Accountability. This single word can bring up a range of stories and feelings in our modern day. Sometimes, this buzzword calls forth ideas of integrity and “showing up.” Other times, it may trigger our feelings of shame and anger. Regardless of our responses to this word, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary says this: the quality or state of being accountable, especially: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.
Currently, the world is abuzz about accountability. Movements are working to offset everything from big oil and its impact on the climate, big pharma and its impact on human health, corporate rule and its impact on the diminishing quality of life for the many and the extreme wealth for the dwindling few. And of course, colonization and its ongoing impacts on the occupied people of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Ukraine and so many more. Our own country, the land of the free; but we have our own debts to collectively settle.
At the heart of all of these tragic situations is a common underlying theme: the lack of the people doing harm taking responsibility and being accountable for their actions. In each case, the list of excuses is endless as to why we can’t make the changes we need to or, as in the case of our species, a midcourse correction, to realign with lifeways that are sustainable and beautiful. However, the resources exist; we just have to reallocate them and focus on the greater good and the liberation of all.
One resource we can influence is our collective culture. Since 2007, this is what the Firefly Gathering has been working to shift. By offering a different approach to Earthskills and living with the land, activism and counterculture have been a part of this organization since its inception. Early attendees can remember back in 2010, when The Beehive Collective had their billboard-sized, hand-drawn art, illustrating “The True Cost of Coal.” Folks were mesmerized, seeing such beautiful and talented art married with such a profound and poignant message.
In 2015, Firefly took its next step along this path of growth, hiring Isa Whitaker as the first Community Equity Advocate. Isa has helped turn the dial a little bit at a time, year after year, helping move Firefly toward our goals as an organization. Natalie Bogwalker passed the torch in 2016, appointing Chloe Tipton as the new Executive Director who ushered Firefly into its nonprofit status. She then passed the torch to Marissa Percoco in 2019. With her feisty and fiery devotion to anti-oppression work and the liberation of all beings, this was the next step in continuing to solidly steer this vessel along this course, so that we find ourselves where we are now: at a crossroads with some important decisions to make.
We are learning vast amounts as we navigate these waters, and one major lesson has been the importance of accountability, as well as how tricky it can be to weather in real time. It’s all quite heady, sitting in video calls talking about security and care teams; but when things go sideways during an event, it can be very challenging to know how to respond, especially while still tending to the needs of the rest of the Gathering.
Often what happens is hasty decisions are made that are purely punitive and do little to address the root of the problem or offer repair. Or worse, nothing is done at all because the capacity just isn’t there. Restorative justice practices require individuals and communities to contend with trauma, accountability, and repair, rather than just retribution. While we do not have the capacity to facilitate complete restorative practices, we do promote the principles and work to bring about healthy boundaries and healing change.
As Firefly seeks to be more inclusive and expand beyond some common cultural norms, opportunities for conflict can arise. To be prepared, Firefly is exploring and refining our process of accountability. Previously, the Executive Director was responsible for handling all issues arising within the organization; however, this has become ineffective and far too much for one person to hold. In response to this, a Board subcommittee has come together consisting of a small group of volunteers.
These folks comprise the Accountability Circle, whose aim is to “Support the FFG community in maintaining healthy relationships through conflict and a container that is equitable and accountable.” To help achieve their goals, the circle created the Incident Report Form to offer all members of the Firefly Gathering community an easy way to submit feedback, report harm, or simply ask to talk about something that felt off.
When reports are submitted, this group also evaluates and responds to all events that are documented in this way, and determines what the appropriate steps for each situation are, and what repair might look like, as each incident is unique. They are committed to upholding respect and confidentiality around all information shared and have strong boundaries around who has access to this vulnerable information.
All of this is in an attempt to live restoratively, in reciprocity with each other. To do this, we must have pathways for repair when harm occurs. One of the first steps is taking responsibility for our actions. This is the process of accountability. It can feel scary, especially if we have trauma from childhood around perfectionist parents, or shaming households. From there, we may or may not need to talk to who we harmed, acknowledge the impacts of our words or actions, or some other type of repair. Sometimes folks may even be asked to take some time away from the community while they do their own growth work. This is not as a punishment, but as an acknowledgment that growth takes time, and sometimes there needs to be space for that growth to occur.
When we face the proverbial music and humbly accept responsibility for our actions, there is a great weight lifted from us. It takes a lot of energy to side-step responsibility; a certain form of mental dissonance to both cause harm and play the victim at the same time. And yet that is often what we are subconsciously doing when we are unaccountable for ourselves and the ways that our actions ripple out and affect others. It is through collective accountability that we can relax and sink into loving connection with each other; this is how deep trust grows. This is also the kind of behavior we desperately need to see form our leaders to help right the many injustices and long term effects of colonialism we face in the world today.
And so, at all Firefly Gathering events, easy access to the form will be available via QR codes and links to the form. In addition, there will always be a link on our website at fireflygathering.org/incident-report where folks can have 24/7 access to the Incident Report Form. We hope to help build a strong and grounded trust through some basic foundational measures.
Firefly envisions a beautiful and harmonious world where everybody is equipped with the skills and resources to thrive. It is our heart’s prayer that our tiny efforts towards a more accountable organization, gathering and community are like drops in the ocean; that when united with all the other tiny drops of love and effort around the world, we become the tide, rolling in a more just and loving way of being for all. We invite you to be a part of this gratifying work.
