Anti-Racism Seminar

The title of this seminar was Using Memory and Movement to Explore Anti-Racism
Natalia Ortiz and Keith Catone were the presenters 

Creating a Brave Space versus a Safe Space. 

    I've always heard the term safe space, time and time again, however, I have never heard the term brave space. Natalia and Keith had us brainstorm what a brave space could encompass. What we came up with was a space that welcomes the "ugly" because you can grow from it, enhances the willingness to put yourself out there, to dig deeper, ask questions, inquire, to start without knowing where you are going, to take risks. 
   I really like the idea of creating a brave space over the safe space. A brave space encompasses the respect and positive intent of the safe space but without avoiding the "ugly" questions. A brave space welcomes questions of race and differing views. A brave space allows students to bring their own experiences into the classroom and discuss them without needing rescuing from the teacher. In a brave space, there is a sense of intellectual curiosity and self-awareness. Being able to ask yourself Why am I talking and why aren't I talking while being conscious of who is there and who isn't there i.e. the empty chair. 
   I feel as though creating a brave space in your classroom, can really empower students to speak and voice their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. A brave space can allow students to bring their personal lives to connect with their school lives. A brave space encourages the "ugly" questions that a safe space hushes. 
   Empowering students is something that I am striving for in my future classroom and even now in my practicum and ever so near student teaching. I want my students to know that their voice is welcomed and respected in my class. That, if they have an opposing view of/on something, they can speak what they think, their opinion is more than welcome. However, making sure that opinions are spoken with positive intent and taking responsibility for the impact of our opinions. 
   
   This seminar was so enlightening and I am still trying to unpack all my thoughts. I never really had something, make me take such an inward, in-depth look at the institutionalized racism that I have been exposed too. This is because of my privilege in life. This seminar helped me to realize that I have not experienced much diversity in my life. Being able to take the "ugly" and turn them into teaching moments is key to creating and maintaining a brave space. 
   

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