Co-Creating Authentic, Safe & Brave Spaces What is considered a safe or brave sp

Co-Creating Authentic, Safe & Brave Spaces
What is considered a safe or brave space? Are they the same and how can you be a part in creating them?
A safe space is ideally one that doesn’t incite judgment based on identity or experience – where the expression of both can exist and be affirmed without fear of repercussion and without the pressure to educate.
A brave space encourages dialogue. Recognizing difference and holding each person accountable to do the work of sharing experiences and coming to new understandings – a feat that’s often hard, and typically uncomfortable.
Your Role as a Co-Creator
The main action you can take to be a part of creating safe and brave spaces is to collaboratively establish expectations that encourage behaviors which honor and authentically engage others life experiences and opinions, including your own. Here are some skills to help you with this:
1 → Bring your authentic self and honor your own truths – Use “I” statements – speak from your own perspective and not from the perspective of others.
2 → Be okay taking a step up or step back/make space or take space.
3 → Set expectations and ground rules with confidentiality and in a nonjudgmental space. Know everyone has a unique relationship and perspective to the issue, different life experiences and knowledge levels!
4 → Listen to understand.
5 → Acknowledge the opinions and emotions of others in the room.
6 → Practice empathy.
7 → Speak with good intentions.
8 → Recognize the need and value of diversity.
9 → Own the unknown and ask questions – Seek to understand a viewpoint you haven’t considered or heard about before.
10 → Be Courageously Vulnerable!
Journal Entry
In your digital journal, make an entry based on the following prompt(s):
Based on what you’ve reviewed so far in Module 1, what are your own personal traits, perspectives, attitudes and values regarding human diversity, and how much are they compatible with the purpose and values of the social work profession?
Follow the instructions in the course intro to set up your journal Assignment Overview – Digital Journals
1.6 Journal Reflection 1 – Personal Traits & Attitudes
Digital Journal entries are only viewed by the instructor.
Due by: 8/28/2023 at 6:00PM
Journal entry will need to be at least 2-3 paragraphs in length, perhaps longer if you are deeply reflecting on the topic at hand.