In this post, get to know Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown and her work designing the 21 sessions in the new Unearthing Us Facilitator Guide.
Sparkhouse: At Sparkhouse, we are thrilled you have designed sessions for the newest Facilitator Guide that accompanies the poetry of Joe Davis. Share a little about what a leader can expect with this new Facilitator Guide. How might it look, feel, and function differently than a typical leader guide?
Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown: In my experience, typical leader guides I have engaged with in the past have provided one of two frameworks: either a completely surface and unstructured baseline that often necessitates an extraordinary amount of research, planning, and preparation, or a “short-leash” script with so many guardrails and so much handholding that it requires only a robotic or rote approach which does not consider changing climates and cultural trends. In both of these usual templates, there is little balance of teaching and learning for both student and facilitator.
In the curriculum I design, found in this Facilitator Guide and other authored work, leaders and their experiences are an integral part of the educational journey. Not cookie cutter by any means, leaders are invited to reflect on their own journey as an active step of the facilitation process. In this format, vulnerability and self-reflection are modeled and woven into the framework, which leads to authentic connection, holistic communication, and empowered community.
Sparkhouse: Something unexpected about the Unearthing Us Facilitator Guide is that the content headers change between the three sections. Can you share a little about why you were inspired to change these descriptions between the three sections of the Guide?
Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown: While there are medical charts that determine physical growth from an objective standpoint, inner growth often occurs in different, unique, and uncharted ways.
Inner growth is very personal in nature. Depending on the area, it is largely subjective. A variety of lenses can help us find ourselves and open the door to the reality that growth happens in different ways for different people. Rather than provide a prescriptive—or personal—definition of growth, I wanted to widen the scope and make room for readers’ own growth narratives and experiences. Those blank headline spaces make the journey unique and personal for each individual, which helps us to stay engaged because there is a personal component that draws us closer. Now it is truly about us, without the typical filtering process employed to find ourselves in the narratives of others.
Sparkhouse: Journaling is the final activity of each session before the closing prayer. How have you seen journaling work as a pedagogical tool for groups of people who are learning together? What can happen when people have this journaling time after they have engaged in activities together?
Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown: We all process information differently. Some quickly, some individually, and some over time. Journaling offers each person the opportunity to reflect on their own growth journey in their own time and season. Leaning into bell hooks’s engaged pedagogy theory in which each person is both student and teacher, I believe that learning from ourselves is a critical first step of collective education. Allowing this sacred “wondering” time equips individuals with perspective, language, and exploration that can then be shared when coming together in larger groups.
Sparkhouse: In the Prepare to Lead content, you wrote “Frankly, sometimes we plant seeds that grow, and sometimes we plant seeds that harm.” This direct statement helps the leader know that these sessions can go to some deep and difficult places. How do you think a leader can prepare for guiding a group to consider their harmful actions?
Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown: Many wise leaders have shared the belief that if change is needed in the world, we must begin with ourselves. I wholeheartedly agree! Preparing for these challenging and courageous conversations requires us to do our own work first. Leaders are encouraged to actively engage the self-reflection portions of each lesson plan/session. As facilitators focus on the areas that invite them to consider their harmful actions, they should also take note of the responding inner feelings, emotions, and reactions that they experience. Then discuss these with a pastor or trusted clergy leader to help process. Ask them to guide you as you strive to employ the same exploration process and compassionate framework to guide future students through their own harm reflection.
Check back for Parts 2 and 3 of this Sparkhouse blog feature about the Unearthing Us Facilitator Guide.
