our values.

We also, as an organization, are strong when holding space; we prioritize marginalized and underserved populations, ethical standards, our core values, and the longevity of the organization. KBtL was born of a passion for community organizing and a desire to create a space where light can be shined on places that are normally dark. We will not dim that light because it is inconvenient, awkward, or disruptive. Even within the spaces that we brighten, there are limits. KBtL must stay within the realm of possibility; including abiding by certain external demands: the laws of physics and those of countries, the realities of time and money, and the of expectations of the communities that we serve.

KBtL has boundaries and KBtL has grace. We aim to use both in harmony to move through the world in a way that makes us flexible, but not porous. We aim to provide paths for growth and restoration whenever possible and we prioritize seeking context and compromise when faced with conflicts. As a small organization, trust moves us forward. We strongly reject ghosting, dishonesty, deceit, and silence, choosing instead a path of communication, commitment, honesty, and stability as these qualities are necessary for KBtL to survive and thrive.

Where it Applies

Conflict and non-compliance shows up in hundreds of ways, big and small. We can not ever imagine all the possible issues or their specific consequences, nor do we want to try. Instead, we have compiled a philosophy statement that, in conjunction with our accountability process, serves as a guide. We will utilize these whenever conflicts come up or we are faced with issues of non-compliance. These could be with educators, staff, volunteers, partners, or attendees and about any topic. The most common ways our organizational boundaries show up is in our rules and policies to be followed, including additional policies or contractual obligations for volunteers, staff, partners, or educators as applicable. In addition, our organizational boundaries show up in the ways we choose to uplift marginalized voices and hold ourselves to a high moral and ethical standard. We move through the world in ways that align with the world we want to live in and and do not shy away from difficult conversations or following our organizational values and mission.