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SPAN’s Code of Ethics

SPAN has a comprehensive Code of Ethics that all staff and volunteers must learn and abide by. The SPAN code of ethics includes a set of “Non-Negotiables” (i.e. guidelines for the SPAN board of directors, staff, interns and volunteers), as well as documentation on “Ethical Communication” and the SPAN Employee Handbook. To ensure the thorough integration of these policies into the day-to-day operations at SPAN, all candidates for SPAN staff positions are provided the “Non-Negotiables” and “Ethical Communication” documentation prior to their interview, and questions about these documents are incorporated into the interview process. All SPAN volunteers receive the “Non-Negotiables” and “Ethical Communication” documentation during their interview with the Volunteer Coordinator. Expectations are clearly stated that all staff and volunteers must abide by the SPAN Code of Ethics.

All SPAN staff, Board Members, and program volunteers are required to complete a 33 hour training designed to enhance participants’ awareness of social justice issues, the dynamics of abuse and to develop greater awareness of the various systems of oppression. A collateral benefit of the training is to inculcate new SPAN community members with the core vision, values and ethics that drive the organization’s mission. Throughout the training, participants develop active listening skills and practice ethical communication while learning about SPAN’s programs, procedures, and philosophy in order to support survivors and their families in the best way possible.

Another way in which the SPAN Code of Ethics is reinforced in day-to-day operations is the utilization of a “Legal Advocacy Client Rights Disclosure” and a “Counseling Disclosure Form.” Both of these disclosures are available in English and Spanish and are given to clients so as to inform them of the organization’s commitment to a high standard of ethical service as well as outline the actions that a client may take if they feel that their counselor or advocate is not acting in adherence with the SPAN Code of Ethics.

Guidelines for Board, Staff, Interns & Volunteers

Non-Negotiables for SPAN

The primary expectation of all SPAN staff, volunteers, interns and board members is a willingness to take responsibility for their own responses and reactions to any given situation and to engage in a process that is ongoing and open to learning and feedback. The following “Non-Negotiables” are intended to help clarify the philosophical goals of the agency and serve as the baseline criteria from which we assess levels of appropriateness for working within the agency. Political education and active critical thinking are necessary components of our work.

  1. We share a basic understanding that
    • violence against women is systemic;
    • women are an oppressed group; and
    • oppression in any form (racism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, cissexism, ageism, ableism etc.) is an act of violence.
  2. We acknowledge intimate partner violence as an action taken primarily against women.
  3. We do not blame the victim in any way for victimization. This includes:
    • respect for all people regardless of race, gender, religion, culture, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status or class;
    • an understanding of the use of violence that considers patterns of behavior, motive and impact, as opposed to a single act; and
    • an approach that is rooted in advocacy as defined by the client.
  4. We continuously work to recognize and challenge our own personal beliefs. This requires:
    • an ongoing process of becoming aware of our own prejudices and privileges;
    • constant effort made toward avoiding projection of personal beliefs about a client’s and/or their children’s circumstances, or assuming that we know what is best for them;
    • the responsibility to be aware of our judgments and reactions when others disagree or hold different beliefs from our own.
    • a willingness to share personal ideas and to receive feedback and challenges on these ideas;
    • the responsibility to challenge oppression and privilege in others and ourselves; and
    • full accountability for our words and actions.
  5. We demonstrate willingness to relinquish/share power and privilege. We are committed to seeking understanding about our experiences both as oppressor and oppressed.
  6. We have a commitment to ethical communication in all of our interpersonal encounters. It is our goal to support each other in this process.
  7. We value and are committed to social change through activism and community organizing.
  8. We challenge and avoid the use of blaming, disrespectful or violent language in our daily lives.
  9. We strive to ensure that our actions, with clients, each other and the community at-large are consistent with our stated beliefs.
  10. We believe that the use of any form of violence to establish power and control is not acceptable.

In summary, the Non-Negotiables reflect a process that occurs on a continuum. There is no finish line or ‘final destination’ in following these guidelines. Instead, we recognize the fluidity of learning and change. There are few role models for the implementation of these and similar philosophical goals. We are committed to participating in the process reflected in these “Non-Negotiables” to the best of our ability.

Ethical Communication

Ethical Communication has evolved into a practice that incorporates feminist, social activist, theological, multiracial and recovery-program perspectives, and it addresses issues of oppression and empowerment. While it is a useful means for resolving conflict, Ethical Communication is also a practice for everyday encounters. It reflects a social change paradigm, and it provides a professional standard by which to measure interactions with colleagues. It is a method that can work in a hierarchical organizational structure, provided that an abuse of power is not present. The practice of Ethical Communication maximizes opportunities for open and direct interaction within organizations while minimizing the potential for blow-ups and damaging incidents.

Social Justice Principles of Ethical Communication
  • Direct communication and resolution are primary goals
  • As members of a group, we cultivate open personal agendas vs. secret agendas
  • No one is isolated or denied a process when challenges arise
  • We are accountable – individually and as a group – for the impact of unethical alliance building and power blocs on the group
  • Conflict and precisely focused anger can be instructive experiences and at times essential to reach true resolution
  • We strive to become aware of and take responsible action for power differentials (formal and informal power)
  • We notice and are accountable for patterns reflecting privilege
  • We remain open to examining own beliefs and perceptions without indulging in self-consciousness

Good communication skills can take a lifetime to develop: how do we articulate our views clearly, hear another’s viewpoint, and engage in disagreement in a way that is respectful and direct? Additionally, while conflict is a daily occurrence and can prompt us into action, how we respond to it, our motives and our methods for handling it is the ethical challenge. Developing facilitation skills in Ethical Communication can lead to resolution among individuals and groups. Learning to give feedback in a direct, honest, and respectful way can improve our ability to receive and incorporate feedback for self-improvement. By taking responsibility to ensure a safe (though not always comfortable!) group environment, we are more able to take personal risks in challenging each other and in sharing new ideas.

When we model ethical standards of communication in our daily lives, we challenge ourselves to weigh and reevaluate the meaning of our words. When we hold every viewpoint as valid, even if we disagree with it, we dismantle the entities that seek to silence us. By focusing on the issue or behavior rather than the person, we receive opportunities to expand our vision by seeing things from more than one angle. By imparting respect and empathy when confronting an opposing viewpoint, we cultivate the wisdom and patience necessary for sustaining us through social struggles. By incorporating these skills daily within our professional and personal lives, we model behavior that is at the heart of social change – healing through action. Through ethical interactions, we broaden and strengthen the web that binds us to our common humanity.

These Guidelines are part of a larger workbook and training program on Ethical Communication, developed by the staff at Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence. For presentation information or to purchase Ethical Communication materials, please contact Ashley Bianchi, Training and Engagement Coordinator, at 303-449-8623, or ashleyb@safehousealliance.org.

Ethical Communication Checklist
  • GO INWARD and take responsibility for your own reactions and personal growth.
  • MAKE a COMMITMENT to yourself, the other person and the group that you will reach resolution to the conflict. This is different than wanting to prove that you’re right. You might want to discuss what “resolution” would look like for each of you.
  • Go DIRECTLY to the SOURCE of your concerns. This eliminates gossip, group fragmentation and putting people in the middle of a situation that has nothing to do with them.
  • Use “I” STATEMENTS, CLEAR LANGUAGE and as many SPECIFIC EXAMPLES as possible. This might require taking some time to first determine what the key issues are.
  • BE PREPARED to take the TIME to work through it. If resolution is not attained in the first meeting, then make a commitment to ongoing discussion.
  • Allow yourself be CHALLENGED by new ideas. CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is ethical. Debate and disagreement can be healthy. It might not always feel comfortable, but as long as it’s done in the spirit of respect, it’s an opportunity for you to GROW (…and it can be done gently, too)!
  • Keep the GOAL of Ethical Communication in mind: resolvable conflict and unity. Reaching resolution creates power and cohesion in a group committed to social change.
  • PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

SPAN's Core Values

SPAN is based out of Boulder, Colorado, on land known to the Arapaho as “where it is steep”, and as part of Turtle Island, a name given to North America by many Native peoples. The Hinóno’éí (Arapaho), Tsistsistas (Cheyenne), Diné (Navajo), and Nuciu (Ute) are among the many tribes that are connected to this land. The history and traditions prior to colonization is beautiful and complex, and we honor their teachings and ongoing connection to this land as an essential part of SPAN’s Core Values. According to Diné teachings, “healing is achieved through the process of strengthening our ties to the land, practicing our Native cultures and languages, and treating one another with respect. We believe these values are mutually self-reinforcing by nature.” (https://utahdinebikeyah.org/)

We recognize everyone comes to SPAN with their own unique experiences, and it is not expected that everyone will know the concepts and terms in this document. It is expected that everyone engaged with SPAN remain committed to conversation, asking questions, making mistakes and being part of a collective dedicated to ongoing learning and growth.

SPAN acknowledges that violence is rooted in a history of exploitation via colonization. Interpersonal violence/domestic violence (IPV/DV) takes place within and alongside oppressive institutions and ideologies devised to maintain power and control over historically marginalized individuals and communities. Our work preventing violence and supporting those who go through IPV/DV acknowledges the unique experiences survivors have as it relates to their identities, for both the strengths and challenges they offer.

For SPAN to provide accessible services and foster healthy community connections, we recognize the need to continuously work on centering the knowledge and experiences of Queer and Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC). This requires intentional grassroots efforts to dismantle and disrupt the burdens and stressors created by white supremacy to the lives of all survivors. Examples of this includes accessing justice within and outside the U.S. legal system; having access to safe and affordable housing; making a living wage; bringing greater awareness via education, outreach, and fundraising efforts; and promoting holistic post-traumatic growth that honors and respects survivors’ wisdom and lived experiences.

The work of community building, transformative justice, and anti-violence organizing has been taking place across many cultures and generations. Inspiration for SPAN’s Core Values includes but is not limited to: the US Civil Rights Movement, the Delano grape strike organized by Filipino-American and Mexican-American farmworkers, indigenous environmental activism of Latin America, the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, liberation theology as taught by leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Óscar Romero, the Essie Justice Project, and individuals such as Prentis Hemphill, Grace Lee Boggs, Mariame Kaba, Paulo Freire, bell hooks, Audre Lorde, Berta Cáceres, Betita Martínez, SPAN community members, among countless others.

These Core Values were created to guide and sustain working relationships within the SPAN community, which is made up of clients, staff, interns, volunteers, board members, and collaborative partners. We value the knowledge that comes from the lived experiences of individuals accessing services and providing support at SPAN. As noted by the Essie Justice Project, wisdom exists at the intersections of compounded pressure.

We are intentional in efforts to understand what it means to re-Indigenize and decolonize our work and interactions with one another to create and sustain connection and joy. This is in addition to the responsibility of disrupting and resisting the oppressive systems that SPAN community members interact with. This includes but is not limited to white supremacy, cissexism, patriarchy, heteronormativity, ableism, classism, and oppression based on perceived country of origin and/or religion.

Social location does not predetermine experience. It does, however, guide SPAN’s efforts to consider the strengths of an individual and community, as well as oppressive barriers they may face. Through all our programs (Education, Legal Advocacy, Counseling, Shelter, Housing & Economic Justice, Development, Human Resources & Administration) we strive to be:

  • Survivor and Youth Directed: Providing voluntary services, meeting people where they are at and having their wishes guide advocacy & education efforts.
  • Trauma-Informed: Recognizing the toll of daily lived experiences of oppression and the complex trauma survivors of DV/IPV experience. Emphasizing humility, compassion, and empathy to foster post-traumatic growth within individuals and in community.
  • Strengths-Based: Appreciating the resiliency, self-advocacy efforts, and tools people acquire to support their survival and self-defined success. Building upon unique strengths instead of assimilating to a one-size-fits-all approach to advocacy or education.

SPAN’s Core Values were written to guide communication and action in all settings at SPAN in order to build a strong community. These values are integral in disrupting abuses of power. We are in an ongoing process of creating and implementing community-based practices that provide opportunities for non-punitive collective repair, healing, understanding, respect, and sustenance, all of which require:

Accountability: Acknowledging harm as well as creating an environment where accountability is modeled and expected. It
requires effort to not only understand power and privilege but to step into or relinquish power based on identities.

Receptivity: Providing feedback (especially when harm has occurred) takes emotional labor on the part of the person who has been harmed. Receptivity is a willingness to hear and receive feedback, with acknowledgement of the labor that went into it, and a clear effort to change oppressive behavior.

Transparency: Transparency around decisions impacting this community help cultivate a sense of trust and build collective accountability

Vulnerability: Care of this community requires each person to show up authentically and ensure historically marginalized individuals and communities are not solely carrying the burden of truth telling. “Mistakes” are expected and necessary to illuminate opportunities for changed behavior.

Acknowledgement
This was written by a group of staff and interns at SPAN and was most recently updated on January 5, 2021, during a Transformative Justice group that has been meeting weekly following the police killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. This group began by contemplating the role SPAN, as a nonviolence organization, could play in reimagining how to build peaceful communities not dependent on state violence. Our conversations turned quickly inward in recognition of a need to look at SPAN’s own internal values, processes, and commitment to collective repair. The Black Lives Matter amplification and challenges of a global pandemic were the backdrop to this iteration of SPAN’s Core Values, which we
acknowledge will continue to evolve