Reconciliation Programming

Arisia 2019 will offer a special Programming track called "Reconciliation". These sessions will provide attendees opportunities to communicate about recent events involving the Arisia community, the convention itself, and Arisia, Inc. (our parent corporation).

Sessions use several approaches, allowing space for our community’s diversity. These methods range from silent work an attendee can do with trained facilitators, to town-hall discussions allowing community members to share their feelings, reactions and desire for change. We will also have a set of "chill out" programming for people who want to decompress after this kind of emotional labor as well as training and workshops for people who want to contribute to making change happen and being part of rebuilding our community.

Arisia will be collecting all feedback given by attendees at the sessions listed below, and will attempt to address salient items at the State of Arisia Community Update on Monday. Arisia Leadership from both the Convention and Corporation will be in Feedback sessions to provide our community the opportunity to talk directly with them.

All sessions 75 minutes except as noted below.

How Arisia Works

• Arisia Code of Conduct Workshop Friday 8:30 PM Whittier

  Arisia has had a Code of Conduct (CoC) for over 20 years. However, CoCs are meant to be living documents, updated as community values and needs change. Arisia has already made some improvements over the past few months, but we recognize there is more to do. This workshop will take a deep dive into the CoC and make recommendations on how we can improve for next year.

• Con Safety: The Watch, IRT & What Comes Next Saturday 2:30 PM St James

  Have questions about how Convention Safety works at Arisia? Meet members of the Watch, Incident Response Team, and Eboard Incident Report Committee as we discuss how our safety process works now, and what we can do to improve for future years.

• How Arisia Inc. Works Saturday 7 PM Beacon Hill

  Curious about what's behind the Arisia curtain? Wondered how to get your voice heard? At this panel, members of the Arisia corporation will explain how to operate the non-profit that keeps the conventions and related activities going. This is an optional entry-level look that will prepare you to participate the official corporate meeting on Sunday at 10:00 AM. Attendance is open to all.

• Arisia Corporate Open Policy Committee Workshop Sunday 7 PM Stuart

  Arisia Inc. is the corporate non-profit that sponsors this convention every year. As a 501(c)3, Arisia Inc. has bylaws and policies that govern everything from corporate structure to membership rates, the Code of Conduct, and more. At this open session, Arisia senior staff will workshop several hot topics and policy proposals for future presentation at a corporate meeting. Great ideas always welcome!

Community Healing and Response

• Trauma Recovery Network Group Session 1 Friday 4 PM - 6:30 PM Commonwealth (2.5 hours)

  Traumatic events within our community can have long-lasting impacts that impede our ability to fully engage with fandom. The Boston Trauma Recovery Network offers this mind-body session to help reduce the effects of emotional stress and trauma through the use of G-TEP (Group Traumatic Episode Protocol). Participants will be engaging in individual exercises in a professional-led session with other attendees nearby. Limited space available.

• #TimesUp @ Arisia Friday 7 PM Newbury

  Arisia is working hard to improve how incidents of abuse and assault will be handled in the future. This workshop looks to the past: to those who have already been failed by the system and the need for reparations. How should allegations of past behavior be handled? How should we address reports that have been resolved within the system, but in an unjust way? What do we owe to those we, as a community, have failed? Open to teens and adults only.

• BARCC Training: Becoming Active Bystanders Saturday 10 AM - 12 PM Whittier (2 hours)

  A bystander is a person who observes unacceptable behavior. It might be something serious or minor, one-time or repeated, but the bystander knows that the behavior is unacceptable or likely to make a bad situation worse. An active bystander takes steps that can make a positive difference in that situation. This class covers the basics of active bystander action and strategies, with opportunity for discussion and practice. Training provided by the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.

• Arisia Town Hall Saturday 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM ABC (2 hours)

  Arisia wants your feedback, your ideas, and your concerns! This is a safe space to talk about (and talk to) Arisia in a semi-structured “town hall” style public meeting. Discuss what matters to you as a community, in open discourse and small groups. Arisia senior leadership will incorporate your questions and conclusions into the Community Update on Monday.

• Convention Feedback Saturday 1 PM Beacon Hill

  Tell us how to improve Arisia while there's still time to fix (some) things!

• Processing Trauma Through Art Saturday 5:30 PM Stuart

  Join Artist Guest Elizabeth Leggett and other artists in an intimate roundtable discussion about how we can process and express our traumatic experiences in our art. As the panelists, or the attendees, might be speaking of traumatic issues please remember to keep everything you hear confidential.

• Arisia Corporate Meeting Sunday 10 AM - 12 PM ABC (2 hours)

  Arisia, Inc. is the non-profit that signs our contracts, owns our equipment, sets our policies, elects and appoints senior leadership, and handles incident investigation between conventions. Recent events have put a spotlight on Arisia governance, and we welcome you to participate in the official business of running Arisia and related activities.

• Trauma Recovery Network Group Session 2 Sunday 1 PM - 3:30 PM St James (2.5 hours)

  Traumatic events within our community can have long-lasting impacts that impede our ability to fully engage with fandom. The Boston Trauma Recovery Network offers this mind-body session to help reduce the effects of emotional stress and trauma through the use of G-TEP (Group Traumatic Episode Protocol). Participants will be engaging in individual exercises in a professional-led session with other attendees nearby. Sign up in Program Nexus. Limit: 32.

• BARCC Training: Becoming Active Bystanders Sunday 4 PM - 6 PM Tremont (2 hours)

  A bystander is a person who observes unacceptable behavior. It might be something serious or minor, one-time or repeated, but the bystander knows that the behavior is unacceptable or likely to make a bad situation worse. An active bystander takes steps that can make a positive difference in that situation. This class covers the basics of active bystander action and strategies, with opportunity for discussion and practice. Training provided by the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.

• State of Arisia Community Update Monday 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM ABC (2 hours)

  The Arisia community has been roiled by traumatic events. At this session, Arisia senior leadership will discuss the steps taken to safeguard the community and regain trust over the past several months. We will also respond to the new feedback given over the course of the convention, which will help develop our path forward.

• Convention Feedback Monday 2:30 PM Whittier

  Tell us how to improve Arisia for next year!

Need to take a Breather?

• Friday Walk the Labyrinth Fri 5:30 PM Grand Ballroom B

  What’s blue & white and bigger on the inside? Our 30’x30’ seven-circuit classical labyrinth! A tool for walking meditation, self-inquiry, relaxation, or just for fun; use it to find a little peace during the excitement of Arisia. The labyrinth is open to all who can respect the space. You can arrive anytime and walk it as many times as you’d like.

• Friday PM Yoga Friday 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Clarendon (1 hour)

  This posture sequencing guides you through poses/asanas in a mindful flow designed to source all movement from deep strength. We will practice strategies to lengthen and loosen stubborn hamstrings and hips, eliminate pain and compression in the lower back and neck, and create opening and flexibility in the upper back and shoulders. Careful attention is shown to awareness of proper posture and breathing/pranayama while in transitions and stillness. Please bring your own yoga mat, straps, blocks.

• Recovery Check-In Friday 7 PM White Hill

  Whether this is your first sober con or you're an old pro, come share strategies, find a non-drinking buddy, or just check in with other folks in recovery in an informal, non-12-step setting.

• Saturday AM Yoga Saturday 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Grand Ballroom B (1 hour)

  Energizing Vinyasa Flow Hatha Yoga, Open to all levels.

• Adult Coloring - Inside and Outside the Lines Sunday 8:30 AM - 11:15 AM St James (2.75 hours)

  Come decompress from the convention and the world by coloring wherever you want. We’ll provide colored pencils for you to beautify pages from the very serene to very adult coloring books available. This is an unstructured open space for members to come and go freely and socialize in a quieter setting.

• Sunday AM Yoga Sunday 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Grand Ballroom B (1 hour)

  This class focuses on connecting breath and movement in flowing asana sequences & transitions. We begin with a centering meditation & pranayama breathing technique practice. Expect a variety of balance, strength & flexibility building postures. This class will integrate meditation, breathing techniques & intention setting, ending with restorative, relaxing postures & a guided savasana informed by the process of the Yoga Nidra. Please bring a Yoga mat or a towel & dress comfortably.

• Mosaic POC & Allies Meetup Sunday 11:30 AM White Hill

  Come hang out with people of color and allies in a welcoming and inclusive space! Chat about the con and make new friends. Discuss ways fandom (including Arisia) can work to be more actively inclusive of fans of all backgrounds. If so inclined, talk about what can be done at Arisia to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday.

• Neurodiversity Meetup Sunday 1 PM Stuart

  Arisia is a very welcoming place, but even the best spaces can be difficult to navigate if you are neurodiverse. This meetup is for neurodiverse folks (self-diagnosed welcome) to hang out and meet other individuals who may share similar experiences. (Neurodiversity encompasses mental illness, autism, learning disabilities, and anything else affecting brain function. To maintain a safe space, Allies are asked not to attend.)

• Physical Disability & Fandom Meetup Sunday 2:30 PM Stuart

  Living with a visible or invisible physical disability poses a variety of challenges and experiences. Arisians with physical limitations are invited to share a safe space and speak freely about their experiences in Fandom. (To maintain a safe space, Allies are asked not to attend.)

• Fans of Color Social & Safe Space Sunday 7 PM St James

  Some of us are obvious ethnic or racial “minorities”. Some of us have mixed heritage, or look to be of European extraction, but aren’t. Whatever our outsides look like, our insides are geeky. But being a Fan of Color can be isolating, anxiety-inducing, or even terrifying. Join other Fans of Color at Arisia in a safe space to chat about the good and bad of your Fandom experience. (To maintain a safe space, Allies are asked not to attend.)

• Gender Non-Binary Mixer & Safe Space Sunday 8:30 PM St James

  Androgyne, GenderQueer, Gender Expansive, BiGender, and everyone whose identity lies outside of the male-female gender binary is invited to socialize with new and old friends in a judgment-free zone. We’ll begin with introductions, follow with a party game, and end with attendees having the space to mix and mingle. (To maintain a safe space, allies are asked to not attend.)

• Monday AM Yoga Monday 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Grand Ballroom B (1 hour)

  This class focuses on connecting breath and movement in flowing asana sequences & transitions. We begin with a centering meditation & pranayama breathing technique practice. Expect a variety of balance, strength & flexibility building postures. This class will integrate meditation, breathing techniques & intention setting, ending with restorative, relaxing postures & a guided savasana informed by the process of the Yoga Nidra. Please bring a Yoga mat or a towel & dress comfortably.

• Asexuality Umbrella Meetup Monday 10 AM St James

  Many people do not experience sexual attraction, but may experience romantic attraction. Attendees identifying as any variation of asexual (including gray-ace, demisexual, and aromantic) are invited to share a safe space and speak freely about their experiences in Fandom. (To maintain a safe space, Allies are asked not to attend.)

• Walk the Labyrinth Monday 2 PM Clarendon

  Walk the Labyrinth for the last time this Arisia. Mindful kids welcome.

• Quiet Room (Hours 3 PM - 8 PM Friday, 10 AM - 8 PM Sat-Sun, 10 AM - 3 PM Monday)

• POC Safer Space (Hours 3 PM - 8 PM Friday, 10 AM - 8 PM Sat-Sun, 10 AM - 3 PM Monday)

To see the full Arisia 2019 schedule and how Reconciliation programming fits in, you can visit our schedule page. Questions about this programming can be send to @email.