Free Space Settings Extension educators may have to draw on a variety of free spaces. For example, the black community has historically looked on the church as their free space. Today's challenge for Extension professionals is to consider where and how free spaces are constructed and how to encourage dialogue and action among citizens. Free space involves more than just finding a suitable meeting place. It doesn't mean one collective free space where everyone in a community will feel completely comfortable.
Free space is a strategy respecting the needs of diverse and disenfranchised citizens.
We need to rethink our approaches to learning and consider a variety of free spaces. In some instances, our role may be to embellish existing free spaces because there may be some dysfunctional parts that merit Extension help. In other cases, no free space exists and Extension educators have to help create one. We offer two examples to illustrate our point. Country stores influence the economic, social, and political life of many Southern communities.5 Citizens gather regularly at Ray's Grocery to discuss issues.