These agreements keep our tours safe and welcoming for every guest and every neighbor we visit — please read them before you join us.
Everyone we meet on the tour is a community member who is loved and valued by the neighborhood. Yes, even the ones you may not expect. Whether someone looks different from you, speaks differently, or behaves differently than what you are used to – be kind to them, be curious about their story, and be respectful when asking questions.
If you don’t know something that the tour guide mentions, ask about it! If you see something happening in the neighborhood that you might not understand, ask about it! Your tour guide is there to answer questions and assure the group’s safety in all situations. NYC is a crazy place and what seems normal to us may not seem normal to you. Chill out and ask about it!
While your tour guide is speaking please do not engage in side conversations or disrupt what they are saying. While any group members may be speaking please do not interrupt or distract from the conversation. We hope that your tour is filled with moments of learning and reflection and giving everyone the space to speak is crucial to accomplishing that.
Your tour guide will ask questions and pose reflections to the group throughout the tour. If a member of the group shares a story, remember that it is their story and not yours to share to others. Take the lesson and leave the details. Let’s learn from each other while maintaining a space for everyone to feel comfortable sharing.
Be mindful to leave room for quieter voices if you are speaking a lot or challenge yourself to take up more space if you notice you are quieter than others. We want to create a space everyone feels encouraged to share.
No matter the intention behind what you may say or do, you are responsible for your impact on the larger community you are a guest of. Oftentimes we may not realize that what we say could be hurtful to others. If that happens it’s important to honor the impact despite whatever the intention may have been.
No blatantly racist, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, islamophobic, xenophobic, anti-semitic, or ableist language will be permitted at any point on any tour. Your tour guide reserves the right to remove you from the group for any intolerable language, gestures/body language, stalking or threats. No refund or exchange will be provided.