Our Impact
making a differenceHelping communities redesign space as a tool for trust, care, and shared transformation.
Case Study
Creating More Just Spaces at Duke University
Just Space was born at Duke University—as a staff-led initiative to address racial harm and institutional inequity through space. Over the 2020–2021 academic year, we facilitated a multi-part program engaging over 400 community members across campus, including a podcast series, spatial justice audits, and Just Space Week, a conference centering antiracist design.
Details
Just Space Week
Challenge
In the wake of racial violence and growing distrust across the nation, the institution needed a holistic approach that combined education, strategy, and healing in physical and policy space.
Solution
We partnered with Duke University Student Affairs to design a cohesive initiative that helped staff, faculty, and students interrogate how space shapes trust, access, and justice. The program blended community storytelling, art, systems-thinking, and implementation planning.
Engaged Participants
437
Podcast Episodes
7
Departments represented
6
Sessions Hosted during just space week
10
Testimonial
“[A local prep school college counselor] told me he had a prospective student with questions about Duke’s racial justice work. He shared what we were doing through Just Space—and she attended several sessions. That conference is one of the reasons she chose Duke.”
– Just Space Planning Team Member
Client Spotlight
Mapping Harm and Healing in Raleigh
In March 2025, Just Space led a keynote session and community activation for the City of Raleigh’s National Day of Racial Healing, sponsored by the Human Relations Commission. Over 80 participants gathered to explore racialized experiences of space—naming sites of harm and healing, and imagining how the city could evolve toward trust and repair.
“Just Space was not only prepared but also deeply attuned to the needs of the group, ensuring that everyone felt heard and respected. The thoughtful structure they provided helped us navigate sensitive topics with grace and empathy, and their dynamic facilitation fostered a sense of connection among participants. I have no doubt that their contributions played a significant role in the success of the event and in advancing the mission of the event to promote racial healing and understanding.”
– Sophia Lando, City of Raleigh
Upcoming workshop
Dismantling Racism I – Spring 2025
Sponsored by the Eastern PA and Greater NJ Conferences of the United Methodist Church, this two-day workshop supports clergy in analyzing inequality and power through a spatial and theological lens. The program includes political education, restorative practice, and action planning rooted in faith and justice.
Get In Touch
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 402-6464
[email protected]