Our Code of Conduct

As a participant at Poetic Underground KC and/or The Fountain City Poetry Slam, you agree to the following statements:

  1. When you enter A Poetic Underground KC event, you have willingly stepped into a free speech zone that is maintained by allowing brave expression.

    a) You are welcome to say what you want, but nobody has to like it or support it. We do NOT allow a platform for language that:

               i. Advocates violence

               ii. Threatens violence

               iii. Harasses someone

               iv. Silences someone

    b) This method of empowering audience members to express their opinion is called a brave space.

    c) Poetic Underground KC strives to foster a space in which people can speak against and resist harmful content.

    d) Poetic Underground KC strives to illuminate silenced and marginalized voices/experiences.

               i. In the event that there is problematic behavior, Poetic Underground KC practices a restorative justice process when needed to allow an opportunity for learning, growth, and behavior correction for the offender, as well as allowing the victim to be seen, heard, and understood.

    e) Poetic Underground KC and The Fountain City Poetry Slam will only practice restorative justice when the offender and the victim agree to take part in the process (see Section 2, Article c).

    f) In the event that one or both parties do not want to participate, it is up to the Director(s) and the leadership team to decide how the behavior will be addressed. These decisions will be decided upon by a vote during a scheduled board meeting (see Section 2, Article d).

  2. Restorative Justice

    a) In the event that the safe space is compromised by problematic, harmful, or silencing language/behavior, Poetic Underground KC/The Fountain City Poetry Slam will participate in a restorative justice process.

    b) The Communications Director will act as a mediator, and the leadership team will act as additional mediators as needed.

                i. This process is victim led with a mediator(s).

               ii. The offender responsible for the language/behavior in question will be granted a conversation, in private, where this process will be expressed and talked about.

                iii. The language/behavior in question will not be shared on any public forum.

                iv. The mediator will present a period of time to maintain space for the victim. The victim has to approve of this time-frame.

                v. The mediator will allow the offender to correct language/behavior while on a probation period.

                vi. If language/behavior is corrected, the offender will be allowed back into the space, but placed on high alert.

             vii. If the language/behavior is repeated, the offender will be placed on a ban from Poetic Underground KC & The Fountain City Poetry Slam.

    c) All aspects of restorative justice are on a case-by-case basis, and, while they are victim-led, are mediated by the Director(s) and the leadership team to maintain the respect of all involved.

    d) Any language/behavior that is deemed violent or silencing that does not go through a restorative justice process will be handled by the Director(s) and the leadership team on a case-by-case basis.

  3. Poetic Underground KC and THE Fountain City Poetry Slam will provide a poetry event which is open to all people regardless of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, lifestyle, class, national origin, religion, ethnicity, age*, or disability. 

  4. Poetic Underground KC and The Fountain City Poetry Slam will provide an atmosphere in which freedom of speech, self-determination, and pursuit of creative excellence is an inalienable right.

  5. Poetic Underground KC and THE Fountain City Poetry Slam will provide an atmosphere of mutual support and encouragement in which poets are invited to develop, network, and grow.

  6. Poetic Underground KC and The Fountain City Poetry Slam agrees to comply with local, state, and federal laws ABOUT individual civil rights and sexual harassment and to do their best to provide a safe environment for all participants. When artistic and creative expression on stage during a performance conflicts with legal statutes regarding physical or sexual harassment, it is understood that the poet may be creatively representing a voice or point of view other than his or her own and is not necessarily espousing the point of view of the poem and the poet's rights to creative expression shall remain in effect.

To learn more about Restorative Justice and how it’s being practiced in Kansas City, click here.