No Boss, Just Barrio
Juntos Decidimos - Together, We Decide
We are dismantling hierarchy in the arts, starting with how our own choir makes decisions.
In most choirs, singers walk in knowing the director is the boss. You follow, and you don’t question.
The Latinx Choral Project takes a different path. Our conductor and artistic leaders guide the music we make together. Every voice is heard. Every opinion counts.
Respect at LCP does not mean staying quiet. You can ask questions, say when something doesn’t make sense, and ask for changes.
We reject “because the boss says so.” It shuts the conversation down. Our leaders explain their thinking. When someone raises a concern, we address it and make a plan together, not one person over everyone else.
We believe the overall health of our organization requires deep active listening skills and the patience to allow all perspectives to be known before making a decision that affects the whole community.
Joining our community means your voice has power beyond the stage. You have a say in shaping the direction of this organization. You are a valuable part of our community.
Conflict Resolution in Action
Here’s how we resolve conflict and repair harm
People sometimes ask us: If there’s no boss calling the shots, what happens when conflict comes up? Our answer: we resolve it. A boss who makes demands doesn’t end a conflict. They end the conversation. “Drop it and get along” never works. At LCP, we don’t push people out or make drastic moves when someone disagrees. We follow a clear plan to work through the conflict together and repair the harm.
Before the circle. When someone is hurt, anyone in our community can ask for a circle. A trained circle keeper guides the process. The keeper is not a judge or a boss, isn’t involved in the conflict, and doesn’t take sides. First, the keeper meets with each person alone. They listen, explain how the circle works, and make sure everyone feels ready and safe. No one is ever forced to take part, and the person who was harmed decides whether the circle moves forward.
In the circle. We sit in a circle, with no head of the table. A talking piece is passed around, so only one person speaks at a time. Each person shares what happened and how it affected them. Someone then says back what they heard, until the speaker feels truly heard. The person who caused harm takes responsibility in their own words. Then we agree together on a plan to make things right and keep it from happening again.
After the circle. A few weeks later, the circle keeper checks in with everyone. Did we do what we said we would? How is everyone doing now? The goal is not forced forgiveness or friendship. The goal is understanding, so that everyone can let go of what has been holding them and move forward whole.