A Resilience Space Created by and for BIPOC
Gatherings with mostly folks of European descent can be stressful. If we care about belonging, it’s essential for Black and Brown folks to have a place to land, connect with another, and ease one another’s nervous systems. Having a space like this enables us to show up more fully resourced at the gathering, which is good for the whole community.
BIPOC spaces (also called PGM Rest & Roots, BIPOC Sanctuary, or Affinity Spaces for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are essential offerings at many gatherings. These spaces affirm the right of PGM (People of Global Majority) to rest, connect, grieve, play, and exist without the white gaze or pressure to code-switch, teach, or explain.
Depending on the size of the gathering, it may be possible/helpful to have additional sanctuary spaces or meetup times specifically for Black folks, Indigenous folks, etc. to gather.
Note to allies of European descent: BIPOC spaces are most nourishing when held with full autonomy and trust. Allies can support by offering care behind the scenes: protecting privacy, contributing resources like funds, food, or logistics, and following the lead of BIPOC organizers without stepping into the center. The role is to clear the path, respond to what’s asked, and tend to the work of education and harm reduction in other spaces. Support is most powerful when it comes without seeking recognition, stays open to learning, and honors the purpose of the space from a place of love and respect.
Below is guidance for PGM folks who are setting up or tending these spaces, rooted in care, sovereignty, and collective thriving.
Here’s an example of signage you could use (We’ll have more below)
This sacred space is for Black, Indigenous, and People of the Global Majority.
It is a place to rest, reconnect, and remember who you are, beyond the hustle, the performance, or the gaze.
You don’t need to explain or adjust.
You are already enough.
Come to breathe. Come to be. Come to receive what you didn’t know you needed.
May this space hold your joy, your grief, your silence, your laughter, and offer you back to yourself.
This space can feel like an escape from the gathering, but done well, it’s more of a return to the center.
It’s part of what makes the gathering more just, more alive, and more whole.
When PGM folks are resourced and rooted, we lead, build, challenge, soften, and transform together. We get a felt sense of our belonging in the whole space.
Keep in Heart and Mind:
- 1. This space makes the gathering more whole.
- When we tend to the specific needs of BIPOC / PGM folks, we make it possible for more of us to show up fully, not just surviving the gathering, but shaping it.
- This isn’t a side space. It’s part of the foundation of the whole.
- 2. We are complex, beautiful, and intersectional.
- This space welcomes the full range of who we are: Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, queer, trans, neurodivergent, multilingual, working-class, and more.
- We don’t have to flatten ourselves to belong here.
- We don’t need to code-switch, perform, or explain.
- 3. It’s a sanctuary, not a spectacle.
- This space is a place to rest, grieve, recharge, and reconnect, not a performance or a teaching moment.
- Clear boundaries protect the energy of the space. Gentle signage, community agreements, and peer-tending help hold that container.
- “This space is for People of the Global Majority to return to ourselves and each other, in whatever way we need.”
- 4. It supports grounding in body, heart, and spirit.
- To show up in the fullness of our leadership and creativity, we need rest and regulation.
- Build in textures, sounds, rituals, and comforts that support nervous system ease.
- Think: shade, pillows, calming tea, gentle movement, affirming art, altars, oracle cards, or soft lighting.
- 5. Different needs = different ways of engaging.
- Some folks may want conversation, some may want silence. Some may need a chance to express feelings that the larger gathering isn’t ready for yet. Some may want to build skills on how to shift the culture.
- Offer a mix of connection and quiet, perhaps through creative prompts, optional sharing circles, art corners, books, or tucked-away nooks.
- 6. We hold the full range of emotion.
- This space makes room for joy, grief, rage, stillness, play, and rest.
- It doesn’t need to be neat or nice.
- Maybe there’s a grief altar, a rage journal, a playlist of joy. Let it reflect our truth.
- 7. Location Matters! We have a whole section on that below for outdoor spaces. Many of these ideas applies to indoor spaces like conferences, too.
Location, Location, Location
Choosing the right location for a PGM sanctuary space at an outdoor gathering is key to creating a space that actually feels safe, nourishing, and accessible. Here are some tips for choosing and preparing that location, rooted in care, sovereignty, and practical needs:
1. Protect the Energy, Not Just the People
- Look for a spot with natural buffering: trees, shrubs, tents, hills, i.e., something that creates separation without total isolation. Hills are great for blocking sound. But do keep mobility into account.
- Avoid high-traffic zones like entrances, bathrooms, or food lines.
- If it must be near something active, use visual or sound shielding (fabric walls, quiet signs, plants, etc.).
💬 This space is a portal and should feel like it has a perimeter: a soft and clear “edge” that says: this is different. This is sacred.
2. Shade & Shelter = Nervous System Support
- Prioritize natural shade, or bring canopies that offer coverage.
- If no trees, use sun sails or layered cloth to create softness. There are silver knitted fabrics that allow wind through but they are also bright.
- Make sure the space doesn’t become too exposed to sun or wind.
- Sun and shade patterns: observe how sun moves across the site. A spot that offers shade during peak heat hours makes a huge difference.
☀️ Bonus: Having some dappled light or low lighting (like lanterns or fairy lights at dusk) helps make the space feel calm.
3. Sound Matters
- Choose somewhere where people don’t have to raise their voices.
- Avoid areas near loudspeakers, stages, or drumming circles.
- Consider adding soft ambient sounds (a small speaker with water, nature sounds, gentle music) to soften incoming noise.
4. Ease of Access — Without Being on Display
- Pick a location that’s easy to reach, without a long or difficult walk, especially for elders, disabled folks, bodies of size, or those carrying heavy emotion. Take roots and such into account.
- BUT not so central that it becomes visible or surveilled.
- Ideally, there’s a clear path with gentle signage and an optional greeter, so people don’t have to feel awkward finding it. Make sure the signage is clear enough that people don’t accidentally mistake it for a private place to pee.
✨ Think: “easy to find if you need it, not obvious to those who don’t.”
5. Terrain & Grounding
- Look for flat, dry terrain for safety and ease of movement. Choose level ground that works for mobility aids, folks with limited stamina, or those who want to sit/lie down comfortably.
- Avoid damp or flood-prone areas. Choose ground that drains well if rain comes, and steer clear of spots where water pools.
- Avoid being near ponds, which may come with mosquitos.
- Add rugs, blankets, and mats to create softness underfoot.
- A tree or altar stone can serve as a grounding anchor, both symbolically and physically.
6. Room for Choice
- Design the layout to include multiple “zones”:
- a social cluster for quiet conversation
- a solitude zone (pillows or hammocks for rest)
- maybe a creative area with journals or coloring
- altar space, rage bowl, grief fire, or joy corner
🌸 Bonus Tips
- Position the sanctuary so PGM folks can enter without passing through groups of European-heritage people in an on-display sort of way.
- Don’t put the space near the “healing zone” unless the vibe aligns, some healing areas can feel overly performative or appropriative.
- Location near the main Rest & Rejuvenation Station, Queer spaces, etc. can feel very supportive for intersectionality and integration.
- Offer a discreet “exit route”: a way to leave without fanfare if emotions are high.
Some Signage Ideas:
Affirming & Clear
Sanctuary Space for People of the Global Majority
This space is lovingly held for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to rest, reflect, and reconnect.
If you are not of the Global Majority, thank you for honoring this boundary.
Your care helps make this a space of deep restoration.
Soft but Firm
Affinity Space: For BIPOC / People of the Global Majority Only
This is a protected space for rest, release, and reconnection.
If you’re not part of this community, please do not enter.
Your respect makes this space possible. Thank you.
Grounded & Relational
A Space to Land For People of the Global Majority / BIPOC
This space is reserved for those who live racialized experience.
It exists so we can root in our wholeness and show up fully in the gathering.
If this isn’t your space, please support it by honoring the boundary.
Poetic & Gentle
This Threshold Is for PGM Only
If your ancestors did not experience racialization, this sacred space is not yours to enter.
Please hold the edge with care, and send your love inward.
Nuance: what about white-passing folks?
The heart of this challenge is how to honor the complexity of identity without reinforcing gatekeeping that causes harm or diluting the purpose of the space. Here’s a way to approach it with care, clarity, and a rooted understanding of what the space is for:
Guiding Perspective
The space is about lived experience of racialization, not just ancestry.
It’s intended for people who currently move through the world as Black, Brown, Indigenous, or otherwise racialized, and experience systemic harm, surveillance, or cultural displacement because of that.
That means:
Some light-skinned or white-passing folks absolutely do belong in PGM spaces if they carry the lived experience of being racialized or marginalized due to heritage, community ties, or cultural belonging.
Others may have distant ancestry, but if their day-to-day experience is not shaped by racialization, this space may not be the one for them.
How to Navigate This in Practice
1. Use Self-Identification, with Integrity
Let folks self-identify, with a gentle framing that invites reflection, not proof.
“This space is for those who live racialized experience as People of the Global Majority. If you’re not sure, we invite you to reflect honestly on how your identity shapes how you’re seen and treated in the world. We trust your discernment.”
- You can include this message in:
- Signs at the threshold
- A one-time printed welcome
- Spoken group agreements (if applicable)
2. Hold Space for Complexity
If someone has light skin but is connected to their Black, Indigenous, or Brown heritage and carries that legacy and its emotional, spiritual, and relational impacts, they likely need this space. Don’t police that.
Belonging isn’t only about appearance, it’s about how systems respond to you, and what you carry.
3. Have a Gentle Peer Process, If Needed
If someone’s presence is causing harm (e.g. they’re dominating space, are known to misuse proximity to BIPOC identity), it’s okay to check in privately and compassionately.
“Hey, this space is really tender for folks navigating ongoing harm around race. Would you be open to talking about how you see your connection to this space, so we can make sure it’s feeling safe for others too?”
Here’s a potential sign to post that takes this into account:
Who this space is for
This sanctuary is for people who live with the impacts of racialization: those who move through the world as Black, Indigenous, Brown, or otherwise of the Global Majority. We trust your self-knowing, and we ask for integrity in honoring the purpose of this space.
Final Thought: Spaces That Nurture Our Joy and Strength
When we create spaces to rest, reconnect, and just be, we are doing more than tending ourselves, we are weaving the kind of community we dream of.
These spaces remind us of our resilience, our brilliance, and the deep care we hold for one another. They give us room to refill our cups so we can bring our full, vibrant selves to the gathering and beyond.
May your BIPOC sanctuary space be a wellspring of ease, laughter, truth, and belonging: a place where we remember that our thriving is powerful, beautiful, and a gift to the whole community.
View the full course: Kinship Tending Skills: How You Can Contribute to a Culture of Belonging (Festivals & Gatherings Edition)