mission statement:

The Storymakers Conference provides education and support for beginning through published fiction writers in indie and traditional publishing. Our community of advisors and mentors identifies new talent and nurtures all writers through craft and business-focused classes, networking opportunities, and fellowship with other writers. As a community, we affirm the goals and dreams of our participants and celebrate their journeys as well as their successes. We recognize our responsibility to create an inclusive conference community. This includes writers of every race/ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship, veteran status, body size, and religion. We commit to championing equity and inclusion throughout our organization by:

• providing inclusivity in our leadership and volunteer ranks
• providing our members with substantive learning opportunities from an inclusive faculty
• continually examining and renewing that commitment in our programming, faculty recruiting, scholarships, community outreach, and education efforts.

We look forward to listening, learning, growing, and becoming better writers with you.

non-discrimination & non-harassment policy

The Storymakers Conference prohibits discrimination and/or harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, body size, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law in any area, activity or operation of the Storymakers Conference. The conference also prohibits retaliation against an individual for engaging in activity protected under this policy, and interfering with rights or privileges granted under anti- discrimination laws. In addition, the Storymakers Conference complies with applicable provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), related Executive Orders 11246 and 11375, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (“USERRA”), and all local and state civil rights laws.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to: verbal comments, written comments, or displayed images related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, body size, race, religion; deliberate intimidation; body policing; stalking; following; harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; and unwelcome sexual attention. Harassment is defined by the victim. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Harassment does not include respectful disagreement or critique in good faith.

CODE OF CONDUCT

All participants in Storymakers events and activities-including faculty, staff, attendees, and special guests-are required to comply with the following anti-harassment code of conduct, which prohibits behaviors including (but not limited to), the following:

• Abusive or offensive comments (verbal or written) related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, or religion
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
• Sustained disruption of talks or other events
• Inappropriate physical contact
• Unwelcome sexual attention
• Quid pro quo-sexual harassment that occurs when one in an authority position requests sex or sexual favors in exchange for professional consideration or assistance
• Individuals sanctioned by other conferences and/or events as a result of harassment or discriminatory behavior may also be subject to the sanctions outlined in this document.