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I’ve been encouraged by the recent push by many big names in world lang edu to be more inclusive in conferences, webinars, blogging, etc. Many are being more intentional about ensuring racial diversity and have been public about their intentions.
I do have a concern though...
I do have a concern though...
It’s commonplace in education to do work for free. We all work above our contracted hours and we gladly volunteer for so many things. But this culture of working for free means that many are taking advantage of free labor.
I’m particularly concerned in this context because some of the messages I have seen seemed along the lines of: we’ve finally recognized the importance of inclusivity and need POC to help teach us about it.
So I want to share some of my own experiences and some of what I’ve learned along the way as a presenter and consultant in hopes that it will help others self advocate for fair compensation.
If someone approaches you with something that seems like a good opportunity (like being a guest blogger, webinar presenter, etc), it’s ok to ask:
1. How do you profit from my participation in this?
2. How will I be compensated for my work?
1. How do you profit from my participation in this?
2. How will I be compensated for my work?
You don’t have to use those exact words and can customize them for the situation. The chance to guest blog, for example you can ask:
Is your blog monetized? If they answer yes, then they are profiting off your post. Your followup question can then ask about compensation.
Is your blog monetized? If they answer yes, then they are profiting off your post. Your followup question can then ask about compensation.
Same is true for conferences and webinars. When we submit a session for a conference, at best you might get free/discounted registration, but some at that conference are actually being paid to present.
Those are usually pre conference workshop presenters or sponsored sessions and keynotes. Sometimes those decisions are made through a masked review process and other times they are invite only.
If you are being *invited* to present somewhere, it’s ok to ask about compensation if they haven’t already brought it up. If it’s a physical conference, you can also ask about travel and lodging expenses.
This is also true if you are being asked to give PD in a district or with a group.
For my own PD, I send an invoice with my usual rates, but let all districts know that I offer sliding scale pricing since I know districts cannot all afford the same prices.
With that said, not everyone will have money to pay you. That doesn’t mean you have to turn down the opportunity. There are plenty of things I have done for free because I believed in the organizations mission/values or because I wanted my ideas to get exposure.
For example, you may guest blog for someone because they have tons of followers and you want your message to reach all of them. (Thought I do think that blogs that have tens of thousands of readers can probably afford to pay you).
If you choose to do something for exposure, there are still some good ?s to ask:
Will my social media accounts be tagged every time you share this post?
Can I add a link to my own blog/place where I sell materials I create?
Will you write an exclusive guest post for my blog?
Will my social media accounts be tagged every time you share this post?
Can I add a link to my own blog/place where I sell materials I create?
Will you write an exclusive guest post for my blog?
If you feel uncomfortable saying no, consider ways to do it that still keep the door open for future collaboration.
“I budget a certain about of pro bono work each year and I’ve already booked what I budgeted for this year. Perhaps we can work together in the future.”
“I budget a certain about of pro bono work each year and I’ve already booked what I budgeted for this year. Perhaps we can work together in the future.”
All of this should be worked out prior beginning the project. Make sure you have it in writing. Set up an invoice system and keep track of everything for tax purposes.
On the flip side of this, now let’s address those White educators who are finally realizing the importance of inclusivity. It is not the job of POC to help you learn to fix this.
We created the problem, it’s our responsibility to fix it.
We created the problem, it’s our responsibility to fix it.
Do not request uncompensated labor from POC to help you on your social justice journey. You want to reach out to a POC friend to help you plan an inclusive conference? Pay them.
Don’t have the funds to pay someone for their time? There are literally TONS of resources out there to help you. Some free, some not.
Do some work. Find the resources. Google is your friend. You’re not the first one doing this.
Do some work. Find the resources. Google is your friend. You’re not the first one doing this.
There are blogs, podcasts, books, etc all helping white people learn to be anti racist.
But again, I’d you’re relying on POC friends or colleagues to help you, you’re really asking for a 1:1 tutor. Pay them.
But again, I’d you’re relying on POC friends or colleagues to help you, you’re really asking for a 1:1 tutor. Pay them.
I hope this is helpful. When I first started out I got taken advantage of and don’t want to see it happen to others.
Oh. And copyright/watermark your materials!!
