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JEDI

Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI+)

jedi@bodyelectric.org
The Body Electric School is committed to radical inclusion. We celebrate and affirm all gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, cultural ethnicities, abilities, neurodiversity, religious beliefs, relationship styles, body types, and economic realities. The Body Electric School recognizes that creating safe and welcoming environments sometimes requires creating intentional affinity spaces. As such, we offer a variety of events, some for specific affinity groups and others for everyone.

Our JEDI+ Journey

Body Electric was born in the crucible of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco in 1984 and has evolved into a movement striving to liberate erotic aliveness for all people. Upon the School’s transition to a nonprofit five years ago, we established the JEDI+ Committee as a standing committee of the Board. The JEDI+ Committee (The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee exists to advise and steward the Body Electric School’s commitment to build a more welcoming environment for everyone. The committee meets monthly and reports directly to the Board of Directors.

In 2021, we brought in consultants to conduct an initial climate survey to determine strengths and weakness in this our efforts towards inclusion. In 2022 the School started discussion around inclusive language about and in our workshops. Based on participant feedback we start labeling workshops with the language that continues to evolve. The language we use is critical to our initiatives around inclusion. Here is a glossary of terms that enhance the way we communicate in a way that is honoring of all people.

Definition:
Justice means ensuring equitable treatment and equal access to resources, opportunities, and rights for individuals and groups, regardless of background or circumstances, while also addressing systemic barriers and biases to uphold dignity, respect, and fairness for all.
What this means at BE:
Justice means ensuring fairness equality and respect for both our workshop attendees and BE family, which includes staff, faculty, coordinators, and ambassadors.
How we work to embody justice:
Equitable, fair policies & practices Inclusive leadership Transparency in decision-making
Definition:
Equity aims to level the playing field by providing resources and opportunities where they are most needed to achieve equality in outcomes, recognizing that individuals may have different starting points and require varying levels of support to reach the same goals.
What this means at BE:
This means addressing any disparities or barriers that may exist.
How we work to embody equity:
Scholarships/JEDI+ Fund Pay equity Seeking accessible venues* Leadership pportunities
Definition:
Diversity entails embracing and celebrating differences among individuals, valuing their unique perspectives and experiences, and cultivating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and respected.
What this means at BE:
We recognize that diverse groups foster a collective synergy greater than the sum of individual parts, enhancing participant experiences with a broader spectrum of perspectives and insights.
How we work to embody diversity:
Diverse programming Representation in marketing Targeted outreach with strategic partners Cultivate diverse representation (board, staff)
Definition:
Inclusion is the practice of creating an environment where all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds or differences, feel valued, respected, and empowered to fully participate and contribute.
What this means at BE:
At BE, we foster inclusion by crafting experiences and a learning environment where each individual feels embraced, valued, and empowered to express their true selves, offer their perspectives, and play an integral role in the collective growth and prosperity of our community.
How we work to embody inclusion:
Affinity spaces Inclusive language JEDI+ training Feedback mechanisms
Definition:
In addition.
What this means at BE:
All those things that we may currently be unaware of that should be a part of JEDI.
How we work to embody the “+”:
Being open to new and changing realities Being open to feedback on how we are doing and what we might be missing
* Due to the nature of our work, venues open to the school’s workshops are very limited.

What people are saying about BE JEDI+ work:

“To get to be in erotic space that was “queer” without any further distinction beyond that felt like magic. This space and experience was something I had spent years dreaming of without even fully knowing it. I hope to have the opportunity to do it again and cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone who feels themself to be queer.”
“CBE helped me to open to my own understanding and experience of non-binary eros. I am at a time in my life where my most intimate, primary and priority relationship is with myself. As I dedicate myself to this relationship, I experience non-binary eros as a deep dive into the mystery of myself AND the simultaneous and equal radiant emergence of my authentic self in this human form. I had no idea the weekend would take me on the journey, the hero’s journey, of slashing through and breaking free of major binds of my own personally held belief that I am the gender enculturation has put upon me. I am in a place of freedom I previously had no idea how to imagine.”
“When I discovered BE was offering a BIPOC centered CBE workshop, I drove across the border to be there. It was well worth the drive! Celebrating the Body Electric in a BIPOC only space, supported me in washing away my social conditioning of shame and secrecy around sexuality and instead cultivates a culture which normalized my desires to having pleasure. Pleasure is my birthright. I came away experiencing pleasure as a portal to my healing journey. We laughed, we cried, we screamed, we danced, we experienced pleasure together! I sense a new chapter in life has begun from this transformative, expansive experience!”
“For the first time I was in a room where most people use "they". I was seen, heard, accepted, and rejoiced for being who I am, for just being me. I did not have to explain or excuse who and what I am. The facilitators led us to acceptance and joy.”
“Dear BIPOC folks, if you are looking for liberational love, sexual healing, unleashing the beautiful powerhouse of you, in a sacred, devotional, generous container, by one the the most humble badass and skilled to the Moon facilitators and her team, you will want to experience Elisa Lee, Gabriela Love, Joanie and Janine guide you through. I have been looking for decades to meet eros in ceremony, in Tantric and Taoist traditions. I can't believe I found it here. I was able to see myself free from the colonizer's eye, capitalism's eye, patriarchy's eye. And it was magnificent. I embodied cellularly my glorious origins. The joy in witnessing fellow participant's radiance bloom was epic. This is next level. If your heart is calling this way, go for it. It took courage to say yes and now I know, now I know what is possible between humans. We can meet as celestial beings, giggling like the happiest spring river run, offering and receiving pleasure on a weekend. And this is the fuel up I needed to skillfully fight the fight we do in our social justice communities.”
Land acknowledgments are important because they recognize and honor the Indigenous peoples who have lived on and cared for the land for generations. They acknowledge the ongoing relationship between Indigenous peoples and their traditional territories, highlighting the continued presence and resilience of Indigenous communities. Additionally, land acknowledgments help raise awareness about colonial histories, displacement, and ongoing struggles for Indigenous rights and sovereignty. They provide an opportunity for non-Indigenous people to reflect on their own relationship with the land and to commit to meaningful reconciliation and allyship efforts.
The Body Electric School is committed to radical inclusion. We actively invest in and work to build an equitable, inclusive, anti-racist organization from the inside out. We celebrate and affirm intersecting identities across all gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, cultural ethnicities, abilities, neurodiversity, religious beliefs, relationship styles, body types, and economic realities. The Body Electric School also recognizes that creating safe and welcoming environments sometimes requires creating intentional affinity spaces. As such, we offer a variety of events, some for specific affinity groups and others for everyone.
Including pronouns on a website is crucial for fostering respect and inclusivity. It demonstrates recognition of individuals’ gender identities beyond the binary and helps avoid assumptions. By normalizing the practice, organizations create a welcoming environment and facilitate respectful interactions. Additionally, it serves an educational purpose, raising awareness about gender diversity and promoting understanding.
We primarily see transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive folks at these events. However, we do not police queerness. If “queer” is an identity that resonates with you, we welcome you into that space.

Why We Ask Each Other Our Pronouns

If you have any questions, concerns, suggestions or want to participate on the JEDI+ committee please contact us.

Contact our JEDI Committee

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