Resources to Inform, Connect, and Inspire |
Authoritarianism is rising around the world — threatening democracy, human rights, and the fundamental dignity of diverse communities. In response to this global phenomenon we have just published a resource library featuring dozens of articles, essays, tools, and analyses designed to help you understand the roots, tactics, and impacts of authoritarian movements. But knowledge is only the first step. These resources are meant to empower educators, organizers, students, and everyday people with the insight and language needed to challenge authoritarianism, stand up for democracy, and build a world of belonging without othering. This resource library was adapted from a curated list of materials by Miriam Juan-Torres González.
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Earlier this week we hosted a virtual book talk to mark the publication of Structural Racism: The Dynamics of Opportunity and Race in America, authored by OBI Assistant Director Stephen Menendian. The event opened with some contextual framing by Michael Omi, the author of the groundbreaking book, Racial Formation in the United States, before Stephen was brought on to give an overview of his book and help us unpack the meaning of structural racism.
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The event also featured OBI Director john a. powell who talked about how the inherent bias in structures does the work of perpetuating racism, ableism, and gender and other forms of discrimination in different contexts. The panel also spent a good chunk of time answering audience questions. |
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Blog: Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour is a reclamation of belonging in America
In a new blog post published this week, the Othering & Belonging Institute’s Jose Richard Aviles reflects on their experience at “Queen Bey’s” Cowboy Carter tour performances in L.A., and how it helped them to radically imagine a new world. "I was struck by the visual effect of grandiose American symbols embedded throughout each night of the tour: the abundance of flags, the fashioning of red, white, and blue, and many other examples that I couldn’t get to. This left me wondering: is Beyoncé very openly asking us, as her audience, to rethink and reclaim our place as Americans?"
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Resource Guide for Belonging-Builders
Around the world, people are seeking effective ways to build just, equitable, and inclusive institutions that can serve everyone without fueling fragmentation, division, and fear. |
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At the Othering & Belonging Institute (OBI), we’ve answered this call with frameworks that go beyond mere inclusion into existing structures. Our core frameworks—”othering and belonging,” “targeted universalism,” and bridging”—are practical and more durable against backlash. Our brand new resource guide published this week distills these three frameworks in concise and illustrative ways, designed for belonging-builders to understand and apply them in the contexts that are relevant to their work and communities.
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See our new video on the Campus Bridging Project
We're happy to reveal a new video profile of our Campus Bridging Project, which is an initiative motivated by this central question: What does it take to bring the UC Berkeley campus community together across acknowledged differences? If you are interested in how to support this project, please contact project leader Julia McKeown at julia_mckeown@berkeley.edu.
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Apply to the 2025 Targeted Universalism Community of Practice
Enrollment is now open for the 3rd annual Targeted Universalism Community of Practice (TU COP)—a transformative 7-month journey led by Seed Collaborative, inspired by the pioneering work of john a. powell and the Othering & Belonging Institute. Over 150 changemakers from 25 states—across government, philanthropy, nonprofits, education, social impact, and beyond—have joined this growing movement to implement Targeted Universalism. What You’ll Learn in the TU COP:
- A step-by-step approach to implement Targeted Universalism
- Connect with a national learning community of peers, mentors and experts
- Deepen your practice with TU and data, evaluation, communications
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Practices of belonging, bridging, co-creation and embodiment
- Real-world examples and collective problem-solving
Enroll by July 30, 2025. Join an info session on July 15. |
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OBI Director john a. powell was profiled in this comprehensive article with the US edition of the Spanish newspaper El Pais, titled, "john a. powell: ‘When fear wins, democracy crumbles’."
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Separately, Director powell was also featured in this video interview with UC Berkeley's journalism program as part of a student-run series called "The Stakes" about Donald Trump’s executive orders.
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Join over 9,000 learners on OBI University (OBIU), where free, interactive courses cover key topics like othering and belonging, bridging, and structural racism. We’re excited to launch three new courses in the Targeted Universalism series! Following the foundational course What is Targeted Universalism?, the expanded series now includes:
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Together, we can make belonging the norm, not the exception. – The Othering & Belonging Institute |
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