You’ve likely heard of safe spaces before. The problem is that, when having tough conversations, it may not always be possible to feel completely safe. That’s where the idea of brave spaces comes in – a space where people show up with good intent, but with the knowledge that mistakes will likely be made, and can be corrected as they happen. Creating brave spaces is critically important in what's happening in classrooms, schools, and communities today.

Joining us to discuss brave spaces is Dr. Melissa Crum. She’s an artist, an author, a researcher, and the founder of Mosaic Education Network. She leads a consulting company that infuses the arts, research, storytelling, and critical thinking into professional development, community building, and curriculum development. We discuss why brave spaces are important, how coded messages in children’s media can have an impact on their perception of the world, and how to facilitate difficult conversations in the classroom.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

Resources:

• mosaiceducationnetwork.com
• Instagram: @mosaic_education_network
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melissacrum

Learning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate Media

Recorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio