Safe and brave processes are designed knowing that people and communities may experience trauma triggered by community spaces that are linked to legacies of harm. While a process facilitator is not a mental health professional, you should consider whether and how to design trauma-informed engagements. Ask yourself:

• What historical traumas are there associated with a particular site? What are some issues that may arise that could stimulate trauma?
• Who are the populations that may be vulnerable to additional harm during this process?
• What particular attention can we bring to prepare for their engagement in the process? While conducting the process?
• What precautions need to be taken to ensure conditions that are both physically and emotionally appropriate for vulnerable populations who might engage during the process?
• How can we support affected communities in building capacity so that stakeholders can articulate their trauma?
• Have we accounted for historical, indirect, or hidden sources of trauma as it relates to this process?
• How and where will we make space for processing trauma during this process?
• What would be possible traumatic re-enactments or unintended consequences of not moving forward with an equitable collaboration process for these issues (if nothing were to be done)?
• For conveners and facilitators: What are our own potential anxieties or even traumas related to these issues, and where am I at in processing them? Can I play an effective role? What is my self-care plan?