Safe Space Facilitators Wanted

The Safe Space Program advances Fairfield University’s goals of inclusive excellence and radical hospitality for all members of our community. In order to achieve these goals, all members of our community must have awareness and knowledge about lesbian, gay, same-gender-loving, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, intersex, trans, nonbinary, and queer people and communities. We must develop skills to create brave and space spaces and to provide and receive feedback. Finally, we must be committed to creating change in every aspect and at every level of the Fairfield community. 

Safe Space Facilitators are faculty and staff who are committed to advancing the Jesuit value of being people for others. They are willing to lead by example, share from personal experiences, and practice compassionate accountability.

Overview of Responsibilities and Expectations

Safe Space Trainings

• Co-facilitate 2 to 4 Safe Space trainings in Spring 2022 semester either on Zoom or in person
• Meet with co-facilitator prior to training to review presentation, activities, and notes and to assign tasks
• Promote examination of biases, assumptions, and worldviews by modeling self-reflection and sharing from personal experience
• Create a brave space by encouraging questions and reflections from participants; responding to questions with compassion, accountability, and information
• Deepen faculty, staff, and student knowledge about LGBTQ+ history, language, oppression, and allyship
• Demonstrate listening, empathic responding, and repairing mistakes and coach participants in practicing same
• Respect and maintain participant confidentiality regarding what is shared in training

Training and Development

• Participate in facilitator onboarding, which will include direct instruction, observing other trainings, and role playing, and most likely occur on December 14th or 15th
• Be observed by other facilitators/head facilitators and meet to discuss feedback
• Meet with Safe Space team for one hour per month to discuss strategies, questions, and provide feedback
• Attend ongoing professional development as needed

Qualifications

A Safe Space facilitator must be able to create a brave space and make meaningful connections with participants in the trainings. They must also be able to create a collaborative working relationship with their co-facilitator and integrate feedback from their co-facilitators and other cohort members. The ideal candidate will bring these experiences, skills, and qualities:

• Must be an active Fairfield faculty or staff member in good standing
• Experience leading and co-facilitating trainings, workshops, or courses
• Knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ history, identities, lived experiences, and on-campus experiences
• Demonstrated skills as an effective presenter and in facilitating difficult conversations
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion 
• LGBTQ+ or ally-identified

Compensation

Facilitators will receive a $100 stipend for each completed training.

To Apply

Please send a brief (500 word) statement of interest to Erica Hartwell at ehartwell@fairfield.eduby November 22, 2021.