Policies & Governance

Governance & Structure

Organizational Model

GLC operates through a dual structure that honors both institutional rigor and community voice:

• The Consortium — Research partnerships, policy interfaces, academic collaborations, and evidence-based initiatives spanning neuroscience, genomics, anthropology, and systems reform.
• The Collective — Community archives, storytelling networks, survivor advocacy, public education, and grassroots engagement focused on memory, justice, and healing.

Leadership & Stewardship

GLC is founded and directed by Bailey Reid Gwyn, with advisory input from subject-matter experts, collaborating researchers, community representatives, and institutional partners across multiple domains.

Decision-Making Principles

• Evidence-based: Decisions grounded in research, data, and lived experience
• Accessibility-first: Universal design and inclusion guide all initiatives
• Community-responsible: Accountability to those we serve, particularly marginalized communities
• Transparent: Material policy changes are versioned, dated, and publicly documented

Privacy & Personal Information

Core Privacy Principles

• Minimal collection: We collect only what is necessary to provide services, advance research with consent, ensure security, and improve accessibility.
• Purpose limitation: Data is used only for the stated purpose at collection.
• Storage minimization: We don’t retain data longer than necessary.
• User control: You maintain rights over your personal information.

Sensitive Information Handling

Personal health information, legal records, survivor testimony, genomic data, and other sensitive content receives heightened protection:

• Encrypted transmission and storage where applicable
• Access limited to authorized personnel with legitimate need
• Never shared without explicit, informed, ongoing consent
• Special protocols for trauma-informed, survivor-centered work
• Compliance with relevant health information privacy regulations

Third-Party Sharing

We avoid sharing data with third parties except when:

• Essential for operations (hosting, security, accessibility services)
• Required by law or legal process
• Explicitly consented to by you
• Necessary for collaborative research with approved partners under data use agreements

Your Privacy Rights

You may request:

• Access: See what personal data we hold
• Correction: Update inaccurate information
• Deletion: Remove your data (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
• Restriction: Limit how we process your information

Data Usage, Security & Retention

How We Use Data

Information collected serves these purposes:

• Fulfilling service requests and communications
• Maintaining community archives with appropriate consent
• Conducting research aligned with GLC’s mission
• Improving accessibility and user experience
• Ensuring security and preventing misuse
• Meeting legal and regulatory obligations

Data Security Measures

• Technical safeguards: Encryption, secure servers, access controls, regular security audits
• Organizational safeguards: Staff training, limited access policies, incident response procedures
• Physical safeguards: Secure facilities for any physical records
• Vendor management: Third-party service providers vetted for security practices

Retention Periods

We retain data based on:

• Active use: Duration of your engagement with services
• Legal requirements: Statutory retention periods for certain records
• Research protocols: Approved retention periods for consented research data
• Archive standards: Professional archival practices for historical materials
• Deletion requests: Honored except where retention is legally required

Accessibility Commitment

Design Philosophy

Accessibility is not an afterthought—it’s foundational to GLC’s work. We design for universal access and continually improve based on feedback.

Technical Standards

• WCAG Alignment: We aim for WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance across digital properties
• Semantic HTML: Proper structure for screen readers and assistive technologies
• Keyboard navigation: Full functionality without mouse
• Color contrast: Sufficient contrast ratios for readability
• Responsive design: Usable across devices and screen sizes
• Alternative formats: Images include alt text, videos include captions

Research Ethics & Integrity

Research Principles

• Informed consent: Clear, understandable information about research participation
• Voluntary participation: No coercion; withdrawal allowed at any time
• Risk minimization: Protocols designed to minimize harm
• Confidentiality: Identifiable information protected
• Fair selection: Equitable distribution of research burdens and benefits
• Data integrity: Accurate collection, analysis, and reporting

Brand, Logo & Trademark Use

Ownership

The GLC name, marks, logos, and visual assets are owned by GLC and protected as intellectual property.

Permitted Use

• Editorial/referential: News coverage, academic citation, educational use with attribution
• Social sharing: Sharing GLC content with original attribution intact
• Collaborative work: Approved partners may use logos per partnership agreements

Restricted Use

The following require written permission:

• Modifying the GLC logo or brand marks
• Implying GLC endorsement of products, services, or positions
• Commercial use or merchandising
• Using GLC branding as primary identifier for other organizations

Contributions & Collaboration

Contributor Rights

• Ownership: Contributors retain copyright/ownership of their original work
• Licensing: Contributions are licensed to GLC under terms specified at submission
• Attribution: We credit contributors unless anonymity is requested
• Withdrawal: Contributors may request removal of work subject to archival and legal constraints

Conflicts of Interest

Disclosure Requirements

Any material conflicts must be disclosed prior to collaboration or decision-making involvement:

• Financial: Ownership interests, compensation, investments
• Personal: Family relationships, close friendships with affected parties
• Professional: Dual roles, competing commitments
• Organizational: Affiliations with entities that may benefit

Reporting, Complaints & Whistleblowing

What to Report

We encourage reporting of:

• Policy violations or ethical breaches
• Privacy or security concerns
• Misconduct by staff, partners, or collaborators
• Accessibility barriers
• Research integrity issues
• Conflicts of interest
• Discrimination or harassment

AI, Technology & Ethical Innovation

AI Principles (Audia AI)

GLC’s technology initiative, Audia AI, operates under these core principles:

• Privacy-first architecture: Personal data remains under user control
• Memory with dignity: AI systems that remember context without exploitation
• Transparency: Clear disclosure of AI involvement in interactions
• Consent-based: No training on user data without explicit permission
• Bias mitigation: Active testing and correction for discriminatory outcomes
• Human oversight: Critical decisions require human review