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Urban Libraries Council

Trigger Terms: Harmful Detours and Healing Redirects

Addressing key trigger terms in the current media, social and political climates, the Urban Libraries Council Trigger Terms: Harmful Detours and Healing Redirects framework is designed to help leaders grow alignment, surface misunderstandings and find paths forward through difficult conversations. “Trigger Terms” are words or phrases that spur polarization and conflict due to negative connotations, misunderstandings and competing definitions. With the language developed with the expert guidance of ULC’s Anti-Racism Action Team, ULC’s framework names these terms as well as interpretations that can derail productive conversations (“harmful detours”) and suggested translations to foster mutual respect and understanding (“healing redirects”). Since its launch in August 2021, the Trigger Terms: Harmful Detours and Healing Redirects resource web page has garnered more than 10,000 views.