What is Safe Spaces?
Safe Spaces is an initiative and web site/app designed to help guide and implement the community vision for a just and safe St Cloud. Connections and understanding through conversations are an essential part of making that vision a reality. The initiative and site provide guidance to those who join in this journey.
Why create Safe Spaces?
Across Central Minnesota, many community leaders have realized the need to have challenging conversations about issues that may be sensitive and difficult but are barriers to safe and thriving communities. They have pledged to have those conversations in their networks and call all of us to join them. Finding common ground and shared understanding with our coworker, neighbors, and friends is essential to grow as a community and create safe spaces for all.
How does Safe Spaces work?
Through in-person trainings and use of the site, we hope to engage over 5,000 people from our community in the next year in deep conversations about the beautiful, inclusive future we can build for every single person in the St Cloud area.
Through this initiative and website/app, we hope to:
- Build community and deepen relationships
- Listen to the hopes, fears, concerns, and dreams of our neighbors
- Take a deep look at the ways we can strengthen our community in specific areas like housing, education, early childhood, public safety, and more.
- Create a narrative of St Cloud with a hopeful and inclusive future for everyone in the area
This site specifically provides (links):
- 1:1 Conversation Guide
- Small Group Conversation Guide
- Safe Space Conversation Logging
- Calendar
- Community
- Strategies and Action Plans
- More Info Requests