All Comrades must read and sign the COE(Code of Ethics) prior to joining.

If these views align with yourself, we’d be honored to have you in our family.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Core Principle

As abolition advocates, we are responsible for adding value to B.L.A.C.K. Outreach and contributing to the ethical success of this organization. We accept professional responsibility for our individual decisions and actions. We are also advocates for B.L.A.C.K. Outreach by engaging in activities that enhance its credibility and value.Code of Ethics must be revisited every 6 months.

Intent

  • To build respect, credibility and strategic importance for the abolition advocates profession within our organizations, the business community, and the communities in which we work.
  • To assist B.L.A.C.K. Outreach we serve in achieving its objectives and goals.
    • Objectives: Professional decision making will be powered by B.L.A.C.K. Outreach’s Black Agenda. 
    • Goals: We will eradicate police brutality/systemic racism; while establishing economic stability for all people.
  • To inform and educate current and future comrades, the organizations we serve, and the general public about principles and practices that help the overall advancement, liberation, education and health improvement of Black people.
  • To positively influence community engagement and recruitment practices.
  • To encourage professional decision-making and responsibility.
  • To encourage social responsibility.

Guidelines

  • Adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior.

  1. Ethical: “centering/respecting those vulnerable/marginalized communities we serve”

    1. Moral principles: empathetic, compassionate, personal accountability and self-autonomy and integrity 

  2. Professionalism: One can not make another feel uncomfortable based upon their personal disagreement. Standards and accountability should be held  high by ourselves for ourselves and our peers. One must uphold the values of the organization at all times.

  1. Measure the effectiveness of our programs in contributing to or achieving organizational goals.

  2. Understand the law(s) that govern us and constantly challenge ways to improve such laws.

  3. Work consistent with the values of the abolitionists.

    1. Values: We must have a focus on morality. Awareness of the consequences that arise from both internal and external political action. Non-carceral pathways to care and justice for all. No snitching. We will not speak to law enforcement about the happenings within our group. Provide models of safety, security, mutual aid, and harm reduction that are needed and to do the political education, relationship-building, and movement work to bring others into demanding transformative economic and social change for abolition.

  4. Strive to achieve the highest levels of service, performance and social responsibility.

  5. Advocate for the appropriate use and appreciation of human beings as comrades/family.

  6. Advocate openly and within the established forums for debate in order to influence decision-making and results.

    1. Established Forum:

If a member is found to be in violation of our Code of Ethics, they will be given written notice describing why they were removed from the group. With or without the collective group opinion. The group will be notified of the removal during the next weekly meeting.

 

ETHICAL LEADERSHIP

Core Principle

B.L.A.C.K. Outreach comrades are expected to exhibit individual leadership as a role model for maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct. We must take into account that sexual harassment, conflicts of interest, workplace safety and environmental standards are all risks that affect industries differently.

  • Harassment includes:

    • Verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination related to race, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, age or religion.

    • Sexual images in public spaces.

    • Deliberate intimidation, stalking, and/or following.

    • Harassing photography and/or recording.

    • Sustained disruption of talks and/or other events.

    • Inappropriate physical contact.

    • Unwelcome sexual attention.

    • Advocating for, and/or encouraging, any of the above behaviour.

Intent

  • To set the standard and be an example for others.

  • To earn individual respect and increase our credibility with those we serve.

Guidelines

  1. Be ethical; act ethically in every professional interaction.

    1. Ethical professionalism framework

      1. Sexual assault/Character development workshops. 

      2. Zero tolerance towards sexual harassment/assault. 

      3. Constantly educating oneself in all fields (ie: abolitionist ideology, sexual misconduct, etc)

      4. Always aiming to uplift fellow comrades and community members.

      5. During “work hours”, keeping a professional manner with the intent/focus of black liberation.

      6. Specific étiquettes: 

  2. All members hold themselves responsible for the quality and extent of service they perform and the quality and extent of service performed by the organization in which they are a part of, as it relates to the Black community.

  3. All members will consciously use their skills, and their whole being as an instrument for social change, with particular attention directed to the establishment of Black social institutions, enlightenment and equality.

  4. All members will seek to foster a healthy and fair environment where all members can learn and share knowledge in an atmosphere free of harassment, hostility and discrimination among members, allies and our community.

  5. Question pending individual and group actions when necessary to ensure that decisions are ethical and are implemented in an ethical manner.

  6. Seek expert guidance if ever in doubt about the ethical propriety of a situation.

    1. Ie: Lida/Professional counseling.

  7. Through teaching and mentoring, champion the development of others as ethical leaders within the Black liberation movement of the Revolution.

Violation of Ethical Integrity

  1. Said comrade will be asked to remove themselves; while the group is able to safely discuss how behavior impacted them.

  2. Comrade will have to do an educational presentation on the problematic topic they bestowed upon others.

  3. The group can decide if an “educational examination” is the best decision for the betterment of the group or temporary removal until re-examination of values.

  4. If the violation targets a Black comrade it is up to the collective of the specific gender to decide violation outcomes. ie: (she,her,hers,they,them) or (he,him,his,they,them).

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Core Principle

As B.L.A.C.K. Outreach abolitionists, we must maintain a high level of trust with our community. We must protect the interests of our community as well as our professional integrity and should not engage in activities that create actual, apparent, or potential conflicts of interest.

Intent

To avoid activities that are in conflict or may appear to be in conflict with any of the provisions of this Code of Ethical and Professional Standards or with one's responsibilities and duties as a member of the not-for-profit consulting comrade.

Guidelines

  1. Adhere to and advocate the use of published policies on conflicts of interest within your organization.

  2. Refrain from using your position for personal, material or financial gain or the appearance of such.

  3. Refrain from giving or seeking preferential treatment in the human resources processes.

Prioritize your obligations to identify conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof; when conflicts arise, disclose them to relevant stakeholders.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Core Principle

As abolition advocates, we must strive to meet the highest standards of competence and commit to strengthen our competencies on a continuous basis.

Intent

  •   To expand our knowledge of our field of interest to further our understanding of how our governing organizations function.

  • To advance our understanding of how these governing organizations work ("the politics of the politics").

Guidelines

  1. Pursue formal academic opportunities.

    1. Any comrade who presents a project must uphold enough competencies of the topic to spearhead such a project. Comrades involved in projects who do not fully understand the systematic disparities of such projects must do their due diligence to educate themselves.

  2. Commit to continuous learning, skills development and application of new knowledge related to both systematic racism and the organizations we serve.

    1. Ie: Reading, joint communal coalitions, financial literacy classes, business development courses, drafting Bills/Propositions etc.

  3. Contribute to the body of knowledge, the evolution of abolitionists and the growth of individuals through teaching, research and dissemination of knowledge.

    1. Ie: Public speaking.

  4. Pursue certification where available, or comparable measures of competencies and knowledge.

    1. Ie: Medical training certificates, mental health training certificates, community emergency response, tech related,  etc.

FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE

Core Principle

As B.L.A.C.K. Outreach abolitionists, we are ethically responsible for promoting and fostering fairness and justice for all comrades and their organizations.

Intent

To create and sustain an environment that encourages all individuals and the organization to reach their fullest potential in a positive and productive manner.

Guidelines

  1. Respect the uniqueness and intrinsic worth of every individual.

  2. Treat people with dignity, respect and compassion to foster a trusting work environment free of harassment, intimidation, and unlawful discrimination.

  1. Ensure that everyone has the opportunity to develop their skills and new competencies.

  2. Assure an environment of inclusiveness and a commitment to diversity in the organizations we serve.

  3. Develop, administer and advocate policies and procedures that foster fair, consistent and equitable treatment for all.

    1. Each C.O.E.(Code of Ethics) that is violated will be treated as a case by case discussion. Both parties will ultimately be heard, however, there is a zero tolerance for harassment/assault among B.L.A.C.K. Outreach comrades.

Regardless of personal interests, support decisions made by our comrades.

USE OF INFORMATION

Core Principle

B.L.A.C.K. Outreach abolitionists, consider and protect the rights of individuals, especially in the acquisition and dissemination of information while ensuring truthful communications and facilitating informed decision-making.

Intent

To build trust among all organization constituents by maximizing the open exchange of information, while eliminating anxieties about inappropriate and/or inaccurate acquisition and sharing of information

Guidelines

  1. B.L.A.C.K Outreach comrades, staff, partners, board, volunteers, sponsors and other guests also must refrain from disseminating false or misleading information in person, virtually and/or on all social media platforms that could potentially harm the B.L.A.C.K. Outreach brand and/or negatively impact future engagements with our community.

  2. All members are responsible for upholding themselves and representing B.L.A.C.K. Outreach to the highest caliber of professionalism. Personal relationships are allowed but shall not distract from our mission in the public eye nor in private meetings. 

  3. Investigate the accuracy and source of information before allowing it to be used in comrade related decisions.

  4. Maintain current and accurate HR information.

  5. Safeguard restricted or confidential information.

  6. Take appropriate steps to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all
    communicated information about HR policies and practices.

  7. Take appropriate steps to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all communicated information used in HR-related training.