Whether face to face or online, training facilitators leading sessions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) must think about the type of environments they want to promise participants who are attending their sessions.

Do they promise a “safe space” for participants. A safe space is commonly defined as, “a place or environment in which a person or category of people can feel confident that they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment or any other emotional or physical harm.” Safe spaces are often promised in DEI training spaces and classrooms, and even some offices may have safe space stickers. Pledging that no one in the environment will be harmed by the thoughts, behaviors or actions of others (including the trainer), however well intentioned, is an impossible promise to keep.

In recent years, however, there has been a shift from promising safe spaces to creating brave spaces in training sessions. Brave spaces require those in the environment to enter spaces as their authentic selves and bravely express vulnerability by sharing personal experiences and speaking up against harmful impacts. The intent of brave spaces is to encourage controversial discussion with civil dialogue, all while supporting the most vulnerable. But is that what’s really happening?

Transitioning from a safe space to a brave space shifts responsibility of the environment from the trainer to the participant. The trainer is no longer expected to be responsible for the type of space cultivated. Instead, the expectation falls to the already vulnerable participant to be “brave” enough to speak up to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences. This is problematic, especially when people from marginalized backgrounds are often called on to educate the majority about their experiences. This is not, and has never been, acceptable.

More and more, those from historically marginalized backgrounds have been challenging trainers for relying on them to take on the emotional labor of educating others by sharing their experiences. And, let’s face it, asking someone from a marginalized background to be brave enough to engage in a civil discussion with someone who has ideology that is rooted in their oppression is problematic. There is no safe space created when this occurs, and trainers should not expect participants to be brave enough to take on this burden.

If trainers can’t promise their spaces will be safe and don’t want to require participants to be brave, what can be done to create the type of environments where true learning can happen? DEI expert Aaric Guerriero, patient equity and inclusion manager at Froedtert Health and Medical College of Wisconsin, suggests that trainers should strive to create Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, Accessible and Authentic, and Learning (IDEAL) spaces.

To create IDEAL spaces, Aaric suggests trainers should focus on creating spaces that are:

• Inclusive: Creating inclusive spaces requires an understanding of personal identities, using inclusive language, and striving to foster an environment where all voices feel welcome and included.
• Diverse: Creating diverse spaces requires intentional effort to ensure teams and participants are comprised of different identities and backgrounds.
• Equitable: Creating equitable spaces requires an intentional removal of any barriers to learning for participants, accommodating learning styles and disabilities, and ensuring everyone has what they need to fully participate.
• Accessible and authentic: Accessible spaces are created by ensuring all training material can be utilized by everyone without facing any barriers. Authentic spaces are created through trust, leading with empathy, and ensuring all people show up as their whole self (without having to leave an aspect of their identity outside of the workplace).
• Learning: Learning spaces are created by promoting life-long learning, connecting within and across teams, promoting communication, and encouraging others to learn more.

IDEAL spaces may just be the answer to how trainers can move beyond the lie of safe spaces or the emotional labor required of brave spaces. The creation of IDEAL spaces keeps the responsibility of the environment on the trainer without further marginalizing vulnerable populations in facilitated spaces.