User:Kbrown (WMF)/TM Prototype/2Introduction

  Wikimedia Training Event safety Menu Page 1 of 8

E1: Introduction

Purpose of this module

The Wikimedia Movement has had in-person events as part of its core from early on, from the first 2004 London Meetup to the first Wikimania. Meeting your colleagues and others interested in working with you can be fun, rewarding, and important; doing work face-to-face can not only be more efficient, but also help everyone involved connect better to those working alongside them and to the goals they share.

This module is intended to help prepare event organizers to handle challenges around allegations of harassment and abusive behavior at events they host, organize, or attend. Real-life meetups and conferences can be very productive ways to bring contributors together; however, they can also provide opportunities for conflict, unwanted contact, privacy violations, or other forms of harassment.

Being prepared means having a course of action for incidents, designated people to receive reports, a working relationship with the venue where the event is being hosted, and a good knowledge of applicable policies. It is also important to have ways to avoid conflicts and defuse problem situations before they spiral into serious incidents. This training module will help prepare contributors like you to host successful events by introducing you to best practices for preventing and handling problematic situations at your events.