TRAINING & EDUCATION

Sharing power through knowledge

Knowledge is power, and we believe training and education empower people, communities, and organizations to turn ideas into action and claim their place in decision-making. Sharing power is at the heart of the Shared Space Project’s mission and guides every learning opportunity we offer.

Our philosophy is that everyone is both a teacher and a learner. With decades of experience working with business executives, community leaders, students, program managers, children, and neighbors, we create meaning together. You bring your lived expertise; we facilitate through guided discussions, interactive exercises, and multimodal learning—tailored to those in the room, whether physical or digital.

To teach in a manner that respects and cares for the souls of our students is essential if we are to provide the necessary conditions where learning can most deeply and intimately begin.

– bell hooks

OUR APPROACH

  • Liberatory Learning is inherently inclusive and multicultural, embracing multiple ways of knowing and being—there is no single "right" way. Our curriculum encourages diverse perspectives, fostering forward-thinking discussions on applying these ideas locally and globally to expand shared knowledge and power. We focus on people, the systems they navigate, and how the knowledge we create together drives meaningful change.

  • We believe connection and relationships are key to putting learning into action. Our training fosters safe and brave spaces where participants share openly, learn from one another, and explore how relationships help turn theory into practice. Through self-reflection, one-on-one, small group, and whole-group discussions, we center relationships in everything we do.

  • Our main goal is to ensure that participants leave with something they can do, change, or act upon. We want to leave you inspired and prepared to implement what you learned—and we want you constantly be thinking about what comes next and how you can share your new knowledge with your community or neighborhood.

SERVICES

We have a suite of educational and training opportunities we’re happy to deliver as is or work with you to customize for your context—we can deliver these services both in person or online. Some of our favorite training and education topics include:

  • Effective Stakeholder Engagement

  • Community Engagement that Empowers

  • Understanding Power and Privilege

  • Power Sharing

  • Community Ownership

  • Inclusive Facilitation

  • Building Strong Community Partnerships

  • Community-Based Participatory Research

  • Co-creation Best Practices

  • And more!

UPCOMING TRAININGS

Stakeholder Engagement Beta Training

June 20, 2025 • Chicago, IL