Learn it.
Facilitate it.
Build a practice with it.
Building Human Capacity. Together
Cultivating Safe Spaces is a framework and growing ecosystem of facilitators, practitioners and partners strengthening human capacity to work through complexity, difference and change together.
Because better systems still depend on people.
Different people. Different paths. One ecosystem.
Whether you are here to learn, facilitate or partner, you are part of a growing community of people using CSS to create meaningful change.
Learn with a CSS Facilitator
INDIVIDUAL JOURNEY
Attend workshops, learning series and practice sessions offered by CSS Facilitators.
Become a CSS Facilitator
FACILITATOR JOURNEY
Learn the framework, develop your practice and create opportunities to earn income through CSS.
Work with a CSS Facilitator
PARTNER JOURNEY
Organizations can work with CSS Facilitators individually or in teams on leadership, organizational change, community and complex systems work.
The CSS Learning Journey
Keep Learning. Choose What You Need Next.
Explore workshops, scenario planning, practice labs and learning series offered by CSS Facilitators across the community. Learn from different practitioners, explore different topics and choose the learning that fits where you are.
UPCOMING LEARNING
Nov 25: CSS for Teams + Leadership
Scale 3+4
Wednesday, November 25
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT
$99 per person
Nov 26 + Dec 12: Virtual CSS Train the Trainer
Live Virtual
CSS Facilitator Training 9AM - 4PM
$2,200 per participant
Nov 12: CSS for Self + Relationship
Scale 1+2
Thursday, November 12
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT
$99 per person
Find the Right CSS Facilitator
Tell Us What You’re Working On
CSS Facilitators bring different professional backgrounds, lived experience and areas of practice. We’ll help you find practitioners whose experience, level and scope of practice fit the work.
FEATURED FACILITATORS
OR
Eight Scales. One Framework.
A challenge may begin with one person, a relationship or a team. At another scale, it may involve leadership, governance, organizational conditions, community decision-making, institutional change or systems strategy.
Start with the challenge. Then understand the scale.
What is Cultivating Safe Spaces?
Cultivating Safe Spaces is not about avoiding conflict or making everyone comfortable.
It is about strengthening the conditions people need to do difficult work together.
CSS helps people develop the capacity to:
stay present under pressure
understand different perspectives
ask better questions
work through conflict and difference
clarify responsibility and accountability
make decisions together
remain connected through complexity
The framework can be used personally, relationally, within teams, across organizations, in communities and at the systems level.
Become Part of the CSS Facilitator Ecosystem
Certification is lifetime. How you continue building your practice is up to you.
Beginning February 2027, facilitator membership will provide additional learning, visibility, resources and opportunities to build your practice.
Level 1
Certified CSS Facilitator
Foundational practice, directory and ongoing learning
Level 2
CSS Practitioner
Teams + Leadership, practice labs and professional resources
Level 3
Professional Steward
Organizations + Communities, advanced practice and collaboration
Level 4
CSS Leadership Circle
Senior stewardship, systems practice and development of the architecture.
CSS Co-op
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUILD YOUR PRACTICE ALONE
The CSS Co-op connects facilitators, practitioners and organizations with trusted people who can help with the practical work around your practice and projects.
Booking + Travel
Scheduling, agreements, invoicing and travel arrangements
Event Planning
Registration, communication and workshop logistics
Bookkeeping + Support
Practical financial and administrative support.
Different People.
Different Practices.
Different Scales. One Architecture.
Cultivating Safe Spaces can begin with one person learning to understand themselves differently. It can also help a leadership team make a difficult decision, support an organization navigating change, or helping people from different systems work together on something none of them can solve alone.
The scale changes. The need for human capacity does not.