A Public Square

Deaconess Center is a public square for ideas, thought partners, perspectives, and policy discussions promoting a community of learning and healing. Through civility, facts, and a diversity of viewpoints, the Center endeavors to hold the capacity to allow for convening, engagement and resource for liberation-based public policy solutions. The Center is unwavering in the knowledge that this effort, learning and healing will foster the conditions necessary for liberation to be the lived reality for our region within seven generations.

Tools used to build Public Square

Convening: By hosting partner organizations who are laying the groundwork for liberation and community well-being. From neighborhood gatherings to regional policy roundtables, the Center is creating space for dialogue, events and activities at the intersection of health justice and social justice.

Engagement: Developing deep roots of engagement and social fabric is a central factor for public square. Deaconess Center is a network of transformed people working to transform systems.

Resource: In partnership with "front-line" organizations, Deaconess Center provides resources for well-being. Resources include but are not limited to partners’ direct family services, Children’s Defense Fund™ Freedom Schools and physical space of respite and peace for our neighbors.

Deaconess Center is dedicated to fostering an environment where all individuals feel respected and valued, regardless of their background, beliefs, or viewpoints.

As a public square, Deaconess Center welcomes discussion on ideas, perspectives and policy solutions for community learning and healing. Event hosts must manage dialogues effectively to ensure all voices are heard and respected. Additionally, the Center asks all visitors and hosts to follow our policy for dissenting opinions and demonstrations, along with abiding by all other Center guidelines and policies.

1. Deaconess strictly prohibits any form of discrimination, hate speech, harassment, or intimidation. Any visitor who engages in such actions will be asked to leave the campus immediately.

2. Visitors are welcome to participate in planned organized events if they participate in good faith without disruption. If the event host has determined visitors are disruptive to the desired outcome of the event and or have significantly changed the intended nature of the event, the event host can ask visitors to leave the organized event.

3. Visitors of dissenting opinions are open to demonstrate their perspective in the Deaconess Center courtyard without disruption of planned organized events. Visitors in the courtyard whom Deaconess Center staff has deemed a disruption will be asked to leave Deaconess Center Campus.