It is the ongoing work of the EPAC Board of Directors to provide a safe, equitable, and welcoming environment. We will celebrate diversity and inclusion while continuously seeking to eliminate oppression so that all are afforded a true sense of belonging at EPAC.
EPAC, as an organization, will continuously use its stage as a platform to offer a safe space for difficult conversations.
Each member of the Board of Directors will seek opportunities, including education, that broadens their understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion so that collectively they are able to wholeheartedly and with integrity promote the vision of Theatre That Matters. The Board of Directors will model the anti-discriminatory behavior that is expected from everyone.
EPAC will provide an example to the community that cohesively and continuously demonstrates beliefs and actions that minimize racial disparity and social injustice.
EPAC embodies its slogan “Theatre that Matters.” Why does theatre matter? It matters because the audience gets to experience a new perspective safely from their seats. Theatre matters because, at times the stage has the power to make us uncomfortable and from discomfort comes conversations that invite each of us to re-write our personal script.
Atticus Finch says it best in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Theatre matters because line by line we get to walk around in someone else’s shoes.
Freedom from discrimination and harassment is the right of every person involved with EPAC in any manner. Each person, including staff, cast members, production teams, interns, and volunteers, will be treated with respect and dignity at all times.
EPAC has zero tolerance for all forms of discrimination and harassment and prohibits engaging in any form of discrimination or harassment. Further, EPAC will take appropriate action when anyone is found to have engaged in unlawful or discriminatory practices. Appropriate conduct is required from everyone at every level of the organization and in all relationships, including recruitment, selection, hiring, auditioning, rental organizations and other service providers.
Anyone engaging in any form of discrimination or harassment will be subject to disciplinary action. Further, EPAC will provide an environment with open communication so that complaints or concerns can be heard, reviewed, and acted upon.
EPAC prohibits indirect harassment which is defined as any comments or conduct (including comments or conduct that are condoned or allowed to continue when brought to the attention of management) that create a discriminatory work environment. The comments or conduct could be made indirectly or stated through a virtual platform and need not be directed at a specific person to create a problem.
This policy prohibits discrimination or harassment based on the following grounds:
● Gender Identity
● Gender Expression
● Sex (Including pregnancy & breastfeeding)
● Sexual orientation
● Familial Status
● Marital Status/Relationship Status
● Race
● Ethnic/National Origins
● Religious creed
● Ancestry
● Age
● Military status
● Genetic information
● Disability (including mental, physical, developmental, or learning disabilities)
● Association or relationship with a person identified by one of the above grounds.
● And any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law
EPAC is intentionally committed to its vision of embodying Theatre That Matters. Our goal is to always provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone including but not limited to the Board of Directors, Employees, Cast Members, Production Team, Volunteers and other service providers. EPAC will not tolerate hateful acts that marginalize, incite fear, violence, intimidation, or misinformation, or behaviors that lack an artistic or theatrical opportunity to educate. Hateful activities include intentional acts of intolerance, the use of symbols that intimidate, or bias against any protected categories of individuals. This applies to hateful speech, posts on any social media platform, and any printed material.
Definitions
Discrimination
“Discrimination” means any form of unequal treatment based on a code ground, whether imposing extra burdens or denying benefits. Discrimination is to distinguish, single out, or make a distinction of a class of individuals which leads to unfair or unequal treatment based on their characteristic. It may be intentional or unintentional. It may involve direct actions that are discriminatory on their face, or it may involve rules, practices or procedures that appear neutral, but disadvantage certain groups/classes of people. Discrimination may take obvious forms, or it may happen in very subtle ways. Even if there are many factors affecting a decision or action, if discrimination is a factor, that is a violation of this policy.
Harassment
“Harassment” is defined as any type of conduct based on an employee or contractor’s protected classes, including conduct intended to be friendly or humorous, that is unwelcome and has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an employee or contractor’s work performance or creating a work environment that is intimidating, embarrassing, humiliating, degrading, hostile, offensive, or unwelcomed.