You belong here
Anyone is welcome to join the Punch Up community as long as they are dedicated to our mission and respect our ground rules. The Punch Up community is made up of supporters and members and both groups are critical to our work.
Supporters
Every newcomer to Punch Up starts as a supporter, taking part in community gatherings and helping out with actions and tasks. Punch Up relies on a broader pool of supporters to fuel and amplify our work. For many people, staying in an ongoing supporter role is the right fit because they may not have the space in their life for the more demanding commitment of becoming a Punch Up member.
Members
Becoming a Punch Up member is an honor and a journey. Members are the core of Punch Up campaigns and teams and control the vision and direction for all of our work. Supporters who are ready to make a deeper commitment can apply to become a Punch Up member and begin an 8 week member onboarding process. The completion of the membership process is marked by a membership pledge and ceremony.
Punch Up Membership Pledge
I don’t punch myself
I don’t blame myself for the challenges I face and I don’t have to confront them alone. We respect ourselves and support each other.
I don’t punch down
I don’t blame other poor people for my pain. I don’t win when other people lose. We win together.
I don’t punch sideways
I care for my family, my community, and all members of Punch Up and groups it teams up with.
I punch up
I fight alongside everyone getting ripped off by the rich and powerful.
Member Stories
Member & Supporter Ground Rules
All Punch Up Members and Supporters must follow these seven ground rules
Speak your own truth
Try to speak from “I” perspective – like “I think…”, “I feel…”, “I worked as a…” -your lived experience and truth matters. Don’t speak for others – like “all men feel… “, or “all poor people think…”
Listen for each other’s truth
Don’t hog the mic. Make sure everyone has a chance to speak. If you feel what someone is bringing – tell them! If you want to understand – ask!
Expect tension
Conflicting perspectives and ideas are going to show up. We can still embrace each other through that by reminding each other that we all belong here and it’s ok when we don’t agree.
Disagree but don’t disrespect
Having each other’s backs is far more important than winning an argument. Challenge ideas, not people. We can tell someone we disagree without attacking who they are.
Bravely share pain, mistakes, and apologies
We are not alone in our failures and struggles – we grow and learn together. Telling folks when you are feeling hurt is just as important as apologizing when you have hurt someone else.
When shit gets too heated or too painful – call the heavy team
Rage and pain are part of this work, but if something starts feeling destructive for the group or you’re worried about an individual, try calling the heavy team for support
Expect to be challenged
Some of the things we have learned living in today’s world feel solid and true, but can also mean real harm for people who aren’t the same as us. At Punch Up we are learning how we can better show up for our neighbors. Sometimes that means hearing hard truths about things we have taken for granted most, if not all, of our lives.
