Community Guidelines
👋 Hello and welcome, changemaker!
This community of volunteer climate advocates is on a mission to advance U.S. climate policy through sustained civic engagement.
Last Updated on April 4th, 2024.
In pursuit of our mission, it is our greatest priority to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for all community members. Participation in the Climate Changemakers community on any platform -- including but not limited to Slack, Zoom, and social media -- means that you agree to play by these rules.
Embody the values of a changemaker.
Political, not partisan. Influencing government climate policy is high-leverage climate action. We do this political work through a climate lens, not a partisan lens.
Act in Community. Be a steward of the Climate Changemakers community. Build it up by showing up, asking for help, and suggesting new ideas. We make a much bigger impact when we act as part of a collective.
Own your power. Each of us can be a changemaker. Every act of civic engagement matters, big and small. Just do it. Go out on a limb. Try something new. Take initiative. Invite a friend to join us. Organize folks in your own city or state. We can each make a difference.
We also invite you to check out a detailed articulation of our values.
Act lawfully and with integrity.
Be an upstanding representative of this community when you advocate.
Engage respectfully with policymakers and their staff. Even if you don’t agree with a policymaker’s decisions, follow the norms and etiquette associated with the office they hold. E.g. Refer to Senator Manchin as “Senator Manchin,” not “Coal Baron Joe.”
Follow U.S. political campaign rules, as articulated by staff and volunteer leaders and as written in our online resources.
Be Respectful & Stay On-Topic.
There is no place for discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, body size, age, race, religion, political identity, or other characteristics that make people who they are.
Stay on topic and don’t self-promote. Climate Changemakers is a community of climate-concerned people advancing climate policy through meaningful civic engagement. To that end, off-topic comments and overt solicitations that detract from the experience of other community members are not welcome, particularly if that is your primary mode of participation.
Respect fellow changemakers. Respect their opinions, their privacy, and their contributions to climate progress.
Do not share identifiable personal information of community members without consent, including recordings, photographs, Slack messages, Zoom chats etc.
Don’t disrupt community function, intentionally or not. Be mindful of the space you’re taking up.
No sexual, violent, and/or hateful language, imagery, or actions.
If you’re outside the United States…
Climate Changemakers is a United States-based organization whose mission is to advance U.S. climate policy through civic engagement. If you are a non-citizen living in the U.S., or if you are a U.S. citizen living abroad, you can legally participate in our advocacy campaigns.
If you are not a U.S. citizen and you live outside the U.S., please do not participate in our campaigns to influence U.S. policy or politics. In particular U.S. election law strictly prohibits foreign nationals from providing things of value to U.S. candidates, U.S. PACs, or U.S. party committees, or spending their own funds for that work.
Instead, we invite you to draw inspiration from the Climate Changemakers community about climate advocacy strategies and tactics to deploy in your country or region. For example, the Climate Changemakers Europe chapter hosts Hours of Action, prepares policy resources, and organizes actions in the #europe Slack channel.
What if someone violates these Guidelines?
Reporting - If you observe or experience a violation of our Community Guidelines, please Slack DM or email our Community Operations Director, Madeline Dyke. All reports are treated confidentially.
Consequences - If a violation of the Community Guidelines occurs at an Hour of Action, hosts may remove the participant from Zoom immediately, and Staff will follow up via email after the event. Violations will be considered on their own merits, thoughtfully, and assuming best intentions. The Climate Changemakers Staff will take the appropriate and necessary actions to maintain a safe community environment, up to and including expulsion of a member from the community.
Feedback
As Climate Changemakers evolves, so too may these guidelines. Your input is welcome and appreciated. Slack DM or email our Community Operations Director, Madeline Dyke, to share your ideas.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the following people and resources for inspiration: Changemaker Tim F., Geek Feminism,
CMX, We Heal for All, Work on Climate, My Climate Journey, Climate Advocacy Labs