As organizers, we hold the truth that our individual needs must be considered within the context of the community we are co-creating with you, over 1200 attendees, as well as the vendors and service professionals we will interact with across our various venues.

 

We have strived to create policies that reflect our intention to offer guidance that meets the needs of as many attendees as possible while providing support for each attendee’s personal risk management efforts. Our original guidance advised attendees to wear masks to protect each other, and we did ask attendees to agree with this practice at registration. We are still asking all attendees to wear masks. From a feasibility standpoint, we have never been able to require attendees to wear masks because we do not have the capacity to enforce such a policy. Here are some additional actions we are taking to provide support to all attendees in setting and maintaining their boundaries:

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• We will be placing signs asking attendees to wear masks throughout the venue, and especially in key areas where physical distancing is difficult. We will further make daily announcements from the plenary stage asking attendees to wear masks.

• Name badges and lanyards are available to help attendees communicate their level of comfort with physical touch and physical distance.

• All attendees are required to respect each other’s  boundaries and seek consent to engage. If you experience harm, please stop by the registration desk, notify us by email at support@conveningtowardliberation.com, or reach out anonymously by completing this form.

 

As attendees and organizers, we will co-create a conference experience during our time together. We welcome attendees to continue to share any other ways we can provide support to you in maintaining your boundaries. If there are other questions or concerns, we invite you to reach out to us directly at support@conveningtowardliberation.com with “COVID” as the subject line. 

 

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As CHANGE Philanthropy and the Unity Summit are rooted in values of community and inclusion, our practices strive for collective care. We have outlined the following practices in dialog with our community to guide our interactions at the in person event in October. We intentionally center disability justice and those most at risk, and we want to make sure to respect individual boundaries and risk assessment/tolerance: 

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Test & Be Aware

• You will be required to self-administer a rapid test the day that you arrive at registration. CHANGE will provide adequate rapid tests for all attendees. You are invited to continue to test across the event to strive for awareness and minimize spread.

 

Proactive Protection 

• All attendees are asked to wear a mask, unless eating, drinking or you are outdoors. Please use a N95, KN95, or KN94 mask that covers your nose and mouth whenever indoors (including hotel common spaces like halls, elevators, and stairwells), unless actively eating or drinking. A limited quantity of masks will be available for folks who don’t bring one on site. Masks are not required, but significantly decrease the spread of COVID and other diseases. If someone asks you to wear a mask while engaging with them, please do so.

Seek Consent 

• Refrain from hugs, handshakes, high-fives and any contact without consent. Name tag lanyards will indicate people’s preference for physical proximity using the Green, Yellow, Red spectrum. We always recommend asking before touching anyone – no matter their lanyard color.

 

Be Prepared For Getting Sick 

• You are responsible for your health and care. If you feel unwell or test positive at any point while in Los Angeles, or during the three days after you leave the Unity Summit, please notify CHANGE Philanthropy as soon as you receive the result. Email unitysummit@changephilanthropy.org with subject line “Feeling Unwell” when you started feeling unwell and/or tested positive. Our event staff will follow up with detailed instructions. Your personal information will be kept confidential. Do not attend the remaining sessions in-person, but please feel free to join any programming that is offered virtually if and as you feel able. We recommend monitoring your symptoms closely, and seeking medical care if necessary. 

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While CHANGE Philanthropy will strive towards collective wellness and make every reasonable effort to mitigate exposure, CHANGE cannot guarantee that participants will not be exposed to, or become sick from exposure to, COVID-19 or its variants. 

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What should you do if you test positive for COVID-19 or feel unwell during the event?

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1. If you are staying at our hotel(s), please stay in your room. If you are a local, please stay home. 

2. Notify us immediately by emailing unitysummit@changephilanthropy.org with subject line “Feeling Unwell” and when you started feeling unwell and/or tested positive. Our event staff will follow up with detailed instructions. Your personal information will be kept confidential.

3. If you haven’t already, please take a COVID rapid test (provided at registration) as soon as possible and let us know the results for our record.

4. If the test is negative, but you are symptomatic, we recommend you return home as soon as possible. You are welcome to stay in your hotel for the duration of the conference but are responsible for your own meals and any hotel charges extending beyond the conference. You can still attend the event virtually, as energy allows.

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If the test is positive, we recommend you return home as soon as possible and begin your quarantine. If symptoms progress, please contact your medical provider. You are welcome to stay in your hotel for the duration of the conference but must quarantine and are responsible for your own meals and any hotel charges extending beyond the conference. You can still attend the event virtually, as energy allows.