I.D.E.A.

Antiracism Work at SANCA

In April 2020, SANCA formally created the IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism) Committee to establish and implement strategies to ensure that SANCA reflects its community and serves all people regardless of background, identity, and socioeconomic status.

This page, and the plan listed below, serve that effort by providing transparency about SANCA’s IDEA efforts with supporters, staff, and students, as well as with the larger Seattle and King County communities it represents. SANCA recognizes that we are just beginning this work. There is a considerable amount of work to do to unseat policies, practices, and systems that uphold white supremacy.

Further, this page is not meant to applaud SANCA for tackling this work or exist as a performative gesture. Instead, the effort is meant to point to the fact that SANCA is behind the curve in addressing systemic racism in its operations and needs to take appropriate action. That work cannot be taken on rapidly and needs careful consideration and planning. This page expresses our beginning effort so that SANCA is transparent and open with its constituents about the journey we are undertaking.

The members of this committee are as follows:

Chair: Tania Nambo-Escobar

Board members: Teresita J Bazán Beltrán, Dylan Forbes

Staff members: Sam Vasquez, Jasmine Manuel, Alyssa Hellrung, Megan Strawn, Erika Bergren

Community members: Nekole Shapiro, Lily Baumgart, Trevor Asbury

If you would like to provide input on this plan or if you are interested in joining the IDEA Committee, please contact Chair Tania Nambo-Escobar.

This plan has been updated in February 2021. The previous version of this plan was approved by the SANCA Board of Directors as of October 2020.

IDEA Committee Strategic Plan

June 2022

In 2020, SANCA formally created the IDEA committee to establish and implement strategies to ensure that SANCA reflects its community and serves all people regardless of background, identity, and socioeconomic status.

Current Strategic Plan

Archived Strategic Plans

Check out the Antiracist Discussion Group! This (online) space is set up for white people to work through tough or uncomfortable conversations with facilitation by members of their own race. We hope to relieve Black and Brown community members (often femmes) of the exhaustive labor of facilitation and education on these matters. However, all are welcome to join! We will meet bi-weekly to learn from readings, think critically about our actions in our own lives, and find ways to start or continue to support BIPOC people, especially Black people, in the circus community and in all aspects of life. This is a space for learning, come as you are and with a mindset of growth. Register here.

Bias Reporting Tool

Bias Reporting

The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (SANCA) is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for all people. SANCA values and caters to a diverse community where all members are able to fully participate in the joy of circus. SANCA’s mission is to improve the mental, emotional, and physical health of children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities by engaging them in the joyous creativity of acrobatics and circus arts. This mission can only be accomplished if the learning environments in classes are safe and free from violence, harassment and intimidation.

Incidents of bias or hate affecting a person or group negatively impact the quality of experience in circus arts for our community members. SANCA takes such incidents seriously and will respond appropriately to reported or observed incidents of bias or hate. These reports will be viewed and handled by the head of Human Resources (HR) and IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism).

This reporting system allows SANCA to understand and respond to situations that affect students, to educate and inform the community about such events, and to create awareness of intolerance as it relates to bias or hate incidents. This reporting tool is not limited to students and can be used by office staff and coaches. If you have any additional questions about this tool, please contact biasreporting@sancaseattle.org

Bias Reporting Tool

I.D.E.A committee members

Board Vice-President

Coach, Administrative Assistant

IDEA community member

Board Member, Coach, Board Liaison

Sacred Tobacco Woman (Jacqueline Olivia Pina)

Board Member

Teresita J Bazán Beltrán

Board Member

Tania Nambo-Escobar

IDEA Chair, Celestials Lead Coach

Coach

Alyssa Hellrung

Stratus Lead Coach