May 8th, Public Statement by Justin and Ely
These past months have been difficult for many of us at Recess and in the Recess community. We had a perfect storm on the team, one that broke trust, showed scars, and highlighted places where we had failed to build trust.
We believe that the only way to prevent hurting one another the way society has trained us to, is through building relationships, and trust is central to this. None of us will ever eliminate patriarchy, or any other type of systemic hurt within ourselves, our organizations, or our communities. However, through building and maintaining resilient relationships and trust, the hurt of systemic oppression can be mitigated or even stopped. All the lenses, critique, and values in the world are worthless, or often even a perpetuation of the same systems of hurt they intend to stop, if they are not used with the end goal of bringing us closer together, into better relationships, and into enhanced trust.
These past months, despite attempts to act within our values, we made decisions and acted in ways that broke the trust and relationships of our teammates. We have also come to recognize and acknowledge parts of our organizational structure, intra-team dynamics, and interpersonal relationships, spoken and unspoken, that have contributed to the detriment of creating and maintaining resilient relationships among the team, particularly among femme and non-binary teammates. For this we are truly sorry. We are sorry for our own mistakes, we are sorry for the people who specifically have been hurt and are upset, and we are sorry to our community to whom trusts us in the upholding of important values in the creation of our event spaces.
We have taken steps to improve our own relationships on the team as well as between us and the community we intend to organize in. For those interested, these specific changes are outlined in the following Q&A section below.
Recess is and has been important to many because of the values we hold in common and because we commit to doing “better.” This conflict has not changed that, as we have and are still committed to that process and the value “doing better.” This recent conflict and the recent break in our team has been a potent reminder that we still have much to grow through. Conflict isn’t something to be solved; rather, conflict is to be grown through, as is our relationship-to and care-for these issues and each other. We don’t believe in solutions, rather we believe in active process, and a joint process of working to do better together.
The world is in a potent place right now. A lot of shifting of power. A lot of shifting of centers. It's important. It’s difficult. Recess has served a decade and over 90 events caring about and supporting our community doing better. We will individually continue to dedicate ourselves to that process of positive communal transformation. We are also taking a step back in our production workload so that we can better attend to our own process as well as give space in the community for other projects and project leaders. We’re excited to see what new centers emerge in the community, we’re excited for the new growth in our own process, and we’re excited to continue to be in collective process to building stronger and more resilient relationships for those excited to be in relationship with us.
Sincerely,
Justin and Ely
Additions
We believe that the only way to prevent hurting one another the way society has trained us to, is through building relationships, and trust is central to this. None of us will ever eliminate patriarchy, or any other type of systemic hurt within ourselves, our organizations, or our communities. However, through building and maintaining resilient relationships and trust, the hurt of systemic oppression can be mitigated or even stopped. All the lenses, critique, and values in the world are worthless, or often even a perpetuation of the same systems of hurt they intend to stop, if they are not used with the end goal of bringing us closer together, into better relationships, and into enhanced trust.
These past months, despite attempts to act within our values, we made decisions and acted in ways that broke the trust and relationships of our teammates. We have also come to recognize and acknowledge parts of our organizational structure, intra-team dynamics, and interpersonal relationships, spoken and unspoken, that have contributed to the detriment of creating and maintaining resilient relationships among the team, particularly among femme and non-binary teammates. For this we are truly sorry. We are sorry for our own mistakes, we are sorry for the people who specifically have been hurt and are upset, and we are sorry to our community to whom trusts us in the upholding of important values in the creation of our event spaces.
We have taken steps to improve our own relationships on the team as well as between us and the community we intend to organize in. For those interested, these specific changes are outlined in the following Q&A section below.
Recess is and has been important to many because of the values we hold in common and because we commit to doing “better.” This conflict has not changed that, as we have and are still committed to that process and the value “doing better.” This recent conflict and the recent break in our team has been a potent reminder that we still have much to grow through. Conflict isn’t something to be solved; rather, conflict is to be grown through, as is our relationship-to and care-for these issues and each other. We don’t believe in solutions, rather we believe in active process, and a joint process of working to do better together.
The world is in a potent place right now. A lot of shifting of power. A lot of shifting of centers. It's important. It’s difficult. Recess has served a decade and over 90 events caring about and supporting our community doing better. We will individually continue to dedicate ourselves to that process of positive communal transformation. We are also taking a step back in our production workload so that we can better attend to our own process as well as give space in the community for other projects and project leaders. We’re excited to see what new centers emerge in the community, we’re excited for the new growth in our own process, and we’re excited to continue to be in collective process to building stronger and more resilient relationships for those excited to be in relationship with us.
Sincerely,
Justin and Ely
Additions
- Some organizers left in part because of an untrue rumor they heard. If you have heard a rumor about a specific instance of why certain organizers left upset, we have been asked by the person of whom the rumor is about to publicize this statement to help clarify the rumor. Their statement can be found here.
- If you would like your voice heard by Recess, this is an anonymous forum to voice your response directly to Recess.
- Below is a page addressing specific questions or concerns we have seen posted publicly or heard personally. If you have additional questions or concerns, please write us at the above forum or personally at [email protected]
Q&A About This Current Conflict: Published May 8th, 201
I heard a rumor that organizes left Recess because of inappropriate conduct by a recess organizer. Is it true?
The rumor mill was in full effect these past months. Some organizers did leave because of a rumor they heard and believed as true, as well as their disagreements about how it was handled. We are not sure what you heard, but the person in whose name these rumors are being spread has asked us to publicly share their words on it. That can be found here. At the bottom are public posts by all organizers that have more details.
What are Recess’ plans for its 2018 events?
We have decided we will support the Recess Community Campout May 27th weekend in California. This event intends to facilitate an in-person space for community work and discussions. It will be co-supported and directed by non-Recess organizers Agata Stucka and Rachel Taylor as well as the usual celebrative dance and community space that we all love about Recess.
We have decided to continue with our agreement to collaborate with Valencia Blues Revolution in Spain. We have a long-standing work relationship with them and have had countless hours of discussion about previous and current issues. The group collaborating feel good about the relationship with us and Recess, are very aware of organizers leaving and why, are aware of the dynamics we are working to improve, have an extensive working history with Recess and Justin that they feel supported and empowered in, and feel strongly that the Spanish Recess collaboration should still happen. You can their own public statement regarding their advocacy for the Spanish Recess here.
The Northwest Recess in August is currently listed as “tentative.” If we see the type of proof-of-success in our planned changes in the coming months, we would like it to happen. Following the community work planned at the Recess Community Campout we will announce our decisions regarding Northwest.
Who are the current Recess Organizes?
The current Recess Organizers are Justin Riley, Recess’ Founder, and Ely Fair, the longest acting Recess co-organizer with Justin. David Accurso is also still a Recess Organizer, but has currently taken a step back for personal reasons.
I heard that Recess exploits its organizers labor? I understood that as financial compensation. How are Recess Organizers paid?
Recess pays all organizers, including its founder, Justin, the same wage. Currently that is $10/hour for off-site administrative (computer) work hours (non-computer work being at a lower rate, and a travel/work stipend of $400 and $600 per on-site event worked ($400 for events without international travel and $600 with).
Who owns Recess?
Recess is a Member-Owned LLC where all Recess Organizers are Member Owners.
Can you share with us a financial and labor report from Recess?
That information can be found here. An outside accountant is currently putting together a more detailed financial report of Recess that we intend to make public and will post on our website when it is finished.
I am concerned about what Recess is doing to improve physical safety at Recess?
We have heard concerns regarding safety at Recess and are working to implement new systems to improve the overall safety, physical and otherwise, at Recess. These include the implementation of an independent safety team at events responsible for making safety decisions. We plan for the person or persons in charge of that team to not be a cis-man and not be a member of the Recess Organizing Team. Every event will have an internal protocol and set-out plan on what to do in the instance of an injury or medical emergency. We are still looking for a solution to improve our on-site medical care and personal that does not put liability on staff or volunteers.
I heard that Organizers believe that “Recess is their Art” and thus immune to critique or criticism? Does Recess really believe this?
We don’t think that we have ever said that Recess was immune to critique and if that was understood, it was a misunderstanding. There has been an announcement at events that has gone more or less “if you don't like something think to yourself ‘is this art?’ If the answer is ‘yes’ then ask ‘do i think this is good or bad art?’ This is not a position which claims that everything Recess does is art. This is a position which claims that artistic decisions are not debatable in the same way that other decision are debatable. This announcement was designed to address concerns of participants disagreeing with our artistic decisions; to say, if you think that it's supposed to be art and think it is bad art, then say you don’t like my art, don’t say we are ‘wrong.’ This is different than saying, ‘if you think something is hurtful you have no right to voice that or if you think something could work better for more people that we shouldn’t discuss that.’ It is instead to say, ‘if you don’t want to participate in some art happening because you think it's not good or fun, please don’t.’
Two years ago we instituted at events the “Safe Questions box” which has been very successful for increasing our feedback at events. This anonymous feedback forum is one place to provide Recess feedback off-site as well.
I heard that the organizers left because Justin withheld important information from the rest of the team regarding a support situation?
There is truth to this. Someone called Justin specifically asking for direct and personal support around their voice not being listened to and untrue rumors being spread about them. Justin and four other non-Recess community members were a part of a group helping to mitigate the hurtful rumor where everyone was asked explicitly for strict confidentiality and no one else’s involvement, of which everyone involved agreed.
[from Justin] . I understand that this situation involved Recess and thus affects other Recess Organizers. At the time, I prioritized the explicit asks by the teen, and the parent’s and educator’s join agreement, over the team’s need to know. It was a hard and unclear decision, but one I stand by still. What I regret now is that I did not decline or refer-out the ask for support, so that I was not put into such a complicated situation, caught between an obligation to the teen and creating a situation that ended up hurting my friends, teammates, and recess. I also see now how I could have satisfied the need for confidentiality as well as informed the team more vaguely that there was a thing going on. At the time, this did not feel available in the situation, but I see now that it could have been.
The person who this rumor is about has asked us to publicly share their words on the situation. That can be found here.
What is being done to insure that Recess stops burning through femme and non-binary Organizers?
We are redirecting attention and resources towards each other on the team and how we can be better together. We are no longer allowing high logistical needs or dreamy arts productions be prioritized over each other. We have reduced our 2018 production schedule from 8 to (maybe) 3, and thus eased our overall stress as organizers. Until we develop a more sustainable on-site setup, each production will be simpler in an attempt to decrease the workload of organizers and attendees. We plan to allow more space for volunteers and Organizers to give within their capacity and further encouraging a culture of valuing self-care and inter-community care. Additionally, we are actively trying to help all organizers, particularly female and non-binary read, better seen and appreciated for their labor by the larger community. We also acknowledge that we are far away from inviting new members onto the Recess Organizing Team and recognize that much more care, work, conversations, and proof-of-success need to be happen before doing so.
Additionally, we are working on eliminating tacit agreements on the team of who is in charge of what. We see miscommunication and hurt happening around responsibility, power, and agreements that were made or given tacitly over many years. There was no way for newer team members to understand all of the tacit agreements that existed, nor clear processes to change them. We are now improving our own organization within the team and as a group noting roles, responsibilities, and power more formally.
We are revisiting and reinvigorating our Recess Organizing Team Relationship Agreements between the current team.
At Recess is there often not clarity on what is “good enough” in terms of work input?
We recognize that the question of “what is enough work” at Recess is not clear for everyone, both among Organizers and participants. We are prioritizing the reiteration of a culture of valuing self-care and inter-community care even more than we previously have.
Why does Recess call itself an “activist” or “political” organization?”
We do not see Recess as an “activist” or “political” organization.” This is a term that Recess used years ago, but have not used or felt associated with for many years and have actively been trying to distance Recess from. We realize there is more work to be done publicly to change this association. We also do stand-by and believe that ALL actions or decisions are inherently political. If actions or events do not seem political or activist, it is only because they are overtly supporting dominant politics.
I am curious if Justin would like to share some of the most potent lessons he has learned through all of this and what changes are coming out of them?
[From Justin]: What lessons have I learned? There are many. Here are four of the most potent ones.
First, when I am in charge or directing, it is difficult for people, particularly fem/nb to voice their needs. The action’s that I’ve taken in giving or allowing space, I still do not see as successfully making it easy for all people to voice their needs. I will still do more, but don’t see it possible to actually create the type of permission to self-advocate that I ideally want with me as the director. In my life I often run support for other events and studios, and do so very well when I am in that role. A solution I see for Recess going forward is that I more often take a support role with others at the Director role. And, if the group does decide that I am the Director for a specific role or event, that these dynamics are discussed openly.
Second lesson: I don’t believe Recess should be easy or without challenges. It’s part of what makes Recess a transformative space for many of us. However, I believe that we need to have a supportive, resilient space and relationships so that we grow closer, stronger, and learn through hardship, rather than break and relive trauma in the face of challenges. I see that Recess’s “full steam ahead” often put our available energy towards logistics and away from taking care of each other and building/maintaining that resilient, supportive, base that is necessary for the intended ‘challenge’ of recess to be growth and resilient building. I now feel a refusal to allow logistical needs prevent the important relationship work and building we need to be continually doing as a team. This lesson falls under a “priority shift” for me, and an explicit need to redirect attention and resources towards each other and how we can be better together, and not allow high logistical needs take away from that.
Third Lesson: I realize that while often people ask or demand personally from me solutions, labor, or fixes, that I am often not the best person to do it and that sometimes my appeal to the ask will not result in the most optimal outcome for the situation. I am asking for more support, setting clearer boundaries, and referring out for things asked of me that I am unqualified, unable, or without the emotional capacity to do well.
Fourth Lesson: I have learned the danger of tacit agreements, particularly around who is in charge of what. In our bi-laws we’ve had a list of the items that were collective decisions, but the space where we often had miscommunication and hurt happening around the responsibility, power, and agreements that were made or given tacitly over years. There was no way for new team members to understand all of the tacit agreements that existed, nor clear processes to change them. The action resulting from this lesson is an improvement of our own organization within the team and noting roles, responsibilities, and power more formally.
Where can I find out more information about the source of issues brought up by the members that left recess?
There are as many perspectives as people involved. The best way to understand the conflicts and issues involved is to hear from who were on the team during this time and who made public Facebook posts regarding it when it all happened. We have included PDFs of the posts that were labeled "public" on Facebook. We have not listed ones that were labeled as "friends only."
Public FB discussions about the conflict on the Recess Productions FB Page
Public FB post by the teen, regarding the rumor that set-off this conflict:
Public FB Post by Leah Vendle, made for Dig, Kim Upstill, Cat, and Leah.
Public FB Post by: Justin Riley
Public FB Post by: Ely Fair
The rumor mill was in full effect these past months. Some organizers did leave because of a rumor they heard and believed as true, as well as their disagreements about how it was handled. We are not sure what you heard, but the person in whose name these rumors are being spread has asked us to publicly share their words on it. That can be found here. At the bottom are public posts by all organizers that have more details.
What are Recess’ plans for its 2018 events?
We have decided we will support the Recess Community Campout May 27th weekend in California. This event intends to facilitate an in-person space for community work and discussions. It will be co-supported and directed by non-Recess organizers Agata Stucka and Rachel Taylor as well as the usual celebrative dance and community space that we all love about Recess.
We have decided to continue with our agreement to collaborate with Valencia Blues Revolution in Spain. We have a long-standing work relationship with them and have had countless hours of discussion about previous and current issues. The group collaborating feel good about the relationship with us and Recess, are very aware of organizers leaving and why, are aware of the dynamics we are working to improve, have an extensive working history with Recess and Justin that they feel supported and empowered in, and feel strongly that the Spanish Recess collaboration should still happen. You can their own public statement regarding their advocacy for the Spanish Recess here.
The Northwest Recess in August is currently listed as “tentative.” If we see the type of proof-of-success in our planned changes in the coming months, we would like it to happen. Following the community work planned at the Recess Community Campout we will announce our decisions regarding Northwest.
Who are the current Recess Organizes?
The current Recess Organizers are Justin Riley, Recess’ Founder, and Ely Fair, the longest acting Recess co-organizer with Justin. David Accurso is also still a Recess Organizer, but has currently taken a step back for personal reasons.
I heard that Recess exploits its organizers labor? I understood that as financial compensation. How are Recess Organizers paid?
Recess pays all organizers, including its founder, Justin, the same wage. Currently that is $10/hour for off-site administrative (computer) work hours (non-computer work being at a lower rate, and a travel/work stipend of $400 and $600 per on-site event worked ($400 for events without international travel and $600 with).
Who owns Recess?
Recess is a Member-Owned LLC where all Recess Organizers are Member Owners.
Can you share with us a financial and labor report from Recess?
That information can be found here. An outside accountant is currently putting together a more detailed financial report of Recess that we intend to make public and will post on our website when it is finished.
I am concerned about what Recess is doing to improve physical safety at Recess?
We have heard concerns regarding safety at Recess and are working to implement new systems to improve the overall safety, physical and otherwise, at Recess. These include the implementation of an independent safety team at events responsible for making safety decisions. We plan for the person or persons in charge of that team to not be a cis-man and not be a member of the Recess Organizing Team. Every event will have an internal protocol and set-out plan on what to do in the instance of an injury or medical emergency. We are still looking for a solution to improve our on-site medical care and personal that does not put liability on staff or volunteers.
I heard that Organizers believe that “Recess is their Art” and thus immune to critique or criticism? Does Recess really believe this?
We don’t think that we have ever said that Recess was immune to critique and if that was understood, it was a misunderstanding. There has been an announcement at events that has gone more or less “if you don't like something think to yourself ‘is this art?’ If the answer is ‘yes’ then ask ‘do i think this is good or bad art?’ This is not a position which claims that everything Recess does is art. This is a position which claims that artistic decisions are not debatable in the same way that other decision are debatable. This announcement was designed to address concerns of participants disagreeing with our artistic decisions; to say, if you think that it's supposed to be art and think it is bad art, then say you don’t like my art, don’t say we are ‘wrong.’ This is different than saying, ‘if you think something is hurtful you have no right to voice that or if you think something could work better for more people that we shouldn’t discuss that.’ It is instead to say, ‘if you don’t want to participate in some art happening because you think it's not good or fun, please don’t.’
Two years ago we instituted at events the “Safe Questions box” which has been very successful for increasing our feedback at events. This anonymous feedback forum is one place to provide Recess feedback off-site as well.
I heard that the organizers left because Justin withheld important information from the rest of the team regarding a support situation?
There is truth to this. Someone called Justin specifically asking for direct and personal support around their voice not being listened to and untrue rumors being spread about them. Justin and four other non-Recess community members were a part of a group helping to mitigate the hurtful rumor where everyone was asked explicitly for strict confidentiality and no one else’s involvement, of which everyone involved agreed.
[from Justin] . I understand that this situation involved Recess and thus affects other Recess Organizers. At the time, I prioritized the explicit asks by the teen, and the parent’s and educator’s join agreement, over the team’s need to know. It was a hard and unclear decision, but one I stand by still. What I regret now is that I did not decline or refer-out the ask for support, so that I was not put into such a complicated situation, caught between an obligation to the teen and creating a situation that ended up hurting my friends, teammates, and recess. I also see now how I could have satisfied the need for confidentiality as well as informed the team more vaguely that there was a thing going on. At the time, this did not feel available in the situation, but I see now that it could have been.
The person who this rumor is about has asked us to publicly share their words on the situation. That can be found here.
What is being done to insure that Recess stops burning through femme and non-binary Organizers?
We are redirecting attention and resources towards each other on the team and how we can be better together. We are no longer allowing high logistical needs or dreamy arts productions be prioritized over each other. We have reduced our 2018 production schedule from 8 to (maybe) 3, and thus eased our overall stress as organizers. Until we develop a more sustainable on-site setup, each production will be simpler in an attempt to decrease the workload of organizers and attendees. We plan to allow more space for volunteers and Organizers to give within their capacity and further encouraging a culture of valuing self-care and inter-community care. Additionally, we are actively trying to help all organizers, particularly female and non-binary read, better seen and appreciated for their labor by the larger community. We also acknowledge that we are far away from inviting new members onto the Recess Organizing Team and recognize that much more care, work, conversations, and proof-of-success need to be happen before doing so.
Additionally, we are working on eliminating tacit agreements on the team of who is in charge of what. We see miscommunication and hurt happening around responsibility, power, and agreements that were made or given tacitly over many years. There was no way for newer team members to understand all of the tacit agreements that existed, nor clear processes to change them. We are now improving our own organization within the team and as a group noting roles, responsibilities, and power more formally.
We are revisiting and reinvigorating our Recess Organizing Team Relationship Agreements between the current team.
At Recess is there often not clarity on what is “good enough” in terms of work input?
We recognize that the question of “what is enough work” at Recess is not clear for everyone, both among Organizers and participants. We are prioritizing the reiteration of a culture of valuing self-care and inter-community care even more than we previously have.
Why does Recess call itself an “activist” or “political” organization?”
We do not see Recess as an “activist” or “political” organization.” This is a term that Recess used years ago, but have not used or felt associated with for many years and have actively been trying to distance Recess from. We realize there is more work to be done publicly to change this association. We also do stand-by and believe that ALL actions or decisions are inherently political. If actions or events do not seem political or activist, it is only because they are overtly supporting dominant politics.
I am curious if Justin would like to share some of the most potent lessons he has learned through all of this and what changes are coming out of them?
[From Justin]: What lessons have I learned? There are many. Here are four of the most potent ones.
First, when I am in charge or directing, it is difficult for people, particularly fem/nb to voice their needs. The action’s that I’ve taken in giving or allowing space, I still do not see as successfully making it easy for all people to voice their needs. I will still do more, but don’t see it possible to actually create the type of permission to self-advocate that I ideally want with me as the director. In my life I often run support for other events and studios, and do so very well when I am in that role. A solution I see for Recess going forward is that I more often take a support role with others at the Director role. And, if the group does decide that I am the Director for a specific role or event, that these dynamics are discussed openly.
Second lesson: I don’t believe Recess should be easy or without challenges. It’s part of what makes Recess a transformative space for many of us. However, I believe that we need to have a supportive, resilient space and relationships so that we grow closer, stronger, and learn through hardship, rather than break and relive trauma in the face of challenges. I see that Recess’s “full steam ahead” often put our available energy towards logistics and away from taking care of each other and building/maintaining that resilient, supportive, base that is necessary for the intended ‘challenge’ of recess to be growth and resilient building. I now feel a refusal to allow logistical needs prevent the important relationship work and building we need to be continually doing as a team. This lesson falls under a “priority shift” for me, and an explicit need to redirect attention and resources towards each other and how we can be better together, and not allow high logistical needs take away from that.
Third Lesson: I realize that while often people ask or demand personally from me solutions, labor, or fixes, that I am often not the best person to do it and that sometimes my appeal to the ask will not result in the most optimal outcome for the situation. I am asking for more support, setting clearer boundaries, and referring out for things asked of me that I am unqualified, unable, or without the emotional capacity to do well.
Fourth Lesson: I have learned the danger of tacit agreements, particularly around who is in charge of what. In our bi-laws we’ve had a list of the items that were collective decisions, but the space where we often had miscommunication and hurt happening around the responsibility, power, and agreements that were made or given tacitly over years. There was no way for new team members to understand all of the tacit agreements that existed, nor clear processes to change them. The action resulting from this lesson is an improvement of our own organization within the team and noting roles, responsibilities, and power more formally.
Where can I find out more information about the source of issues brought up by the members that left recess?
There are as many perspectives as people involved. The best way to understand the conflicts and issues involved is to hear from who were on the team during this time and who made public Facebook posts regarding it when it all happened. We have included PDFs of the posts that were labeled "public" on Facebook. We have not listed ones that were labeled as "friends only."
Public FB discussions about the conflict on the Recess Productions FB Page
Public FB post by the teen, regarding the rumor that set-off this conflict:
Public FB Post by Leah Vendle, made for Dig, Kim Upstill, Cat, and Leah.
Public FB Post by: Justin Riley
Public FB Post by: Ely Fair
