Get some space

Social media abounds with photos of people enjoying all the outdoor recreational opportunities that the Pacific Northwest has to offer, but many factors can affect how safe a person feels outside.

Join a facilitated discussion presented by the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, “Are You Safer Outside?” live via Zoom on Thursday, Dec. 9. ‍

Outdoor spaces have taken on new significance as we struggle to address the need for connection without the health risk that now comes with enclosed places. While some of us may be rediscovering parks and trails that we once took for granted, others may be feeling the stressors of unwelcoming or inaccessible outdoor areas more than ever.

Join facilitator Mareshah “MJ” Jackson to discuss what makes an outdoor space a “safe” space.

How does one’s identity intersect with security in a park, on a trail or on a patio? In what ways have our perceptions of these spaces changed since the pandemic and recent protests, and how may they change in the years to come?

This conversation is a chance to reflect on the role open spaces play in our lives and how our perceptions may differ from each other’s.

Jackson is a graduate student in strategic communication at the University of Oregon and communication and development coordinator at Hoyt Arboretum. A recent transplant from Los Angeles, she’s fascinated by recreational outdoor spaces in urban areas.

The conversation begins at 4 pm. For more information, go to sitkacenter.org.