Conscious – Solidary – Together
We as Urbane Praxis e.V. combine perspectives from art, culture, architecture, education and social issues. With our work, we are committed to a community-oriented coexistence in our city. That’s why we’ve made our upcoming PRAXISWOCHE Own Your City! from 05. until 10. september We have taken the opportunity to integrate awareness into our work and are working together with experts and a trained awareness team.
For us, awareness means that we want to cultivate a conscious, mindful and respectful interaction with each other – regardless of gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, abilities, or religion. It is important to us to create spaces that are as barrier-free and discrimination-sensitive as possible during our practice week. We are all responsible for this!
With our concept, we want to send a clear signal against discrimination, show possibilities for action and motivate all participants in our practice week to learn together with us. Please familiarize yourself with the topic here and during the event and learn about our Awareness Guidelines (Code of Conduct). These apply to all persons present at our practice week.
Now and in the long term, we want all people – whether internal or external – to feel as safe, welcome and comfortable as possible at our events.
Your Urbane Praxis e.V.
PRAXISWOCHE Own your City!
05.09.2023 – 10.09.2023
Disclaimer: During the practice week, our events will take place in several districts of Berlin and our awareness team will not always be on site. At the same time, we are working with many different actors who cannot all be involved in the awareness process (concept development, training) this year. That’s why we count on everyone’s awareness and see our concept as the first step towards making our Awareness goals to be realized. You can find out more about the availability of the Awareness Team under point 3: “Awareness Team & Awareness Point”.
- What means awareness? What is behind awareness work?
Awareness is the English word for consciousness / perception. To be aware means to be aware of people and situations. The core of awareness work is to create a space where everyone can feel as safe and comfortable as possible and boundaries are maintained. This includes the creation of a concept, an increased awareness of all actors and the cooperation with a trained awareness team. Awareness work allows us to overcome feelings of powerlessness and take action when boundaries are crossed!
Why do we say “as safe as possible?” (Safer Space)
All people in our society are positioned differently. We all experience different dimensions of discrimination and privilege, with opportunities distributed unequally. Therefore, there is no such thing as a 100% safe room. So even at events with power-critical approaches, incidents can occur.
- Our Awareness goals
Our awareness concept is the first step in our ongoing awareness process, as we aim to address the following goals:
- Breaking down barriers:enabling more people to access our work
- Promote connections: as an association, radiate less exclusivity and more openness
- Creating low-injury spaces: using guidelines to make transparent which values are important to us, what behavior we would like to see based on them, and what will not be tolerated
- Provide points of contact: Collaboration with a trained awareness team
- Becoming more critical of discrimination: in both our internal and external structures.
- Promote charisma: inspire other actors to also dedicate themselves to the important topic of awareness.
- Awareness Team & Awareness Point
We want to be approachable for those affected and support them. Since our Praxiswoche events are spread throughout Berlin, you will find information about responsibilities during Praxiswoche in this section. A general overview of all events and locations can be found here.
Who can I contact?
If you observe something that seems assaultive, or you yourself have been affected by a boundary violation, you can contact the following people:
Awareness Team: Pink
For our practice week, we set up an Awareness Point in Kreuzberg. Our trained Awareness Team is located there and can be contacted directly via the Awareness Hotline at the times listed below. Depending on the case, an awareness team member is called to the venue or the affected person is accompanied to the awareness point. You will recognize our Awareness Team by pink high-visibility vests.
Other contact persons: Green high-visibility vests.
Since our awareness team cannot be directly at every venue, you will find at least one awareness contact person at every event. You can recognize them by their green vests with the inscription “Urbane Praxis e.V.”. The green contact persons are briefed and can make direct contact with the Awareness Team for you if necessary. Depending on the possibility, they can also accompany you to the Awareness Point.
Awareness Hotline:
+49 157 53 55 41 96
Awareness Point:
Urbane Praxis e.V. Lobby, Mehringplatz 8, 10969 Kreuzberg
Time Awareness Team:
- Tuesday 05.09.: 15:00 – 20:00 h
- Wednesday 06.09.: 15:00 – 20:00 h
- Thursday, 07.09.: 14:30 – 22:30 h
- Friday, 08.09.: 14:30 – 22:30 h
- Saturday, 09.09.: 14:30 – 22:30 h
- Sonday, 10.09.: 12:30 – 20:30 h
Retreat room
There is a retreat room at our Awareness Point in Kreuzberg. This can be used by affected individuals to have confidential conversations with the Awareness Team. Neurodiverse individuals (ADHD, autism spectrum) may also seek out the space when they need a break due to sensory overload. At the venues themselves, contacts in the Green West can also be asked for a quiet retreat. Unfortunately, this cannot be guaranteed at every location, but contact persons and the Awareness Team are happy to help reduce stimuli.
The principles of our awareness work:
- Power of definition: Those affected define for themselves what constitutes a border crossing for them. We therefore do not question why people feel violated, discriminated against, attacked or overwhelmed. Because what is not a problem for one person can be traumatizing for another.
- Partiality: The Awareness Team declares its solidarity with those affected and offers support if requested. This includes offering to talk about the incident, going to the retreat, or even excluding the (violent) perpetrator from the event.
- Confidentiality: All information shared by data subjects with the awareness team and contact persons (green) is treated confidentially. Information will only be shared with third parties with the consent of the data subject.
- Awareness Guideline / Code of Conduct
Urbane Praxis e.V. does not tolerate any form of racism, sexism, Ableism, anti-Semitism, queer and trans hostility, or otherwise discriminatory, violent behavior. By attending our practice week, all participants agree to our code of conduct. In the event of violations of our Code of Conduct, we reserve the right to exclude persons from our events.
Conscious – Solidary – Together
We wish to treat each other with consideration and solidarity. Our events should be places where we meet at eye level. We want to use our resources to create low-barrier and discrimination-sensitive spaces so that everyone can feel as safe and comfortable as possible.
We believe sufferers
It is up to those affected to define what constitutes a boundary crossing for them. We do not doubt their experience, but stand behind them and offer them support. Your needs and requirements are the focus. In this way, we want to create an atmosphere in which those affected can once again feel comfortable to continue participating in the events.
Reflect privileges & positions
We all grew up in discriminatory systems. Therefore, we would like to take a closer look at our own privileges and positions. This includes the “bubble” in which we find ourselves. Who is (not) part of my environment? Which perspectives dominate here? At our events, we want to deal sensitively with the experiences of discrimination of our interlocutors. If a person comes to you with constructive criticism, try to listen first. We all make mistakes. Our concern is to learn from each other.
Mindful handling of space & time
All participants are encouraged to participate in discussion groups at our events. Please always pay attention to how much speaking time and space you take up. If you’ve already contributed a lot to a round, why not sit out a few minutes to give other people the opportunity? Avoid inferring from your position to that of others. We welcome a diversity of perspectives.
Gender is diverse
We don’t want to infer a person’s gender from their physical appearance. Gender identities are diverse and go far beyond the categories of “man” and “woman.” When you get into conversation, ask people their name and pronouns (she/her; he/him; they/them; they/they; no pronoun, etc.). This helps us avoid mislabeling people, which can be hurtful.
(In)visible barriers
Many barriers are not directly visible. For us, acting more inclusively means thinking about invisible disabilities, limitations and challenges at events and creating the best possible access. We want to encourage everyone to be responsive to one another. If you don’t understand something, are looking for information or recognize barriers, you can always contact us and the Awareness Team. You can find more information about access here.
- Possible courses of action
You have observed something that seems encroaching and transgressive?
In order for us to create a safer space for all, we need your support! Please do not leave it to others to take action. Nevertheless, it is first important that you keep your own safety in mind.
In emergencies and when a person’s life is in immediate danger:
Please do not hesitate to call directly for those responsible for the event in question and, if necessary, call the ambulance (112) or the police (110) yourself.
Examples of possible actions:
If you feel safe, you can approach the person directly:
“Hey, is everything okay with you? Do you need support?”
You can offer help to the person:
“Do you want me to contact the awareness team for you?”
“I’d like to get some support, is that okay with you?”
“Can I walk you to the Awareness Point?”
If you feel unsafe, you can also approach third parties in the area:
“Hello, you in the yellow t-shirt! This person is being harassed right now, can you help?”
“Can you get someone from the team while I stay here?”
If you get our awareness team / green contacts:
“I just observed something racist. Can you check with the person to make sure everything is okay?”
“A person tripped and hurt himself. Can you help?”
It is absolutely understandable if you feel overwhelmed by a situation. That’s what our contact persons and the Awareness Team are there for! In any case, keep in mind your own limits and the limits of the person concerned. Please also accept it if affected persons refuse help.
- civilcourage Step by Step
Please ask affected individuals if they would like support. If they decline, please respect their decision. Here you can find further possibilities for action:
- DIRECT: Address transgressive behavior directly and provide support (e.g., contact the Awareness Team).
- DISTRACT FROM IT: Give the subject an inconspicuous means of escape through diversionary tactics.
- DELEGATE: Engage others who can de-escalate the situation or contact the Awareness Team/Urban Practice Team.
- THEN SUPPORT: Inquire about the situation, how the person is doing, and offer to help.
- DOCUMENT: Document the situation if you do not feel safe or can intervene directly. Thus, the person concerned has evidence. Never publish the material without the consent of the person concerned!
- DISCUSS: Through an active exchange about the topic, you spread knowledge about civil courage and make affected people visible. With this, you can encourage others to overcome their own hurdles to intervene.
Here you can find a clear explanation of the 5Ds of Bystander Intervention in English: https://righttobe.org/guides/bystander-intervention-training/
You can also find a German version, the 7Ds of Bystander Intervention, in the awareness concept from the DEICHBRAND Festival here: https://www.deichbrand.de/awareness-inklusion
- Further resources
Here you will find an overview of telephone contact points:
- “Nummer gegen Kummer” for children and young people: 116 111
- Parents’ hotline for uncomplicated, anonymous advice: 0800 111 0550
- Care telephone for family caregivers: 030 20 179 131
- Help hotline “Gewalt gegen Frauen” : 0800 011 6016
- Help hotline “Sexueller Missbrauch” : 0800 22 55 530
- Help hotline “Schwangere in Not”: 0800 404 0020
- Sucht- und Drogenhotline: 01805 313031
- Telefonseelsorge: 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222
- Info-Telefon Depression: 0800 33 44 5 33
- Rescue service & fire department: 112
- Police: 110
Safe the Dance: List of contact points with explanations
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TPnuYlQQDAXgWisaGX_GiTH55YwMuWFWHPTdfsxEBUw/edit
Berliner Beratungswegweiser: What to do in case of discrimination?
Awareness Academy Berlin: Resources
Queeres Netzwerk NRW e.V.: Awareness Leitfaden, Was bedeutet Awareness und wie setzt ich es um?
https://www.mehralsqueer.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Awareness-Digital-Broschuere-k6.pdf
- Feedback & wishes
Awareness is a process. We are aware that we will make mistakes in our work and we want to constantly develop. That’s why we are explicitly happy about your feedback!
Feel free to talk to us at the events to share your wishes and hints about our work as an association and our Awareness process.
Or you can write us by mail: zugang@urbanepraxis.berlin