At Shaking the Tree, we are actively working on transforming our theatre, & are working to identify & dismantle white supremacy & white supremacist culture, anti-Blackness, transphobia, homophobia, and all other forms of oppression. StT acknowledges the harm that has been done to members of the BIPOC community, and we are committed to consciously dismantling this harm through anti-racist practices that include harm reduction, harm prevention, and relationship repair. Our progress has been non linear, and we are continuing to learn how to best support & highlight these communities. We have taken a look at our own practices & the systems we participate in. We understand that through our action & inaction we have caused harm, and we commit to transparency in our accountability & in our ever evolving anti-racist practices. ​

June 2022 Commitments / Updates:

• Shaking the Tree staff met weekly to meet/check in about our continued anti-racism & anti-bias work throughout our 2021/22 season. We plan on continuing this in our 2022/23 season.
• Shaking the Tree's 2021/22 season reflected the commitment of 50% (or more) BIPOC representation reflected in the staff, performers, designers, & crew of Shaking the Tree. We are committed to continuing this work, and having this reflected in the board at Shaking the Tree over the next two years.
• Shaking the Tree has prioritized the wellbeing of all employees & contractors by eliminating 10 out of 12 tech rehearsals, and by implementing an anonymous post-show survey to encourage open dialogue. 
• Shaking the Tree prioritized bringing in a diverse audience for our 2021/22 season. We welcomed 219 (18%) first time attendees to our shows this past season. 
• Shaking the Tree prioritized bringing in an audience with a diverse economic background for our 2021/22 season. Reduced rate $5 "Helping Hand" tickets were available for every performance, with no standards for eligibility. Shaking the Tree commits to continuing to offer reduced rate tickets for all productions in our 22/23 season. 
• Shaking the Tree gave 50% of all proceeds made from 家人, a Self Portrait Film by Rebby Yuer Foster to Hate is a Virus, an organization helping educate and activate AAPI to stand for justice and equality in solidarity with other communities by mobilizing to participate in local and national campaigns, creating safe spaces for dialogue and education, and providing actionable steps and funding in partnership with trusted community leaders and organizations. 

​September 2021 Commitments / Update: 

• Shaking the Tree commits to ongoing anti-bias & anti-racist training, which includes weekly meeting/check-ins for Shaking the Tree's staff, and monthly check-ins for the board. StT commits to putting this work in to practice daily. 

• Shaking the Tree commits to 50% (or more) BIPOC representation, reflective in the board, staff, performers, designers, and crew of Shaking the Tree. 

• Shaking the Tree will continue to redistribute power to BIPOC individuals, by using a power sharing model for season programming, casting, & hiring. 
• Shaking the Tree commits to offering free rentals, tickets and tuition to Indigenous peoples native to the land we are on, including Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, and Tualatin, Chinook (including the Watlala), Molalla and Kalapuya tribal members. 

• Shaking the Tree commits to only supporting & working with companies & vendors who are working towards anti-racism. 
• Shaking the Tree commits to the wellbeing of all employees & contractors. This includes eliminating unhealthy & unnecessarily strenuous work schedules (eliminating the 10 out of 12 tech rehearsals), & having open dialogue with employees & freelance artists by offering an opportunity to give feedback through an anonymous post-show survey. 
• Shaking the Tree commits to restructuring production job descriptions by using language that is free of unconscious bias such as “years of experience” requirements or education requirements for production staff.
• Shaking the Tree will continue to prioritize authentic relationships with BIPOC artists & communities. StT commits to investing in & supporting BIPOC individuals in leadership roles. 
• Shaking the Tree commits to hiring culturally competent designers & choreographers, and providing proper training around styling of Black & BIPOC hair, makeup, and costumes. In addition, StT commits to engaging BIPOC actors in conversations around the styling of their characters’ wardrobe, hair, and makeup. 
• Shaking the Tree will continue to prioritize bringing in a diverse audience (including a BIPOC audience, and an audience that represents a diverse economic background). Additionally StT commits to maintaining equal relationships to donors, subscribers, and board members regardless of income, gift amounts, or patron loyalty.
• Shaking the Tree commits to giving back dollars to BIPOC communities impacted by or represented in the stories we tell. 

In an attempt to hold ourselves accountable, we will continue to publish yearly updates on this page about further commitments and the progress of our ongoing work. If you wish to have dialogue with us about our commitments & progress, please contact us at feedback@shaking-the-tree.com.