At the Ronald Reagan Center in El Cajon, educators from Cajon Valley, Grossmont, Lemon Grove, San Diego Education, and Solana Beach came with open minds and a desire to learn about Social Justice advocacy in a “brave space”.  

CTA Human Rights trainer Lisa Adams began an exchange about the difference between discussion and dialogue. With members taking on tough topics, a proper environment requires listening and learning as tools for gaining insight through respectful exchanging of ideas. Grounding this work as a dialogue means every voice is heard and judgment avoided. Honesty and openness allow misunderstandings and inaccuracies to be surfaced and dispelled. It is powerful and difficult work.   

Adams introduced the use of community agreements-used as a tool to reinforce not a “safe space”, but a brave space for members to honestly confront even the messy elements of an exchange–it’s the place that leads to growth.  

Adams explained that brave spaces are built intentionally; they invite difficult topics into the conversation knowing that discomfort is inevitable. Doing this depends on developing a shared language on topics like Anti-racism, Racial Justice, Liberation, Racism and Social Justice.  

Real change and growth require honest and open dialogue and a willingness to be vulnerable. Members were encouraged to consider how introducing difficult topics requires stage-setting and understanding, accepting that emotions can run high, and feelings exposed when doing this work.  

One Middle school teacher shared she attended because outside of her school there were competing Trump, LGBTQ+, and BLM flags. Her goal is to build the skills to best understand and support her students in divisive times. 

For Daria Beard and Huda Al Jabiri, accepting East County San Diego’s conservative demographic reality is an important starting place for change. That understanding enables educators to move the ball forward while adjusting to the realities of an increasingly diverse east San Diego County. 

CTA Board Member and attendee Kisha Borden, who represents San Diego County in District P, explained the importance of offering the Service Center Council event in El Cajon;

“More and more, educators are searching for innovative ways to create welcoming spaces for all of their students and to uplift the voices of marginalized students. This can be especially challenging when teaching in communities that are highly politicized or resistant to Social Justice. This training offered valuable insight about the importance of this work and provided resources to guide the work in the classroom.”