Creating a Safe, Welcoming, Respectful, and Inclusive Community

Our Commitment

At BOOST, we believe that everyone deserves to feel welcome, valued, respected, and safe. Our conference and professional development experiences bring together a diverse community of educators, youth development professionals, presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, partners, and other members of the in- and out-of-school time community. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone can learn, connect, collaborate, share ideas, and grow together.

All participants are expected to contribute to a positive, inclusive, and professional experience. By participating in BOOST Conference and other professional development experiences and activities, you agree to uphold this Code of Conduct and help foster a community grounded in respect, kindness, accountability, and belonging.

This Code of Conduct applies to all BOOST Conference activities, including workshops, general sessions, networking events, exhibit hall activities, social gatherings, online spaces, digital communications, and conference-related interactions, whether on-site or virtual.

Respectful Communication and Professional Conduct

We encourage open dialogue, thoughtful collaboration, and the sharing of diverse perspectives. We ask all members of the BOOST community to:

• Communicate with courtesy, kindness, and respect.
• Use individuals’ stated names and pronouns.
• Listen actively and respectfully during workshops, presentations, general sessions, and discussions.
• Make room for diverse voices and perspectives, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to participate.
• Critique ideas, approaches, and concepts rather than attacking or demeaning individuals.
• Communicate openly, thoughtfully, and constructively, even when opinions differ.
• Refrain from disruptive, demeaning, or intimidating behavior.
• Respect personal boundaries and recognize that professional disagreement is never an excuse for disrespect.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

BOOST is committed to fostering a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where people of all backgrounds and identities feel valued and respected.

Participants are expected to:

• Treat others with dignity and respect, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
• Refrain from microaggressions, including verbal or behavioral indignities, derogatory slights, stereotypes, or dismissive actions that demean or marginalize others.
• Avoid assumptions about another person’s identity, background, experiences, abilities, or beliefs.
• Respect cultural differences, lived experiences, and diverse perspectives.
• Contribute to an environment where everyone feels welcome, included, and able to participate meaningfully.

We recognize that creating belonging is a shared responsibility. Every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen our community.

Bullying, Harassment, Violence, and Discrimination

BOOST does not tolerate bullying, harassment, discrimination, intimidation, violence, or retaliatory conduct.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Sexual harassment: Unwelcome or unreciprocated sexual advances; unwanted physical contact; sexually suggestive comments, gestures, or communications; and other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature.
• Discriminatory conduct: Harassment, exclusion, or mistreatment based on a protected characteristic under applicable law.
• Bullying and intimidation: Deliberate intimidation, repeated hostile conduct, personal attacks, or behavior intended to humiliate, threaten, or undermine another person.
• Threats or violence: Actual or implied threats of harm, physical aggression, unwanted physical contact, or other threatening or violent behavior.
• Inappropriate sexual content: Displaying, sharing, or distributing sexually explicit images or other sexual content in public conference spaces or in ways that violate this Code of Conduct.
• Retaliation: Threatening, intimidating, penalizing, or mistreating anyone for making a good-faith report, raising a concern, participating in an investigation, or supporting someone who reports a concern.
• Unwanted or invasive behavior: Ignoring personal boundaries, continuing unwelcome interactions after being asked to stop, or engaging in conduct that makes others feel unsafe or targeted.

Harassment or misconduct may occur in person, through digital communications, or through conference-related online platforms. Such conduct is unacceptable regardless of the individual’s role, position, or affiliation with BOOST.

Respecting the Venue and Conference Environment

We ask everyone to help maintain a welcoming, safe, and professional conference environment.

Participants are expected to:

• Care for our shared spaces: Clean up after yourself, dispose of trash appropriately, and leave conference spaces as you found them. Leave only footprints.
• Treat staff with kindness: Interact respectfully with venue personnel, conference staff, volunteers, contractors, and service providers.
• Respect presenters and performers: Avoid side conversations and disruptive behavior during workshops, presentations, performances, and general sessions.
• Practice thoughtful phone etiquette: Silence or mute devices when appropriate, step outside to take calls, and avoid texting or other activities that distract presenters or fellow participants.
• Follow venue guidelines: Observe posted rules, safety instructions, accessibility requirements, and directions from authorized venue and conference personnel.
• Respect personal space and property: Do not touch, photograph, record, or otherwise engage with another person in ways that disregard their boundaries or applicable rules.
• Obtain consent before scanning badges: Ask for and receive permission before scanning another participant’s conference badge or collecting their contact information through a badge-scanning tool.

Digital Citizenship and Online Engagement

Our commitment to respect and inclusion extends beyond the physical conference space. Participants are expected to engage responsibly across conference-related digital platforms, including online chats, messaging tools, social media, and virtual sessions.

Please:

• Communicate respectfully and professionally in online chats, direct messages, discussion forums, and other digital spaces.
• Protect your own and others’ personal information. Do not share private or confidential information without appropriate authorization.
• Obtain explicit consent before publishing recordings, photographs, video clips, or other media featuring identifiable individuals, subject to applicable law, conference policies, and any permissions already provided.
• Respect the privacy of workshop discussions and other interactions that participants reasonably expect to remain confidential.
• Refrain from cyberbullying, harassment, discriminatory comments, threats, unwanted solicitation, and other abusive online conduct.
• Avoid posting or distributing sexually explicit, threatening, or otherwise prohibited content in conference-related digital spaces.
• Engage thoughtfully, responsibly, and constructively when sharing content, responding to others, or representing the BOOST community online.

Permission to attend a session or participate in a conference activity does not automatically constitute permission to record or publish someone’s image, voice, or contributions.

Reporting Concerns and Seeking Support

We encourage anyone who experiences, witnesses, or becomes aware of conduct that may violate this Code of Conduct to report the concern. You do not need to determine whether a violation has occurred before asking for help.

How to report:

• Online reporting: Click here to submit a report through the designated BOOST Collaborative Code of Conduct Reporting Form
• In person: Contact a BOOST Conference staff member or designated conference representative. If available, ask for the event’s designated Code of Conduct contact.
• Immediate safety concerns: Notify venue security or emergency personnel. For an immediate threat or emergency, contact local emergency services.

When making a report, please share as much relevant information as you feel comfortable providing, including what happened, when and where it occurred, the people involved, and any witnesses or supporting information. Reports may be submitted even when all details are not available.

Confidentiality and Privacy

BOOST will handle reports with care, discretion, and respect for the privacy of everyone involved. Information will be shared only with individuals who need it to assess the report, respond appropriately, protect participant safety, or meet applicable legal obligations.

Although BOOST will make reasonable efforts to protect confidentiality, absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in every circumstance. Information may need to be disclosed to investigate a concern, address an immediate safety risk, or comply with applicable law.

BOOST prohibits retaliation against anyone who makes a good-faith report or participates in a review or investigation. Concerns about retaliation should also be reported.

Response to Violations and Consequences

BOOST takes reports of potential Code of Conduct violations seriously. Reports will be reviewed as appropriate, and the response will depend on the nature, severity, circumstances, and available information.

Depending on the situation, BOOST may take one or more of the following actions:

• Provide a verbal or written warning.
• Direct an individual to stop the behavior or leave a particular activity.
• Restrict access to specific conference activities, spaces, or communication platforms.
• Remove an individual from the conference or event without a refund, where permitted by applicable policies and law.
• Revoke conference participation privileges, credentials, or other associated access.
• Prohibit an individual from attending future BOOST Conference events or participating in designated BOOST activities, including placement on an internal restricted-participation list.
• Notify the appropriate venue, organization, or other responsible party when warranted and appropriate.
• Contact law enforcement or other authorities when necessary, including when required by law.
• Pursue other appropriate legal or administrative remedies when warranted.

BOOST reserves the right to take reasonable action to protect the safety and well-being of its community, consistent with applicable law and relevant conference policies. Serious misconduct may result in immediate removal or other action without a prior warning.

Our Shared Responsibility

A respectful and inclusive conference experience does not happen by accident. It is created through the everyday actions of the people who make up our community.

We ask every member of the BOOST Family to lead with kindness, respect personal boundaries, listen with curiosity, speak thoughtfully, and take responsibility for their impact on others.

If you experience or witness behavior that conflicts with these expectations, we encourage you to seek support and report your concern.

Together, we can ensure that BOOST remains a place where people feel safe to connect, inspired to learn, empowered to share, and welcomed as valued members of our community.

Thank you for being part of the BOOST Family and helping us create a conference experience rooted in respect, inclusion, learning, and belonging.

This Code of Conduct may be updated as needed. It is intended to supplement, not replace, applicable laws, venue requirements, and other BOOST Collaborative policies.

©BOOST COLLABORATIVE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.