Community expectations & code of conduct for hosts
What the American Conversation Project asks of every host — youth and adult — and what hosts can expect from us.
[DRAFT — pending program review]
Our shared purpose
ACP conversations bring neighbors together, in person, to talk honestly about the place they live — what they're proud of, what divides them, what they hope for, and what they'd do about it. Hosts make that possible. Agreeing to these expectations is part of becoming a host.
What we ask of every host
- Host real, in-person conversations. Real people, in the same room, in your community in the United States — never online, staged, or simulated.
- Make everyone welcome. Invite a genuine mix of people and treat every participant with respect, regardless of their views, background, or identity. Harassment, discrimination, threats, and hate speech have no place in an ACP conversation.
- Facilitate, don't dominate. Your job is to ask the questions, keep the space respectful, and make sure everyone gets real time to speak — not to argue a position or steer people toward one.
- Be honest about recording. Tell participants before anything is recorded that the conversation is recorded, transcribed by ACP's transcription partner, and analyzed (including with AI tools) for the project's research — and say the disclosure again out loud on the recording itself. Anyone who does not want to be recorded should be free to step out.
- Protect participants' privacy. Don't share recordings, transcripts, or what individuals said outside the project. Recordings go to the ACP hub, not to social media.
- Keep young people safe. If minors take part, follow your organization's and the program's safeguarding rules; youth hosts follow the additional guidance in their training.
- Represent the project truthfully. Register participants, complete the surveys, and upload the recording as you actually held the conversation. Never fabricate participants, responses, or recordings.
What hosts can expect from ACP
- Training, a day-of conversation guide, and a team you can reach at help@amcon.pro.
- Clear information about how recordings and survey responses are used.
- A prompt, respectful response if something goes wrong at a conversation.
If these expectations aren't met
ACP may pause or end a host's participation in the program where these expectations are not met. Questions about anything on this page can go to help@amcon.pro.