Holding Inclusive Space — Six Practices from This Spring

My workshop in Birmingham

Now that May has come to an end, I feel a deep sense of accomplishment and relief—and also excitement as I think about the activities I hope to develop next.

Between late April and May, I facilitated a total of six workshops on the theme of intercultural communication. Five of these were held in English, and one—in Japanese—was a first for me. Three workshops were self-organised, two were part of my work as a university lecturer, and one was hosted within an existing training programme at the invitation of a colleague.

I also facilitated two online workshops in English on the themes of coaching and mental health, but I’ll write about those another time.

My Connection to Intercultural Communication

The theme of “intercultural communication” holds deep meaning for me. Around 2018, while on leave from my primarily field-based work with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and working at another international organisation in the Netherlands - the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), I started to feel strongly that this kind of work within international institutions was no longer what I was meant to be doing. Still, I kept asking myself: What can I do? What do I want to do? One thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to make use of the experiences I had gained from living and working in multicultural environments.

That was when I encountered the concept of Cultural Intelligence (CQ). In April 2019, I travelled to London to attend a CQ training. Around that time—both before and after—I had two moments of clarity: “This is it!” That clarity led me to the professional paths of facilitation and coaching, which have since become the foundation of my work.

When I began working as a university lecturer in September 2021, I was fortunate to be given a course titled Intercultural Communication to teach to undergraduate students. I also discovered some excellent textbooks that continue to support me today. In preparing for this course, I came to appreciate the joy of weaving in my personal experiences while structuring the topic as a part of formal curriculum.

Later, the curriculum was revised and the course titled Intercultural Communication was discontinued. However, I’ve continued to work with colleagues who also believe in the importance of exposing students to intercultural topics. Together, we’ve kept exploring ways to embed these concepts and practices into the new curriculum. At the same time, I’ve continued delivering workshops both within the university and in external training programmes.

Holding Inclusive Space

Earlier this year, when I considered applying to deliver a workshop at the IAF (International Association of Facilitators) England & Wales conference in Birmingham, the first theme that came to mind was again intercultural communication. The conference attracts professional facilitators from across the UK and Europe. What naturally surfaced for me as a message I wanted to share was this: Holding inclusive space in multicultural settings.

Since leaving Japan 25 years ago, I’ve lived and worked in a wide range of countries and regions. I’ve participated in countless “gatherings”—from small meetings to large conferences, trainings, and workshops. In recent years, I've been more on the organising side: structuring the events, facilitating them, and taking responsibility for creating a meaningful experience. Participants have included people from all walks of life, from displaced persons to government officials.

Reflecting back now as a professional facilitator, I often ask myself:Have I really been holding inclusive space where everyone could feel at ease—whether speaking or remaining silent? I’ve come to realise how deeply the challenges of doing so are shaped by multicultural and intercultural dynamics.

Learning at an International Conference

At the Birmingham conference in April, I was able to deliver a workshop that felt like a culmination of what I’ve been learning through previous sessions—one that focused on sharing my own reflections and experiences. Here are some of the comments I received:

You have a lovely style + are willing to use yourself + your story for the benefit of the group.

My favourite session of the conference.

Really great session. Would have loved to do a whole day! Loved the combo of experience shared, frameworks & discussion.

I appreciated Chizu’s authenticity + honesty.

At the same time, I also received this constructive feedback:

"I felt it was more of a 'classroom' than a workshop, & some people spoke more than others."

As someone working at the intersection of university teaching, facilitation, and coaching, this was a humbling and valuable reminder—and feedback I truly appreciate.

First Workshop in Japanese

Another first this spring was delivering this workshop in Japanese for the first time. It was part of the IAF Japan chapter’s Facilitation Week Plus and held online. Based on the names of the participants, I anticipated most attendees would be Japanese. I adapted the content I’d previously delivered in English for multicultural groups by adding themes I especially wanted to share with a Japanese audience.

The result was a joyful and learning-rich session. Thanks to support from the IAF Japan chapter, I was joined by Japanese facilitators who offered insights during the session and through the feedback form afterward. It also became a moment of connection with people I hope to keep learning with in the future. I’m truly grateful for these new relationships.

These are some of the comments I received (translated by me from the original Japanese):

This session felt like recognition of all the things I’d been learning on my own!

There were many new terms, and I learned so much. Your quiet, calm, and unbiased facilitation felt very comfortable.

Participants of Workshop in Japanese

A New Opportunity to Dialogue with Dutch Civil Servants

Another “first” this spring was being invited by my Dutch colleague Marcel (a fellow university lecturer) to deliver this workshop for Dutch civil servants. Marcel and I occasionally see each other at the university, but the invitation came unexpectedly—after he saw my LinkedIn post about the online workshop. He emailed me saying, “We’d love to have you run this workshop!”

The workshop was part of the Knowledge and Understanding of the Caribbean Part of the Kingdom (KBCK) training. The Kingdom of the Netherlands includes regions in the Caribbean with histories of colonisation and rich cultural diversity. Engaging in dialogue on intercultural communication with people whose work touches these regions was deeply valuable and intellectually stimulating.

Here’s Marcel’s comment (originally in Dutch, translated by AI below):

The two words that stood out during the KBCK course were ‘communication’ and ‘relationship’—especially within an intercultural context shaped by a turbulent history. Chizu helped participants gain knowledge and insight into facilitating teams in culturally dynamic environments. She struck exactly the right chord.

Even though the theory may sound obvious, working within Kingdom relations is never simple. But with the practical tools offered today, we’re able to take real steps forward. Masha danki, Chizu!

Recommendation from Marcel on LinkedIn

(“Masha danki” means “thank you very much” in Papiamentu, a creole language spoken in the Dutch Caribbean.)

Launching a New Form of Learning

Well, instead of thinking, “I’m just glad it’s over,” I’m now moving forward—just as I told participants in each of the workshops:“This is just the beginning.”

Here’s what’s next:

1. I plan to launch a course focused on learning facilitation skills while exploring how to hold inclusive space in multicultural gatherings.

   
   

2. Then, I’ll create a space—like a “learning circle”—for those who’ve completed the course to exchange experiences and knowledge on a regular basis. I intentionally avoid using the words “training” here—I hope to create a more horizontal space where participants can exchange their experiences and learn with each other.

   
   

Both the course and the learning circle will be offered in English and Japanese.

Please stay tuned—I’ll share more details once plans are ready!