An autonomous space is a place where a group of people governs themselves collectively, without being directed or controlled by outside authorities.

• Our Youth Assembly is exclusively for participants ages 14–26, across all races and ethnicities. This space exists because young people are uniquely vulnerable due to their age. For those under 18, opportunities to govern and make decisions outside of this space are severely limited, while those 18-26 are navigating a critical stage of development that deserves respect and support. The Youth Assembly is autonomous on the basis of age, creating a forum where young people lead, practice collective decision-making, and bring forward their brilliance and honesty.

• Our Men’s Circle is the pilot for future affinity-based circles. It recognizes that patriarchy—often perpetuated, though not exclusively, by Black men—has caused particular harm within our communities. This circle is autonomous on the basis of the intersection of race and gender identity, allowing participants to engage from a place of common ground and shared experience. As our organizational capacity grows, we intend to expand these kinds of spaces so more groups can process, build, and heal collectively.

• The Black Nashville Assembly is for Black people living and working in the Metropolitan Nashville area. In the U.S. South, where a long history of state sanctioned violence and oppression continues to shape Black life, this assembly creates a vital space for self-determination. In addition, Nashville’s schools often do not teach local Black/African history or broader Black/African history in depth, leaving an educational gap that this space helps address. Here, Black people can gather safely and comfortably, learning and organizing free from external influence by those who do not share this lineage. This assembly also confronts the ongoing realities Black people face: poverty, police violence, gerrymandering, redlining, incarceration, and other forms of capitalist-driven oppression. Together, we acknowledge this history and build power to fight for a liberated future.