From safe spaces to brave spaces: A new way to frame dialogue around diversity and social justice. what Arao and Clemens (2013) call "brave spaces." . It is a way of creating community, and, for us, Brave Space is a way to BE church. In Landreman, Lisa M. Arao, B., & Clemens, K. (2013). (Ed. For this context, "safe spaces" are environments where students feel they are able to openly struggle with difficult dialogues concerning race, cultural inclusion, and diversity. A Q&A on the campus "One Read" with Alphonse Keasley, associate vice chancellor for Office of Diversity . Safe space implies that danger, risk, or harm will not come to one in that space—that the space I am talking about "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces", a very honest, mindful and well-constructed essay about the experiences and reflections of Brian Arao and Kristi Clements with facilitation in Diversity and… June 4, 2021. • Arao, B & Clemmons, K. (2013). As I wrestled with these thoughts, I happened upon an article entitled, "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces," by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens. From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens T he practice ofestablishing ground rules or guidelines for conver- sations and behavior is foundational to diversity and social justice learning activities. written by The Inner Activist. Whereas safe spaces refer to contexts wherein students can feel comfortable sharing opinions (Arao & Clemens, 2013), "brave space" communicates the courage needed to engage challenging subjects.1 Safe spaces have historically been designed to provide marginalized students a forum to share their experi- ences with or find solace from . From safe spaces to brave spaces: A new way to frame dialogue around diversity and social justice. Historical Context and Recommendations for Student Affairs Professionals, NASPA Policy and Practice Series. As teachers in training, we are very interested in the current conversation in North America regarding safe spaces and brave spaces. For example, the text "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces" by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens is all about people attitude in conversation, and how a change in attitude can change the entire discussion to increase communication and learning. Brave Space is nurtured into being by creating spaces and opportunities for people to summon the courage to be authentic, speak openly, take risks, explore, experiment, learn, and change. Grounded in history, attuned to new technologies, honest about the challenges of an increasingly diverse society, Safe Spaces, Brave Spaces charts a path forward that is realistic, but ultimately hopeful. NASPA. Comfort Zone' Learning'Edge' Unsafe'Zone' Establishing+Braves+Spaces:+The+Roles+of+Safety+and+Comfort+in+Dialogue+ We'wantto'create'an'environmentin . Their article questions the degree to which "safety" is even an appropriate or reasonable expectation for any honest dialogue about social justice with diverse groups. contexts with the publication of "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice", a chapter in The Art of Effective Facilitation (Arao and Clemens, 2013). In a safe space: Confidentiality and privacy are honored in a way that reflects an understanding of . Jeanne Steffen, Ph.D. Usually, the facilitator rushes in, falling all over themselves to apologize, revisit the ground rules, and ask what the group can do to make this a safe space. FROM SAFE SPACES TO BRAVE SPACES 137 the rear, and those with a more even split of dominant and target group identities in between the other two groups. Lisa Landreman, 135-150.Sterling, VA: Stylus Press. Setting ground rules or conversation guidelines seems to be the sine qua non of meetings these days. Arao, B & Clemens, K. (2013) From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice in The Art of Effective Facilitation. From safe spaces to brave spaces. B. Arao And K. Clemens's (2013) "From Safe Space to Brave Spaces," "argue that authentic learning about social justice often requires the very qualities of risk, difficulty, and controversy that are defined as incompatible with safety" (p. 139). This week's reading about Inclusive Pedagogy really made me think about the importance of thoughtfully choose and apply concepts in the classroom. Brave spaces are not "safe"; the risk of discomfort exists, but there is an effort . Furthermore, a 2013 publication by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens described how the term "brave space" may more aptly describe the practice of safely fostering challenging dialogue within the classroom environment. Response to Brian Arao's and Kristi Clemens' "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice" Response to Douglas Eyman's "Looking Back and Looking Forward: Digital Rhetoric as Evolving Field" Response to Lester Faigley's "Ideologies of the Self in Writing Evaluation" Comfort' Zone' Learning'Edge' Unsafe'Zone' Establishing+Brave Spaces:+The+Roles+of+Safety+and+Comfort+in+Dialogue+ We'want'to'create'an'environment'in'which'we'feel . Safe space prac-tices, norms, and language often put in place rules that interfere with quality discussion around such SLCE-related and difficult topics as justice and equi-ty, discrimination and oppression. The goal of the exercise is to visually illustrate the phenomenon of social stratification and injustice and how participants' own lives are thereby affected. Brave spacesrequire group bravery as well as ongoing instructor modelling and engagement sothat groups can discuss issues that live at the heart of . From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice. In safe spaces, students can explore ideas and express themselves with without feeling marginalized. transition classroom dialogue from "safe spaces" to "brave spaces" (Arao and Clemens, 2013). From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces. Brave Space v. Safe Space. Create a Brave Space We hear often about the need to create a safe space when discussing diversity or equity, however conflicts and disagreements may still arise. Safer spaces require continual work and mindfulness. November 15, 2017. by Chelsea Pulliam. In strong contrast to safe spaces, brave spaces requireand create more critically authentic dialogue and the co-construction ofequitable norms from and for the group (Arao & Clemens, 2013). Author Information One way to do this is to transition classroom dialogue from "safe spaces" to "brave spaces" (Arao and Clemens, 2013). BRAVE Space for Collective Learning. But even before brave space emerged as an alternative paradigm to safe space, the problems outlined in many critiques of safe spaces Steve and Alan talk to Dr. Lee Nelson about appropriately programming diverse choral literature in Midwestern programs. ), The art of effective facilitation: Reflections from social justice educators (pp. spaces to brave spaces in the classroom (Arao and Clemens 2013; Cook-Sather 2016; Perez-Putnam 2016; Reyes and Adams 2017), where "safe space implies that danger, risk, or harm will not come to one in that space—that the space as constructed precludes the possibility of those phenomena" (Cook-Sather 2016, 1). When discussing issues that some may find . Resources Arao, B., & Clemens, K. (2013). Apr 11, 2018 12:00 AM. Creating Brave Spaces*. Arao and Clemens define "safe spaces" as learning environments where students can expect to be able to engage with one another in dialogue over controversial, difficult, or sensitive issues with honesty . Stylus Publishing. 135-150). In the foundational article "From safe spaces to brave spaces: A new way to frame dialogue around diversity and social justice" Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens write that through exploring critical questions around safe spaces they came to realize that the approach to initiating social justice dialogues should not be to convince participants . black-lives-matter-meet-this-moment. The Art of Effective Facilitation: Reflections from Social Justice Educators, 135. From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice. Arao, B., Clemens, K. (2013). •Ground Rules: In L. Landreman (Ed.). Arao, B., Clemens, K., 2013. Arao, B., & Clemens, K. (2013). The focus of the last column was balancing etic (culturally universal) and emic (culturally specific) approaches in group psychotherapy and I suggested group interventions that highlighted both approaches, as well as included theoretical support for both approaches. There is therefore a need for brave spaces, not safe spaces, so that co- constructed norms are in place to enable this critical professional learning in groups (Arao & Clemens, 2013). In Their Own Words: Slave Life and the Power of Spirituals - Eileen Guenther . From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice, in: Landreman, L.M. 8 From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens T establishing ground rules or guidelines for conver-sations and behavior is foundational to diversity and social justice learning activities. SAFE Space for Connection & Support. In The Art of Effective Facilitation, ed. An exploration of the term's use, however, shows that it has been appropriated by the media and campus administrators without a clear understanding of the nuanced context from which it has been drawn. Heather M. Ross / June 8, 2021. A Paradigm Shift from Safe Space to Brave Space Dialogues in Multicultural Group Therapy. Spaces to Brave Spaces," Arao and lemens (2013). ), The art of effective facilitation: Reflections from social justice educators (pp. 135-150). From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: a new way to frame dialogue around diversity and social justice. The term brave space was first popularized by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens (2013) in chapter eight—"From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces"—of their book The Art of Effective Facilitation: Reflections From Social Justice Educators. 1 1 OVERVIEW The term safe space has become part of recent controversy surrounding a larger debate regarding freedom of expression on college campuses. In: Landreman LM, ed. ), The Art of Effective Facilitation: Reflections from Social Justice Educators (pp. The art of effective facilitation: Reflections from social justice educators (pp. Should our goal be to create safe spaces when we know that safety is largely determined by the amount of power and privilege one holds? Exploring the notion of "brave spaces" [From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces, by Arao & Clemens], the presenters offer tools for creating classrooms in which students and teachers grow together in the context of diversity-focused, social justice education. A Paradigm Shift from Safe Space to Brave Space Dialogues in Multicultural Group Therapy. The idea of "safe space" was borne out of Los Angeles' LGBT community in the 1930's. A "brave space," on It's not my job to create a safe space for my students, I'm not a licensed counselor nor can I manage 39 different "safe spaces" all at once. Safe Space/Brave Space. Having ground rules can create a safe space for people to interact, but they can also interfere with authentic conversation because people conflate safety with comfort . In L. Landreman (Ed. However, many scholars, such as Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens (2013), have advocated for use of the term "brave spaces" over "safe spaces," asserting that the term "safe space" fails to acknowledge the impossibility of removing risk from difficult encounters that may arise around controversial issues (p. 136). 135-150). This paper provides a thorough background on the history of safe spaces and brave spaces within the contexts of movement-building . They can be adapted to suit the age and experience level of students. October 12, 2015 ~ kt.ayers@vt. Safe Spaces and Brave Spaces. With Amissa Miller & Suzy Thomas Wednesday, September 8 1-2:15 pm Zoom You can check out 'From Safe Space to Brave Space: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice". From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces. "Brave Space" is a terminology coined by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens when they noticed the tension present in classrooms while talking about social justice issues. Safe Spaces and Brave Spaces: Historical Context and Recommendations for Student Affairs Professionals, by Diana Ali via NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces - A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice, Chapter 8 , by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens via The Art of . ), The Art of Effective Facilitation: Reflections . Safe space implies that danger, risk, or harm will not come to one in that space—that the space Brave Space Dialogues in Multicultural Group Therapy: Emic Approaches. Read online for free! It is a place where all people are not only accepted but also valued." -Santa Ana College. 1 Arao, Brian and Clemens, Kristi. From safe spaces to brave spaces: rethinking how . Read online for free! The art of effective facilitation: Reflections from social justice educators (pp. Hines, S. (2017). While such prac- . In Landreman, L. est around sharing the Brave Spaces concept and am looking for more venues to bring it forward. From Safe to Brave Spaces A Component of Social Justice Curriculum in Physician Assistant Education. A space of physical and psychological safety for marginalized or minoritized people to feel supported, to be able to openly discuss their experiences and to respite from threat or harm. A safe space is an environment in which participants are willing and able to participate and honestly struggle with challenging issues, without fear of attack, ridicule, or denial of experience. Safe Space vs Brave Space - Kristi Lonardo Clemens and Brian Arao So often I hear participants (usually White) share that they are reluctant to participate because the space isn't safe. •Are we nurturing engagement in ideas that may be counter to our own beliefs? As student affairs educators, we expect this pro-cess will help create a learning environment that allows students to engage . They proposed a shift in the discourse away from viewing the process of learning as requiring only a safe space as it takes bravery to challenge your world views and accept new information. Safe Spaces and Brave Spaces: Historical Context and Recommendations for Student Affairs Professionals, by Diana Ali via NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces - A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice, Chapter 8 , by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens via The Art of . Reasoning that safety brings . ), The Art of Effective Facilitation (pp 135- 150).Sterling, Virginia: Stylus. Challenging Conversations - Safe Spaces vs. Brave Spaces. The concept of "brave spaces" was introduced in 2013 by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens in a chapter of their book "The Art of Effective Facilitation: Reflections From Social Justice Educators," entitled "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces." I would be delighted to work with or even just hear from others who are adopting this approach in their work. This is the second in a short series on having challenging conversations either in your classes or individually with students. In Landreman, Lisa M. It may not be clearly stated, but people's attitudes as they approach any situation is huge in how the . From safe spaces to brave spaces: A new way to frame dialogue around diversity and social justice. They identify that we may have confused safety with comfort. "brave space" from the social justice education literature (Arao & Clemens, 2013), I was excited about the combination of active risk and built-in affirmation that the concept captures. (Ed. In L. Landreman (Ed.). Arao, Brian, and Kristi Clemons. Their article questions the degree to which "safety" is even an appropriate or reasonable expectation for any honest dialogue about social justice with diverse groups. As Arao and Clemens describe in . In brave spaces—classrooms, lecture halls, public forums—the search for knowledge is paramount, even if some discussions may make certain students uncomfortable. During this time, I was delighted to come across "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces," by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens, a chapter in the book "The Art of Effective Facilitation." Arao and Clemens, student affairs educators, describe how they began to disrupt the stalemate of conversations on racism while working together at New York . 2013. The Art of Effective Facilitation: Reflections from Social Justice Educators, 135. In advance of the Feb. 13 Spring Diversity and Inclusion Summit, campus members are encouraged to dedicate 30 minutes to a "One Read": an article by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens titled "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice.". Emphasizing bravery encourages individuals not to flee from discomfort, but rather to take the opportunity to engage meaningfully. Jeanne Bulgin Steffen, Ph.D. Landerman, Lisa (ed). 135-150). People within safer spaces are working toward developing trust over time and are seeking to understand first. Furthermore, a 2013 publication by Brian . In their article titled From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces (2013), Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens describe their experiences in a university setting leading social justice workshops for student leaders. Safe and Brave Spaces is a framework of dialogue for diversity and social justice. (Ed. [3] In many instances, they are effective. NASPA's October release of the whitepaper "Safe Spaces and Brave Spaces: Historical Context and Recommendations for Student Affairs Professionals" explores the history of safe and brave spaces to create a better understanding of how and why they are used differently within the campus environment. ‍ For further reading: From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces by Brian Arao & Kristi Clemens. Recommended Composers Mentioned: Adolphus HailstorkLevente Gyöngyösi Resources Mentioned: Teaching with Respect: Inclusive Pedagogy for Choral Directors - Stephen Sieck (Hal Leonard Pub.) . "Brave Space" is an invitation first offered by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens. From safe spaces to brave spaces. In many conversation circles, I've noticed a prevailing pedagogy known as the 'safe space'. The term "brave spaces" was originally proposed by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens in 2013 in the context of social justice education to describe mechanisms for creating supportive environments so that all students may participate in challenging dialogue. The term "brave spaces" was originally proposed by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens in 2013 in the context of social justice education to describe mechanisms for creating supportive environments so that all students may participate in challenging dialogue. brave spaces. As I wrestled with these thoughts, I happened upon an article entitled, "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces," by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens. Ryujin, Darin T. MS, MPAS, PA-C; Collett, DeShana PhD, PA-C; Mulitalo, Karen E. MPAS, PA-C. Jeanne Steffen, Ph.D. The focus of the last column was balancing etic (culturally universal) and emic (culturally specific) approaches in group psychotherapy and I suggested group interventions that highlighted both approaches, as well as included theoretical support for both approaches. For this context, "safe spaces" are environments where students feel they are able to openly struggle with difficult dialogues concerning race, cultural inclusion, and diversity. In it, a brave space within a classroom environment contains five main elements: Chapter eight of that book, "From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces," asserts that students accustomed to safe spaces conflate "safety with comfort," and may be afflicted with a tendency to "discount,. A safe space is often adopted when discussing contentious issues such as racism, LGBTQ+ rights, gender inequality, religious violence, and many more. Reviewing the development and shift from "safe" space to "brave" space dialogues as an important way to frame diversity and social justice explorations was the focus of the column from the last issue of The Group Psychologist. A space where people of varied Defining Safe and Brave Space . Reasoning that safety brings . A Safe Space is a place: "Where people can feel not only supported but also affirmed. Arao, B., & Clemens, K. (2013). 135-150). A seemingly safe space can turn unsafe within moments. What I can do is offer them a space to be brave in my classroom and . From safe spaces to brave spaces: a new way to frame dialogue around diversity and social justice / Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens Navigating triggering events: critical competencies for social justice educators / Kathy Obear When neutrality is not enough: wrestling with the challenges of multipartiality / Robbie Routenberg, Elizabeth Thompson . "brave space" from the social justice education literature (Arao & Clemens, 2013), I was excited about the combination of active risk and built-in affirmation that the concept captures.