Mandatory Reporting is Not Neutral (MRNN)
Storytelling Project
The Mandatory Reporting is Not Neutral Project is creating a digital storytelling project to learn more about the lived experience of mandated reporting.
What is the Mandatory Reporting is Not Neutral Project?
The MRNN Project is made up of gender-based violence and disability justice advocates and in the Seattle area. Our goal is to share survivor stories about the impact of mandatory reporting, educate communities on harm reduction practices, and change the conditions that lead to violence and abuse.
What is the Digital Story-Telling Project?
Through the digital storytelling project, we want to connect with people impacted by mandatory reporting, centering BIPOC communities who have been impacted by mandatory reporting and family policing. We want to hear about what the experience was like and the impact it had. We will audio-record the stories and use the recordings to make audio files. We will share these recordings and transcripts from the interview publicly, including on websites, places such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts, in webinars and presentations, in reports and publications, and in meetings and communication with policy-makers. Our goal for the project is to share stories about the impact of mandatory reporting to support societal and institutional change.
Who Can Participate?
People who are at least 18 years old and have direct experience with having a mandated report. We are prioritizing people who identify as Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color (BIPOC), including those with disabilities and those who identify as queer or trans or as immigrants or refugees. We can provide interpretation for people who would prefer to tell their story in a language other than English.
A note on international storytellers. We are able to share stories from people outside of the United States but unfortunately because of limits on how gift cards can be used internationally we aren’t able to offer gift cards to people outside of the United States.
What Will I Be Asked To Do If I Participate?
If you participate in the project, you will meet with a member of the MRNN collaborative for 60-90 minutes to share your story and have it audio recorded. You can meet over zoom or when possible, in person. Your participation will be completely voluntary. You can stop participating at any time, even after you have already started. Written stories which will be recorded as audio pieces will also be considered.
You will have the opportunity to review the transcript or audio from the interview or reading of a written submission, and make edits or clarifications before we share anything publicly. To show our appreciation for your time, we will provide a $200 Target gift card to United States-based participants as an honorarium for participating. We will be gathering stories through the fall of 2024.
How Will You Protect My Information?
The audio-recordings and transcripts will be stored in a password- and firewall-protected folder on Dropbox that is only accessible to the MRNN team and its contractors. The team will change all information that could identify you, your family, or anyone you know in your interviews. Your name and other facts that might point to you will not appear in materials from the project.
What are the risks of participating?
The project team will do everything possible to protect your anonymity, however there is always a small risk of a privacy breach. Because the audio recordings will be shared publicly, there is a risk that you could be identified by the sound of your voice. If this is a concern, please let us know and we can discuss potential options.
There is also a risk of discomfort while you are telling your story. We will ask about what happened when the mandated report was made and the impact it had on you and your family. You may skip any questions you do not want to answer and stop participating at any time. We will also share a list of resources with organizations you can contact if you want additional support to process the experience.
Who Should I Contact To Participate?
If you would like to participate in the storytelling project, please reach out to mandatoryreportingimpact@gmail.com. Let them know the best ways to contact you, and they will follow up to discuss the project and schedule a time for you to share your story.