Finding Your Voice: Building a Brave Space for Change
Creating a space where people feel heard, respected, and empowered to contribute does not happen by accident. Strong communities are built when individuals work together to develop trust, understand different perspectives, and take shared responsibility for positive change.
This guide supports groups in creating that kind of environment. Through a series of discussions, reflections, and collaborative activities, participants will develop the skills needed to engage in meaningful dialogue, navigate disagreement, advocate effectively, and work toward solutions that benefit their communities.
Rather than focusing on division or point scoring, this pathway encourages participants to listen, learn, and lead with purpose. Along the way, groups will establish shared expectations, explore different pathways for civic action, and identify how they can contribute through YMCA Youth & Government.
By completing this pathway, students will build the foundations needed to participate in community projects, advocacy initiatives, Youth Legislature, and other leadership opportunities while creating a supportive culture for their group.
Resources
This module can be completed independently. Steps 2 through 4 contain the most relevant activities for individual reflection and skill development. When completing Steps 1 and 5, reflect on the types of communities and civic groups you would like to join or help create in the future. Individual learners are also encouraged to participate in YMCA workshops and Youth & Government events to connect with others and put their learning into action.
Learning Objectives
- Describe key features of a successful community
- Explain how different characteristics can affect a group dynamic
- Create a set of guiding principles for your community
Value: Laulima (Working together toward shared goals)
Time: 40 minutes / 60 minutes
To work together effectively, groups need shared expectations for communication, collaboration, and support. Even people who already know each other need time to establish how they will work together as a new community. Creating these foundations helps groups build trust and work toward positive change.
Discuss the following questions:
- What helps you develop trust in someone or something?
- What do you think a community is?
- What do you think makes a community group successful?
- What responsibilities do members have to help a community succeed?
Stretch: Do you think different communities require different dynamics? Why or why not?
Challenge: How do you view the communities you are currently a part of?
Review the different scenarios and identify the behaviors, actions, or circumstances that are strengthening or weakening the group dynamic.
Stretch: Give examples of other scenarios that you have experienced that have impacted your group dynamics.
Challenge: How do you think external factors might affect a group’s dynamic?
Create a set of guiding principles for your community.
These should include:
- How will you share new ideas?
- How will you give feedback to each other?
- How will you address conflict within the group?
- How will we ensure everyone has an opportunity to contribute?
- How will you show respect for one another?
- How will you establish shared goals together?
Stretch: How will you support each other to meet these principles?
Challenge: Do you think any principles are more important than others?
Learning Objectives
- Identify key reasons for perspective taking
- Contrast how different experiences can lead people to develop different perspectives.
- Appraise your own identity and values
Value: Mālama (Caring for people and communities)
Time: 30 minutes / 60 minutes
People often view the same issue in different ways. These differences are shaped by our experiences, identities, values, and the communities around us. Understanding why someone holds a particular perspective does not always mean agreeing with them, but it can help us communicate more effectively, build stronger relationships, and work together toward solutions. In this step, you will explore how perspectives are formed and reflect on the experiences that have shaped your own views.
What key reasons do you think people may form a perspective around a topic?
Consider:
- The person’s background
- Their environment
- The people around them
- The media they consume
Stretch: Do you think there are factors more important for forming perspectives?
Challenge: How do you think this may be different from other times in history?
Review the provided profiles. Consider how each person’s experiences, community, values, and circumstances may have influenced their perspective.
How can you support this individual?
How do you think you should respond to this?
Stretch: Can you understand a perspective without agreeing with it?
Challenge: Does understanding someone’s background change how you respond to their perspective? Why or why not?
Around the profile outline, add the following information:
- Inside the head – What do you hold most important?
- Values
- Beliefs
- Goals
- Outside the head – What factors do you think have affected your identity?
- Family
- Culture
- Community
- School
- Experiences
- Media
Stretch: In a different colour, add values and factors which you would like to develop or include personally.
Challenge: How do you think your profile may compare to others in your community and outside?
Learning Objectives
- Recognize core skills required for successful discussion.
- Demonstrate discussion skills using the TWDR strategy
- Create a reflection on how you may navigate disagreement and form opinions.
Value: Aloha (Respecting others and building relationships)
Time: 30 minutes / 60 minutes
Disagreement is a natural part of any community. People bring different experiences, values, and perspectives to discussions, which means they will not always reach the same conclusions. Learning how to discuss difficult topics respectfully is an important leadership skill. In this step, you will practice listening, sharing ideas, and reflecting on different viewpoints while maintaining respect for others.
What are the core skills required for a successful discussion?
Consider:
- How do you involve different opinions?
- How do you allow people to prepare or present information?
- Do you have specific spokespersons or a general discussion?
- Does a successful discussion always require agreement? Why or why not?
Stretch: What should a successful discussion achieve?
Challenge: Would this look different depending on the question being asked?
The goal is not to convince others that you are correct. The goal is to understand different perspectives while clearly explaining your own.
Choose from one of the topics below.
- Gambling should be legalised in Hawai‘i
- People should not be allowed to protest outside abortion clinics
- Reparations should be given to the Hawaiian people
- Gun restrictions should be tightened in Hawai‘i
- Vacancy taxes should be used to support affordable housing
- Military presence in Hawai‘i should be reduced
Employ the TWDR strategy to discuss everyone’s views.
- Think about your initial opinion on the topic.
- Write down your thoughts, including any solutions that you may think could address the issue.
- Discuss your thoughts as a group. However, this will only begin with everybody reading exactly what they have written.
- Reflect and add to your written statement after hearing everyone’s point of view.
Stretch: How do you think TWDR works to support positive discussion of difficult topics?
Challenge: How do you think people’s values influence the positions they take on difficult issues?
Reflect on how you may navigate disagreement using the following prompts.
- In the past, how do you think you approached disagreements? Was this always positive?
- How would you like to approach discussions in the future?
- What key skills do you think are crucial to positive discussion?
Stretch: How do you think this may apply to people in Government?
Challenge: Can listening to another perspective strengthen your own understanding? Why or why not?
Learning Objectives
- Define the core aims and objectives of your group
- Demonstrate an understanding of the different pathways to action
- Evaluate different pathways to action based on your group’s goals and interests
Value: Pono (Seeking balance and doing what is right)
Time: 40 minutes / 60 minutes
Understanding issues and discussing solutions are important first steps, but positive change requires action. Communities improve when people identify opportunities to contribute and work together toward shared goals. In this step, you will explore different pathways for civic engagement and determine how your group can make a meaningful impact through Youth & Government and other community opportunities.
Discuss what you would like the core aims and objectives to be for your group.
- What would you like to make happen in your community?
- What area of civic engagement are you passionate about?
- What change would you like to see in your school, community, or Hawaiʻi?
Stretch: How might you be able to incorporate multiple different individual aims?
Challenge: Are there other people whom you may be able to recruit to support this?
Research the different opportunities you have available to engage in Civics and Youth & Government.
This can include:
- Community Projects – Changemakers
- Government Leadership – Youth Legislature
- Advocacy & Awareness – Voting Promotion, Testimony, Issue Campaigns
- Other Civic Activities – Community Service, Leadership, etc.
As a group, discuss the areas of interest and how they align with your core aims and objectives.
Stretch: Is there a way that you may be able to participate in multiple pathways at the same time?
Challenge: Who do you think could support you in your journey?
Create a Collaborative Action Map of the different pathways to action for your group.
Include in this:
- What key dates should we be aware of?
- What links to other resources or efforts might you be able to include?
- How are you going to prepare for these efforts as a collective?
- Why is this pathway important to our group?
Stretch: Are you missing any key information or resources that you need to participate?
Challenge: What challenges do you anticipate facing in maintaining civic involvement?
Learning Objectives
- Identify the core civic pathways you will look to engage with
- Evaluate the different leadership roles required within a civic organization.
- Develop accountability and leadership roles within your organization
Value: Kuleana (Taking responsibility for our actions)
Time: 30 minutes /60 minutes
Communities do not create change simply because people care about an issue. Change happens when people take responsibility, commit to action, and work together toward a common goal. In this final step, you will identify how you want to contribute, the role you will play, and how your group will move forward together.
As a group, discuss the Pathways you discussed in Step 4.
- What specific change or impact do you hope your group will create?
- How will you make this happen?
- What will each of you look to commit to doing this?
- What roles might this require?
Stretch: Are there any challenges that you might face for this?
Challenge: Where might you be able to gain support for these challenges?
Study the sample Bills. Rank the Bills with which you think is most ready for active debate.
Develop a Personal Action Plan considering the different roles which exist in Youth & Government.
- Consider which leadership, service, advocacy, or legislative roles best align with your interests and strengths.
- How do you view your involvement in the program?
Stretch: Is there something specific driving your involvement?
Challenge: How might you support others in joining your movement?
Create a Group Space Agreement with your group. This should include:
- How often do you aim to meet?
- When and where will you meet?
- Are there any key projects or programs you would like to include?
- What roles from Youth & Government do you need to exist in your delegation?
- How will your guiding principles fit into this?
- What will success look like for your group this year?
Stretch: How might you consider different opinions around the Space Agreement to create balance?
Challenge: What issues do you think you may encounter in working as a group?
Reflection: How will you look to make a positive impact on your community?