The Importance of Creating Safe, Inclusive, and Engaging Spaces for Teams

In this workshop, you will learn: 

● The difference between safe spaces and courageous spaces 

● The impacts of one’s social location and positionality 

● How to identify power dynamics and who is being centred 

● What accountability, transparency, and care look like 

● Antiracism language and the framework for building an antiracist and equitable lens 

● How to identify and respond to microaggressions and biases 

● The impacts of defence mechanisms such as deflection, exceptionalism, niceness, 

innocence, tears and aversion to uncomfortable conversations 

● The first steps in developing ‘guiding principles’ and core values for you and your team 

To prepare for the workshop, take some time to reflect on the following questions: 

● What does a safe space mean to you? How do you know when a space is safe? 

● How do you determine if a space is inclusive? 

● How do you respond to uncomfortable conversations? 

● What do you feel is the impact when folks respond with defensiveness, guilt, shame, 

deflection, denial or dismissiveness? 

● Which of your identities do you think about daily or not much at all? (ie. Your race, 

ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, religion, socio-economic status) 

● How do you feel antiracism and equity work apply to creating safer spaces? 

● What principles do you feel are needed to create safe and courageous spaces? 

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

299 Doon Valley Drive, ECE Building, 299 Doon Valley Drive, Kitchener, Canada