Facilitating a brave space for educators to contribute and feel supported

Courageous conversations can help move a system or school’s important work in service of students forward.

Acknowledging and supporting a brave space in the workplace is critical for having courageous conversations. A brave space is inclusive to all races, sexes, genders, abilities, immigration statuses, and other lived experiences. Providing shared tools to support courageous conversations inside a school or system encourages respect, inclusion, compassion, and courageous intervention.

Use this in order to…

• Help individuals and groups locate an entry point into a conversation about race or another sensitive topic.

• Enable different voices and perspectives to be represented in the dialogue.

• Work toward outcomes that include greater individual and community healing, understanding, connection, and growth.

“We actively share and explain our opinions in team settings – including when we disagree with others – and contribute to an environment where it is safe to do so.” – Tripti Thapa, Deans For Impact

Key Components

• Introduce explicit tools and processes as a part of a regular meeting or DEI training session.

• Create follow-up opportunities for staff to practice using the tools.

• Monitor progress by taking “pulse checks” with your team and allowing time for reflection.

Considerations for Remote Implementation

• Develop team norms that both support a brave space but also consider the implications of remote work (i.e., sensitive topics being discussed over video calls).

• Share a link to the tools you decide to use in a meeting agenda and in a chat box during your meeting so that participants can familiarize themselves with these tools and practice using them.

• Encourage all participants to be on video to be able to observe non-verbal cues during the meeting.

The Remote DEI Collective was a collaborative group led by The Learning Accelerator (TLA), and brought together participants from remote organizations to address the challenges of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in remote environments. This strategy has been adapted from the Remote DEI Collective’s toolkit, which was built to offer resources to improve remote culture and practices, in order to better suit leaders and educators working for schools that offer virtual and hybrid learning options to students.