Take Two: Holding Space (First Take)

September 2026'sTake Two will be on Holding Space: The Practice of Making Room for Every Voice and is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, and Wednesday, September 9. It will be led by Meredith Grundei, actor and theater director turned public speaking coach.

This session addresses something most DEIB trainings skip entirely: the moment when a voice goes quiet in the room. Marginalized voices don’t disappear because people aren’t interested. They disappear because the conditions weren’t right for them to show up. This workshop teaches learners how to recognize those moments, understand why they happen, and actively create conditions where every person feels safe enough to speak. Rooted in improv technique and performance presence, this session is deeply experiential. Learners don’t just hear about inclusion. They practice it in real time, with each other, in a room that becomes a live demonstration of what it feels like when space is held well.