How we gather matters
We are here to build real community, not just share a room. That means caring for one another, making room for difference, and learning to love one another well through respect, honesty, boundaries, and repair.
These are not rules to perform. They are shared practices we keep learning together. Not everyone here will become close, and that is okay. What we are building is collective care, not forced closeness.
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Care for one another.
Community grows through small, consistent acts of care. Be welcoming, check in without demanding disclosure, and offer help without taking over. Learning to love one another well includes kindness, honesty, boundaries, and care for yourself. No one is expected to give beyond their capacity.
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Make room for difference.
Black people are not a monolith. Respect differences in culture, nationality, gender, sexuality, disability, neurotype, age, faith, class, discipline, and professional experience. Stay curious without making someone explain or defend their identity.
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Listen before advising.
Ask whether someone wants listening, encouragement, resources, consultation, or advice. Share the conversation, make room for quieter voices, and let people pass. Connection does not require fixing one another.
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Respect different ways of participating.
Honor breaks, movement, sensory tools, communication differences, cameras off in virtual gatherings, and opting out of activities. Do not demand a diagnosis or explanation. Follow the event’s confirmed access information; individual needs and available support will vary.
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Practice consent and respect privacy.
Ask before touch, sharing someone’s contact information, tagging them, or adding them to a mailing list. For photos, ask the people who are the focus of a posed or close-up image; you do not need to ask the entire gathering. Respect anyone who declines a photo or asks not to be posted. Do not record private conversations or personal disclosures. Follow any event-specific photography guidance.
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Protect client and personal information.
Do not share client names or identifying details. Follow your professional confidentiality obligations in consultation and referral conversations. Let people tell their own stories; do not repeat another attendee’s personal disclosures outside the conversation without permission.
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Build relationships, not pressure.
Share resources and opportunities generously while respecting people’s time, labor, and limits. Do not use the community primarily to collect leads, pressure people into services, or seek unpaid work. Be transparent about recruiting, selling, or other business interests.
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Honor professional boundaries.
Gathered Well is a community space, not a substitute for therapy, supervision, crisis care, or legal advice. Keep referrals grounded in client needs, fit, competence, and availability—not payment, sponsorship, or an exchange of favors.
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Make room for accountability and repair.
We can disagree without demeaning one another. When harm is raised, listen, consider the impact, and take responsibility for your part. Repair does not require forced forgiveness or continued contact. Harassment, discrimination, threats, and repeated boundary violations may lead to removal or limits on participation.
Questions, concerns, or something we should learn?
hese agreements are a living practice. If something feels unclear, a boundary has been crossed, or you have a suggestion about how we care for one another, you are welcome to reach the organizer.
Share only what you are comfortable sharing. You never need to include client information or someone else’s private details. Messages come to one person, so an immediate response or a particular outcome cannot be promised. If something comes up during a gathering, you can also speak with the organizer when they are available.