The Recess Community Campout
The Recess Community Campout was a gathering of about 80 people from the Recess Community in Tahoe National Forest, California, over Labor Day Weekend 2018. I helped anchor and facilitate conversations at the Recess Community Campout about the conflict and adjacent issues. Below are notes from the daytime discussions as well as images of some of the community work that was done at the campout.
Please know these are my notes and synopsis from the conversations at The Recess Community Campout as I was best able to capture them. I hope they help provide entry points for engagement and understanding for those who weren’t present in the conversation, and/or, those that wish to witness the themes/ideas that unfolded. It is not my intention – nor is it possible – to capture or present to you everything that was said and accomplished at the event and since. Many of the most fertile conversations happened at night around the fire, or in the kitchen while meals were being cooked, or in one-on-one mediated conversations of which I was not privy to all.
Please know these are my notes and synopsis from the conversations at The Recess Community Campout as I was best able to capture them. I hope they help provide entry points for engagement and understanding for those who weren’t present in the conversation, and/or, those that wish to witness the themes/ideas that unfolded. It is not my intention – nor is it possible – to capture or present to you everything that was said and accomplished at the event and since. Many of the most fertile conversations happened at night around the fire, or in the kitchen while meals were being cooked, or in one-on-one mediated conversations of which I was not privy to all.
A Public Post I made directly after the Community Campout
Summary of the Community Discussion Sessions
The community held 3 formal, facilitated group conversations, of which the topics were driven by the group present.
A summary of the major themes that came up were:
A summary of the major themes that came up were:
- Clarifying the details and answering questions about of the series of events that happened that led to 4 people leaving the Recess Organizing team. And, answering questions about what then unfolded after the post requested that the community no longer support Recess events.
- The Future of Recess in response to the current conflict/call for boycott.
- Concerns about: safety at Recess events, labor and labor expectations of the organizing team, Justin’s personal relationship to Recess, trust among organizers
- The Structure and organization of Recess - i.e. not a collective, Justin’s role as director, evaluating the circumstances that lead to power dynamics with in the team, at events and in relationship to the participants of recess events.
- As well as, and the current critiques of, how such power dynamics and interpersonal dynamics have affected recess organizers and thus resulted in the leaving and boycott.
Notes from the Saturday daytime community discussion sessions at The Campout
My raw notes from the first facilitated session on Saturday:
At the first community Forum we used the time to talk about:
1. Why we came to this event
2. Why we came to the forum and what we wanted to see happen
3. How recent events (leaving and call for boycott) - as well as the online response to Recess - have affected the individual community members present.
4. Questions we would like to see addressed at these Forums.
The following is a list of questions and comments that were brainstormed as talking points for hte next session (Please note, that many of these questions are not questions that could or can be answered. As facilitators we were careful to curb speculation and attempts to “speak for” (or on behalf of) people who were not present at the conversations.) A gracious attempt was made throughout the conversations to define who the “we” is in any personal statements. I found that one of the hardest parts of this conversation was the ambiguity of who and what people were talking about when they said “we”. In many statements, “we” refers to either recess organizers (when spoken by Justin, David or Ely), or “we” the participants of Recess events, or the “we” as those impacted by the current events unfolding on-line and within the recess community.
Questions the community asked at the first session:
Questions/Concerns about the conflict specifically:
At the first community Forum we used the time to talk about:
1. Why we came to this event
2. Why we came to the forum and what we wanted to see happen
3. How recent events (leaving and call for boycott) - as well as the online response to Recess - have affected the individual community members present.
4. Questions we would like to see addressed at these Forums.
The following is a list of questions and comments that were brainstormed as talking points for hte next session (Please note, that many of these questions are not questions that could or can be answered. As facilitators we were careful to curb speculation and attempts to “speak for” (or on behalf of) people who were not present at the conversations.) A gracious attempt was made throughout the conversations to define who the “we” is in any personal statements. I found that one of the hardest parts of this conversation was the ambiguity of who and what people were talking about when they said “we”. In many statements, “we” refers to either recess organizers (when spoken by Justin, David or Ely), or “we” the participants of Recess events, or the “we” as those impacted by the current events unfolding on-line and within the recess community.
Questions the community asked at the first session:
- What are the sweet things that have come out of Recess and its efforts to provide a Radically
- What are the successful technologies that serve the community and would like to see retained in any changes that are to come?
- How does dance relate to our culture and politics?
- How can this conflict be a source of growth and change?
- What are the needs for organizational change?
- How can Recess Productions acknowledge the labor of organizers and the participants?
- How can this conflict be a source of growth and change for Recess as an organization? And, for the Recess Community? For each individual of the Recess Organizers who are still invested and involved in the organization (Justin, Ely and David)? Justin as director of Recess Productions?
- Who do “we” (Recess Organizers) want to be? And, who are we accountable to as event producers? And, as community members?
- Are the Recess Organizers in service to the Fusion dance community and/or to the community that is present at Recess events?
- Can Recess Productions move forward without clear leadership?
- Can Recess Community (I.e. Alternative/radical Fusion dance community) continue without clear leadership? Without clear leadership from Recess Productions? Without clear leadership from Justin Riley?
- What could leadership of the “Recess community” look like?
- What could leadership of Recess Productions look like? What changes can be made in response to current critiques?
- What are the the current obstacles to the success of Recess events?
- As differentiated from the obstacles to success of Recess in internal affairs around how they organize?
- What is accountability? What does accountability look like in this situation? Who needs to be accountable to who and to what transgressions?
Questions/Concerns about the conflict specifically:
- Why did the organizers who left not feel represented?
- What is being asked for by the collective members who left?
- Why are the finances part of the conflict?
- Concern was voiced about the absence of voices and perspectives that would give access to clarity about the situation.
- Concern was raised about the use of the internet as a medium for dialogue. What are alternatives? How can this be addressed?
- Concern was raised about using the language of “sides” in reference to the conflict
- Can there be support of both Justin, Ely and David AND the organizers that left? Can we process this conflict without polarizing it?
- Point raised that many people at the event did not feel on the “side” of the current organizers not “not on the side” of those who left. But, a desire to bridge and support growth and healing for all parties
- What are the current critiques of Recess Productions? Justin? David? Ely?
- Concern about language and context - is this about broken trust and a divide of the community?
Notes from the Sunday daytime community discussion sessions at The Campout
In the second session the group split into two groups. One group went with one facilitator and Ely to field questions about the conflict and clarify for people who didn’t understand what the conversations were about.
The second group stayed and had a facilitated conversation addressing the question “Are organizational Changes needed in Recess Events and with in Recess Productions? If so, What?”
Notes captured from the second gathering of people - thanks to Karsten. Some of the comments have been paraphrased or shortened. Names of participants who are not organizers have had their comments shortened to just their first initial.
The Prompted Question For This Discussion: Are Organizational Changes Needed, and if so what?
F- Noticed that the same group is taking the lead no matter where the events are. What would happen if people in each locations facilitate and lead using their local leadership? She was a part of two communities with these sorts of approaches.
A- How did those communities do it?
R- Why do we need organizational change?
David- Within the Recess Organizing team, Justin has historically been in the director role, and the others are organizers of that vision.
F- The Network for New Culture had a hierarchy, leaders at the top that keep leading. Whereas musicians are all professionals with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, offerings, that any trained professional in the field can hop in and fill. And they do this all the time. Local talent partnering with traveling talent, or orchestrating events, etc.
Justin- Started Recess because he didn’t feel comfortable in other communities/events. Dozens of events are being run by other members of the “recess community” and they are all great in different ways. Questions the need, desire, or efficacy for Recesses to be run by non Recess Organisers. “Recess more specifically is an artistic and community project that I’m doing with my friends.” Recess has gone through a long history of organizational change and adaptation. For the first five years it was just me running Recess with people coming on event by event to help me run them on site. 3 ½ years ago we made team bylaws that included an advisory board (Ely and Cat) that helped me approve and consult on important things. At the beginning of 2017 it changed to its current form. Currently, Recess is not a collective, and it says so online in the Recess Organizer agreements. Officially, as the founder, Justin is in charge of the recess brand, has a veto power, and there are 4 main decisions that are consensus decisions between the team where any member has blocking power (what to do with Recess profits, how Recess pays its organizers, admittance of new team members, and the upcoming year’s event schedule).
David- In some ways Recess has been a Meritocracy based on what you put into it as well as what level of experience you have. It’s Justin’s baby, but he needed co-parents. Part of why we have plug in shifts is because this is all of ours based on what we want to put into it.
Ja- It would be better for Justin if Recess came to an end. It is cutting into Justin’s health and well being. And an organization with a charismatic leader will always not be egalitarian.
K- Why do we even need to change if Justin is the leader? It was his thing and he built it. People responded to what he built and that’s why they showed up, for the vision that he created and orchestrated. That being said, if he wanted to, perhaps he could find a way to establish the systems in such a concrete way that he could basically give it away, in the same way a poet eventually lets go of a poem. He could maybe still be around for counsel, but not be in charge anymore.
F- It seems there is not actually a need for change. From the outside, this seems to be really a good thing. Camping, dancing, community, this is all a really cool, beautiful thing. So either make a change or clarify what it is. When shit happens, somebody has to be responsible for it.
R- Justin is not the entire organization; burnout is a problem. Local crews with the organizers being back end support would be a great way to do it.
A- (to Ja) it isn’t fair to say something is better for Justin when Justin is an adult and can say what is best for himself.
David- Yes, Recess needs organizational change. For it to happen we need people to do the work though. To make the judgement call that the Recess is so bad that it needs to end altogether? That is a huge statement. David has observed plenty of bad things, but ending it is extreme.
Justin- He knew things were not’ working but then (because of all that happened) there weren’t the opportunities to make the changes. They were going to have a big yearly leadership get together that got interrupted by all this. [In response to Ja above] Recess does not feel like my “work.” We all have relationships to our life’s projects. It is my body and if I choose to put myself through all this, it's because I love it, and I personally want to. I don’t know when the relationship to Recess changed for the organizers that left from it feeling like rewarding community work and weaving to it feeling like ‘work,” but it seems to have shifted. Justin is absolutely interested in sitting down to do the work of getting through all this though.
Ja- WE can have beliefs on what is good for others when we see them engaging in self harm. Justin, consider the fact that it is your baby and you have control, which is why it isn’t work for you, but it is work for others. Also, consider that you use your burnout to guilt trip the other organizers into doing work that they weren’t prepared to do.
R- Justin, your lack of sleep, overworking, etc. could be affecting how well you relate to others and hear their needs and issues; esp safety concerns being an issue.
Justin- I think that the solution isn't in telling me what I can do with my body and my life and limiting how hard I want to work on a thing I care about, but rather we need more diverse and creative solutions. For example, we've already made the changes to have a non-organizer who makes the safety calls at events, someone who won't have the same physical stress on them to make important decisions in-the-moment. Or another solution we are enacting is a rotating of the production rolls on site at events.
Ely- Justin, it is your body, but in taking on an organizer role, there may be rules about what you do or don’t do with your body (sleep deprivation, etc) that you need to have yourself abide by during events and other relevant times.
Justin- Is thinking about how to take himself out of the decision making role and more into the production/organization side of things.
Third Session notes
NOTES FROM THE THIRD OPEN SESSION AT CAMPOUT
After 2 hours the second session broke. A smaller group chose to reconvene to continue exploring some deeper questions. Most of the notes from that conversation were captured in a way that demonstrates the circular and chaotic pattern of the conversation.. I will post pictures of those notes. And, try my best to summarize them below. Please note, that I may not have accurately captured or presented each individuals thoughts here. I did my best to paraphrase while maintaining integrity to the sentiment expressed.
We centered around the question: “How can this conflict be a source of growth and change?”
Justin - “Conflict is hurting relationships instead of building resilient and closer communities. Which is what I want.”
David - “ Organizational Team needs more time together as a team off of event site and beforehand. Value connection in the work. It's very hard to be be onsite creating unity. Its unsustainable for us as a team and for our relationships”
Justin - “Individually and as Recess Crew, how do we respond publicly to critiques and boycott in a way that models capacity for community to grow through conflict?”
“ the language of sides prevents and hinders growth and change. Recess is not against those who left. It is not an “us” and “them”. Creation of two sides is damaging and prevents us from becoming better at and through conflict.”
“Recess happens at an event. It is hard for Recess to work on accountability and changes without events. Changes need to show up and be shown in the community.”
“ How can recess show its commitment to being responsive and be visible in growth and change happening?”
E - “On a personal note, I think that how Justin responded to facilitation in the last session shows recognition of the pattern’s that are being criticized. All in real time.”
“Many levels to ‘growth and change’”: personal (Justin, David, Ely), event level, Larger community.”
E - “There is history to when the culture/change shifted. This “thing” with Recess has a large ripple. Larger than recess itself. Its a master class for the entire dance/fusion community. Justin said there is years of changes and adaptations to hard things. I wonder if the community would benefit from seeing that history of changes and the desires for future changes.”
David - “as far as organizational changes: 1) Lack of trust is a huge thing. We can’t blame one person. What happened with rumors that were started about David/teen wouldn’t have happened if the Recess team had more trust in each other. There wasn’t enough trust in the team to grapple with the incident. So - how do we build a more trusting and resilient team of organizers? How do we as a team not empower Justin’s voice so much? I see the biggest issue being htat we as prganizers need more time together as organizers (off-site of events.) 2) How can this conflicts change recess? So much anger over a breach of trust. I think we need to think about scale. Are we out doing ourselves? And for what? It’s stressing people out. Can a smaller scale to Recess and its events meet the needs of creativity and expression and less liability and stress? And, we need less shit and less infastructure.”
“I’d like to hear some practical thoughts on how things could be “better” with in Recess (events and organizational body). Let’s look at what happened as a message that things didn’t work.”
“How do we look at practical things? Start there. What can we really change? 1) prevent burnout 2) physical improvements to safety and how production happens 3) find the good things that we can repair/fix and work with. Is that niiave?”
ELY - “ as far as recess growing and changing: let’s unpack the emotions and the patterns - what is exceptional? Exciting? Justin has hyper rigid ideas about what is “exceptional” and “exciting”. Let’s determine the scale/scope of Recess moving forward: what is the trajectory? For me, This is a project that needs framing that feels valuable but doesn’t require exceptional growth.”
“Who is the rapid growth and excitement for? JUSTIN? At drift creek, nothing happened and many people said it was their favorite Recess.
“I would like to see Recess organizing team that is left and the individuals of that team responding to the conflict in a way that models capacity for community to grow through conflict.”
“ I would like to do more events like this campout. Its simpler. We work as a crew of “hosts” to organizers. To have a facilitator wrapping things up and giving voice - empowering other people’s voices. Use a facilitator at crew meetings. AND -- This is an artistic project. People want to feel like Justin and Recess are in service to the community. Is that fair and realistic? Here we are out doing ourselves. And, at times we are asked to compromise/accomodate larger team’s requests. Then it starts to feel like work. And, like it doesn’t make sense.”
Justin - “I didn’t sign up to be a “leader”. I create Recess the events. But, Recess the community, I am not the director of."
“What is Recess? Are we following Justin’s vision or are we partnering with it?”