Discussion Norms

Brave Space Agreements and Discussion Norms

  1. I agree to love, forgive, and take care of myself
  2. I agree to love others and build an inclusive community
    • It is not the responsibility of the person being marginalized to educate those who are ignorant 
      1. We will not call out people to share out their specific experiences, or to explain their traumatic experiences
    • We will believe someone when they say they were harmed.
      1. Don鈥檛 ask them to 鈥減rove it鈥
    • We will not allow the use of slurs or derogatory terms to refer to people or groups. 
      1. Except for people within those groups?***
        1. Could be something we talk about/mention in our discussion with the whole chapter
    1. We will critique ideas, systems, societal norms, etc., not each other.
      1. We will be conscious of the language with which we offer critiques
      2. We will not practice ally policing: not critiquing someone for being less 鈥渨oke鈥, but rather encouraging people to step up who may worry they aren鈥檛 as 鈥渨oke鈥/knowledgeable
  3. I agree to be accountable for what I do and say
    • We will not use Devil鈥檚 advocate - explain an alternative option.
      1. Explain more- take ownership of what you鈥檙e saying/ is there a better way to phrase what you鈥檙e saying?
      2. I.e. 鈥榠鈥檓 curious what you think of鈥︹ 鈥業鈥檇 like to learn more about鈥︹ 鈥榠鈥檝e heard this and I would like to understand what you think of it鈥︹
    • We believe that being held accountable for our actions is positive and powerful.
      1. Consider why you are feeling defensive (if you are)
      2. We are fighting for a common goal
    • 鈥楥oncerned troll鈥- someone who pretends to be on the side of one person but interjects devil鈥檚 advocate things into the conversation to distract it *** (Might not concern our group directly)
  4. I agree to be thoughtful about choosing when I listen instead of speak
    1. We will 鈥楽tep up, step back鈥, and recognize when we should speak and when we should step back and let others speak.
    2. We recognize that certain voices and perspectives will need to be centered more than others in certain conversations.
  5. I agree to struggle against racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism, misogyny, shame, and other harmful systems
    • We will not hold space to discuss any reverse ism鈥檚 or reverse 鈥榩hobias鈥 ex: reverse racism, reverse sexism, reverse homophobia, or reverse ableism, etc.
      1. But you can discuss it with us one and one- Aidan, Macy, Callum, Hannah
      2. No validation
      3. Not to invalidate experiences, but to avoid harming/putting down others鈥 experiences to validate our own
    • We will center the harmed over the harmer by acknowledging intent but centering impact.
      1. We will not sacrifice the dignity and safety of those who were harmed in the name of becoming more educated
      2. Remember victims, not just oppressors
  6. I agree to struggle against these harmful systems that I have internalized when they show up in my thoughts and behaviors
    • We recognize that sometimes conflict and discomfort are necessary for dismantling systems of oppression and we will not avoid conversations solely for the sake of comfort.

ghU 1: Race and Health Inequities

 Presentation

ghU 2: Iodine Deficiency Disease in China 

 

ghU 3: Mental Health

 

ghU 4: Proposition 118