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Building a Community of Belonging

Brave Spaces

A brave space encourages dialogue, recognizes differences, holds each person accountable to do the work, and encourages participants to approach topics with a growth mindset. In brave spaces there is an understanding that the learning is often difficult and typically uncomfortable. 

Ways to Engage in a Brave Space

  • Enter the conversation with curiosity
  • Take risks
  • Hold yourself accountable
  • Assume good intentions
  • Sit with and lean into discomfort
  • Examine your relationship with the subject
  • Resist centering your own shame, guilt, fear, and emotions
  • Stay on topic and be mindful of avoidance tactics 
  • Avoid trying to control others' emotions, experiences, and/or pain 
  • Allow learnings from the conversation to leave with you and individuals' stories and specifics to remain in the room

The Restorative Process

Using a guiding set of questions, the Restorative Process intends to repair relationships and reduce punitive solutions when conflict arises. The restorative process at The Oaks School is a facilitation technique and skill-building practice that restores friendships and community relationships by meaningfully addressing harm and engaging with conflict through thoughtful introspection, personal accountability, and mutual understanding.