These community guidelines- used in our committee meetings- are shared from FGC Friends of Colour Open House Community, with permission to use from its author, Vanessa Julye
Brave space - We commit ourselves to being a Brave Space (see below). Truth creates openings.
Move up to listen move up to share - try to allow everyone to share once before anyone shares twice. Some of us naturally participate by listening more and others by speaking more. For those who listen more, try to move up to share. For those who speak more, try to move up to listen more.
Speak from your own experiences [use I statements] – each of our life experiences is unique. This is more insightful than Generalizations about others.
Attend to impact - we assume that individually and collectively we are coming together to grow and gain wisdom. We assume a positive intent by all. That said, it is possible that they will be hurt and unintended negative impacts. Oops, ouch, and sorry can help us identify and learn from unintended harm.
Be aware of voices of colour - remember that most everywhere, the voices of people of colour are marginalized and tokenized. Much energy is spent adapting to white spaces and conversations.
Sacred space - I see our time together a sacred space where we experience deep listening. When a conflict occurs it is time for us to hold spirit and give us an opportunity to just depend our relationship to another level. We will ask everyone to hold the space, especially those who are confused. Deep listening. We are holding this sacred knowing that spirit will guide us as we listen deeply, Centre and allow the spirit to unfold.
We want to hold sacred space to build a skill towards reaching a value to support awareness, accountability and tenderness.
Stop and attend to the hurt – When someone has let the community know they have been hurt the group will stop and listen to what the person needs. They will let the community know if they would like to address their pain with the group at the moment or at another time. The community will honour the wounded person’s needs.
Experiential space – this is not a cognitive space but an experiential one. We encourage everyone to stay in touch with our bodies and what they’re telling us.
Keep an open mind - we understand that we are all individuals and perceive the world differently. Listening and speaking are important tools of communication that will help us share our perspective with one another.
There will be times when a person does not understand how their behaviour has harmed and another.
Reparations - is action required for repairing the harm that has occurred? if so what will it be?
Zones of learning - we seek to create a safe space / brave space for conversation where we can share and listen to stories from different places in the anti-racism learning journey. Each of us should seek to challenge ourselves (I.e. perspective, assumptions] at our learning edge we will involve stretching and discomfort. However you want to avoid the panic zone [see diagram below]. Keep in mind our bigger purpose and that it will take all of us to achieve it.
Invitation to Brave Space
By Micky ScottBey Jones
Adapted from Beth Strano's original untitled poem.
Together we will create brave space.
Because there is no such thing as a “safe space” —
We exist in the real world.
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,
We call each other to more truth and love.
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow. We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know. We will not be perfect.
This space will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be.
But
It will be our brave space together,
and
We will work on it side by side.