Brave Space Practice
Hamilton Community Legal Clinic has adopted Brave Space Practice founded on mutual respect where important and/or controversial issues are discussed with civility.
The ACLCO intends to adopt brave space practice guidelines for all its meetings, trainings and consultations. While we take the appropriate time to develop our own guidelines, we are grateful to Hamilton Community Legal Clinic for letting us borrow theirs to guide our upcoming events. All those who participate in ACLCO events will be required to adhere to the following guidelines.
GUIDELINES
- Gratitude: think about what you appreciate about each person in the room.
- Avoid making assumptions about other people, including about history, race and experience.
- Respect that there are different abilities and cultural ways to communicate in the room.
- “Perfect” politics are not expected (so that people do not feel judged if their views or language are not “politically correct”).
- Speak for yourself. Use “I” language; don’t speak for others and don’t share someone else’s stories or experience.
- Recognize that “understanding” is a powerful term and should only be used if you have lived experience. We cannot understand everyone’s lived experience, but we must acknowledge it.
- Notice and acknowledge your own biases/judgments.
- Agreement: do not personalize; no one is neutral; extend benefit of the doubt; self-reflect; be kind to each other
- Be open to critical self-reflection. If an individual tells you that something you said was harmful to them, listen. Listen for the sake of listening and not responding.
- Acknowledge your privilege and be aware of historical past and current events that may place you at a position of power at this very moment.
- Understand that we are all in a place of learning. If you say something problematic – apologize, listen to the voices of others, and then learn and adjust your behaviour.
- Create allyship to communicate, build relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability.
- Express your views thoughtfully, courteously and respectfully, and without intimidation, discrimination or harassment in all communication either spoken or written.
- Create a brave space for differing views and fears about issues of racism and all forms of oppression where shame, blame and judgment are not supported.
- Don’t occupy the space by taking control or dominating the conversation without allowing other voices to be heard.
- Observe complete confidentiality when matters are deemed confidential.
- Engage in conflict resolution if conflict should arise.