We are a group of current dancers and alumni of DDN Inc. who are passionate about cultivating a safer, better experience for our community.
Far too many collegiate dancers enter the circuit without proper education around sustaining healthy relationships, maintaining sexual health and safety, or participating in safe drinking habits; these factors compound, leaving our community at-risk for a myriad of dangerous things, including sexual violence and harassment. In August of 2021, DDN Inc. founded its DDN SAP (Sexual Assault Prevention) Committee in response to calls-for-action from circuit members.
Our initiatives have evolved into a broader conversation around promoting safety & wellness for all. While preventing sexual harassment and assault was our initial goal, we realized it is not possible without addressing all forms of systemic oppression and creating a community that is truly accountable to promoting safety and inclusivity for all.
Thus, we’ve expanded our efforts.
1. encouraging proactive conflict resolution
2. encouraging mental and physical wellness and rest
3. promoting prosocial behaviors and healthy relationships
4. reducing hyper-competitive and toxic team/competition environments
... and more!
In 2020-2021, Sachika designed our approach using the CDC’s STOP SV Techniques for Prevention and Social-Ecological Framework for Prevention (CDC 2021).
Our work is based on the understanding that our circuit’s problem is influenced by external, societal factors – such as the patriarchy, capitalism, south asian culture, hook up culture, and so on – so we may never fully eradicate harassment or violence from occurring in our community. We can create change at the individual, team/competition, and circuit levels.
We believe that by refining a framework for preventing and addressing violence, we we can one day have a dynamic, widespread, and effective system for mitigating the social influences that make harassment and violence so commonplace and isolating in the south asian collegiate dance experience.
In 2023, we added the “Community” aspect to the framework after identifying a need to identify community as its own, critical focus area, rather than an optional medium for executing Prevention.
Members feel welcomed and included in all spaces; members engage in prosocial behaviors and uphold healthy relationships with their peers.
Teams and competitions make a comprehensive and dedicated effort to promote safety & wellness at various levels and stages of their organizations.
All circuit members regularly engage in dialogue, learning, and training about safety & wellness.
All circuit members regularly engage in dialogue, learning, and training about safety & wellness.
The DDN Inc. Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct (CEPC) intends to share expectations for the organization’s members and affiliates. As a private, human-centered organization, Desi Dance Network Inc. has the right to hold its members, partners, and affiliates to a certain standard. This document serves to describe appropriate and inappropriate conduct and possible actions the organization may take when an individual or organization is suspected of misconduct. By participating in a DDN Inc. event or affiliate event, individuals/organizations demonstrate their understanding and acceptance of the DDN Inc. CEPC.
When you reach out, the likely next step is to set up a call. The goal of the call is generally to collect the information we need from you to understand the situation and respond appropriately. We aim to collect only the information that is necessary, in order to reduce re-traumatization. Our goal is not to trick you or question the validity of your experience.
1. Consider using the Callisto encrypted record form to detail what you witnessed or experienced. You can share this with us ahead of time, which will allow us to shorten the call we have with you & hopefully reduce the re-traumatization that can occur from having to rehash the details on a call.
2. Ask someone trustworthy who cares about you to be your proxy. If you can provide written consent, we can meet with them instead. We will also share all updates or questions with you through this proxy. This can help alleviate the stress that can come from having to have extensive conversations with us.
Every member of DDN and Legends board -- from your Legends registration chair to our DDN CEO – is signed onto an NDA. This means that our members are legally required to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information that is shared with them.
We keep a record of every incident that is brought to us, whether we are asked to take action or not. This allows us to keep track of how we've made decisions & what kinds of problems our community members are facing. If a decision is made, such as the removal of a member from the circuit, then this allows us to ensure that this isn't forgotten through leadership transitions. This folder is only accessible to our C-Suite leadership and our VP People and Organizations.
