A part of using this toolkit, organizations are encouraged to create an Accountability Team (or A-Team). A-Teams should include Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) or racialized groups, who have grassroots affiliations, and are based in communities that have experienced a history of harm. Your A-Team members should reflect the perspectives, interests, and experiences of the communities and populations your organization aims to serve. Ask yourselves: Who is most likely to be impacted by the actions (or inactions) and decisions of your organization and the issues you seek to address? Those closest to the issues and impacts will be important A-Team members. 
 

Potential A-Team members are community leaders and/or representatives doing work that overlaps, complements, or is adjacent to that of your organization — whom you can learn from. Also, consider inviting individuals with some level of familiarity with your organization — its mission and work — and/or with whom you have an existing relationship.
 

In establishing your A-Team, there are at least 6 important steps to take: (1) Selection (2) Recruitment, (3) Onboarding, (4) Engagement, (5) Retention, and (6) Compensation. Be intentional about each interaction with your A-Team members — every touchpoint, from an invitation to an onboarding call, is an opportunity to build trust and act in alignment with your values. Be clear about what you are asking for and inviting of them, both in terms of expectations around time and tasks, as well as group agreements for how you will collectively hold space together.