Main Street America (“MSA”) is committed to ensuring that our mission, vision, and values are brought to life not only through our programming, but through the conduct of our staff, board, members, and volunteers. MSA’s work and programming must be accomplished in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, violence, retaliation, fraud, or any other unlawful or unethical conduct. Individuals throughout the MSA organization and in the communities we serve must be treated with dignity and respect.
This Code of Conduct (“Code”) applies to MSA’s staff, members (and volunteers associated with member organizations), board of directors, and vendors. The Code governs behavior at any MSA-related activities or events including, without limitation, community visits or tours, trainings, workshops, conferences, board meetings, tools and communication channels, and social or networking events, online or in person.
In order to provide our network the opportunity to interact professionally and benefit from MSA’s work, MSA does not tolerate any discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, housing status, previous employment, or any other characteristic protected by law. Likewise, MSA does not tolerate fraud or any other unlawful or unethical conduct.
Anyone who, in the course of their involvement with MSA’s programming or other work, believes that they have been subjected to intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, unethical, derogatory, or demeaning conduct — or have witnessed other MSA participants being subjected to such behavior — are encouraged to immediately notify MSA’s designated representatives. MSA will take appropriate action to investigate such conduct.
If MSA determines that this Code or any other applicable policies have been violated, MSA staff and/or its designated representatives may take any of the following actions they deem appropriate, including:
- Issuance of a warning to cease behavior and that additional violations will result in further action.
- For MSA employees or contractors, termination of employment or a contractor relationship.
- Cessation of membership and/or licensing relationship, with no refund.
- Prohibition from attending future Main Street Now Conferences.
- Prohibition from attending future MSA events, whether virtual or in person.
- Prohibition from participating in any and all online forums managed by MSA.
- Reporting behavior to applicable authorities.
MSA likewise will not tolerate any form of retaliation against an individual who makes a good faith complaint of conduct believed to be in violation of this Code or other applicable MSA policies.
Main Street America Designated Representative Contact Information
- Erin Barnes, President and CEO, ebarnes@mainstreet.org
- Hannah White, Chief Impact Officer, hwhite@mainstreet.org
- Matt Wagner, Chief Program Officer, mwagner@mainstreet.org
- John Chomiak, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, jchomiak@mainstreet.org