1. Equity, diversity, inclusion, & belonging
  2. Racial Equity Action Plan
  3. Land Acknowledgement
  4. Community Agreements
  5. EDIB Goals & Accomplishments

The Shotgun EDIB Committee

2023 Goals

  • Partner with local historians and members of South Berkeley’s Black community to design a display that honors their unique contributions to this neighborhood. (Install in 2024)
  • Create and implement bystander training for our ushers that addresses implicit bias and anti-racism. (accomplished winter 2023)
  • Hire The Justice Collective to offer moderator training for anyone hosting our post show conversations. (accomplished spring 2023)
  • Create a list of resources for folks who may need emotional support after viewing our shows. This list should contain contact information for a suicide hotline, sexual assault victim support, lgbtqia+ resources, and a general crisis hotline/PTSD)
  • TransPOC Watch for Free - Beginning with Hedwig, audience members who identify with this community will be able to attend any performance for FREE

2022 Accomplishments

  • Shotgun partnered with Indigenous Artist Geralyn Montano to install a beautiful Land Acknowledgement mural on the west side of the Ashy Stage.
  • Shotgun implemented a Community Ticket program whereby anyone, no questions asked, could purchase a $15 ticket to any performance.
  • Shotgun partnered with Gravity Access to offer an audio described performance and haptic tour for each show.
  • Staff, board, and company members received Non Violent Communication training from AORTA
  • We added the goal “Belonging” to our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee as a way of recognizing the importance of this value to build deeper connections with the various folks in our community. A survey was sent to audience members and will be included in future artist surveys.

2021 Accomplishments 

In 2021, Shotgun Players worked to increase accessibility, improve our non-violent communication skills, and strengthen diversity in the stories we tell, as well as within our storytellers.

  • We commit to centering BIPOC representation as we onboard new staff, board members, and designers. We recognize a lack of diversity in our core staff, and we’ve reimagined the position of Associate Artistic Director to make room for better representation on the leadership level.
  • We've drafted a new casting commitments document to fortify our goals to diversify our hiring and casting practices to center BIPOC artists. Our new casting director will be actively working on artist outreach, advocacy and representation efforts, and holding these evolutions in our casting policy.
  • We've designed a new first rehearsal protocol that centers the needs of the people and works to dismantle harmful practices. We have committed to putting the needs of our people first.
  • We're working with several outside organizations to provide anti-bias, microaggression, and bystander training to every contracted artist, technician, staff, company, and board member.

2020 Accomplishments 

  • We instituted a policy of paying a Shuumi Land Tax each year.
  • On September 3, 2020, Shotgun Players launched its first Inclusivity Survey of all staff and artists who had worked with Shotgun over the preceding two years via Poprouser, a BIPOC-owned and operated EDIB HR firm with no ties to the Bay Area theatre. We work with an outside firm so we could ensure anonymity and bring an impartial partner to the process. These surveys, now conducted biannually, give us helpful data and feedback that will be used to set future EDIB goals. These surveys will continue every six months.