↑ PHOTO CREDIT: Tom fitzgerald

Inaugural Newsletter

Holding Space | Winter 2024

"I cannot tell you how the light comes, but that it does. That it will. That it works its way into the deepest dark that enfolds you, though it may seem long ages in coming or arrive in a shape you did not foresee.”
- From "How the Light Comes"

Welcome to the first edition of the Holding Space newsletter.

That passage, from Jan Richardson’s poem, feels particularly resonant right now in the seasonal liminal space between the cold darkness of winter and the bright renewal of spring. And yet, paradoxically, it also feels hard to sit comfortably with the certainty of that hopeful light when so much about who we are feels broken from the ongoing tragedy and devastation in the Middle East to the state of domestic politics here in the US to the constant reminders of the severe climate crisis to the more common occurrences of economic instability, economic and cultural displacement, and racial injustice that are having deep and sustained impacts daily in countless communities.

I speak of these feelings not only personally, but also professionally. As someone whose work is deeply embedded within communities, this tension between darkness and light impacts how people show up in community, what they need, and what they desire. And all of that has a profound impact on the viability and success of the work. It’s one of the reasons that I talk a lot about "holding space.”

"Holding space” is a term that has increased in popularity through the years, used in diverse settings from psychotherapy to conversations on inclusion and belonging. I define it as the intentional act of being present, being committed to the hard work of being in community with others, and practicing accountability to fostering the conditions for trust and vulnerability. As I think about what it means to support the people that I’m working with in multiple and varied communities to thrive in place, "space” is both physical and psychosocial. Being thoughtful about how I "hold space” influences everything from the design of the engagement process to the outcomes envisioned - both physical and programmatic - for the work.

This is the start of a much longer set of thoughts, one that I hope sparks different ways for you think about how you move through and engage with the communities that you are a part of or connected to. I’ll have more to say on this in the future. For now, read on for projects, talks, and other resources that offer different insights on this topic.

Till next time,

Liz Ogbu
Designer, Spatial Justice Activist, Grief Worker
Founder + Principal, Studio O

/ Studio O Spotlight

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

For the past 2+ years, we have been on the ground in Akron, OH working on an effort rooted deeply in community healing. In December 2023, we released the Reconnecting Our Community - Phase 1 Report which chronicles the community visioning process for a decommissioned stretch of the Innerbelt highway, right in the heart of the city. The original construction of that highway erased a vibrant predominantly Black neighborhood. The report documents the work to date, which has been grounded in reckoning with the past harm of urban renewal and spatial injustice and beginning to work with Akron residents to imagine a healed future for this place. Read the report and learn more here.

ON REPAIR

For some time, I’ve been thinking about hold space to talk not only of reparations but what true repair might look like. Last fall, I had the pleasure of being in conversation with New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie. Entitled “On Repair” and hosted by the University of Virginia School of Architecture, our wide-ranging discussion touched on themes of harm, grief, repair + reparations, liberation, and new structures and frameworks necessary to bring about healing change in our neighborhoods and cities. See the full conversation here.

WELCOME STUDIO O PROJECT MANAGER

Rajan Hoyle has recently joined the Studio O team as a Project Manager! In this role he works across the Studio O portfolio supporting community engagement, advancing project development, and leading quantitative data analysis. Rajan is an urban planner and is drawn to projects that allow people at the margins to tell their own stories and participate actively in the shaping of their own communities. When he is not working, Rajan enjoys swimming, hiking, and cooking.  

/ Stories & Insights

• Empathic Design: Perspectives on Creating Inclusive Spaces is a brilliant new book edited by designer and professor Elgin Cleckley. It's an essential guide on how to create public spaces for everyone. Check out the book and the chapter I wrote, "Making Space for Grief," here.
  
  
• A few months ago I talked to Hannah MacInnes on the Klosters Forum In Line With Nature podcast about my thoughts on how spatial justice is critical to creating a healthy and sustainable world. Listen to the episode here. 
  
  
• In these turbulent times, I deeply appreciated the clarity of Patty Krawec's Becoming Kin which speaks of remembering the entirety of our connected past and moving with wholeness into a collective future. Learn more here.

In case you want to explore the ideas that underpin our work further, you can always find more media and more resources on the website!

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