Blog: Pain of police killings ripples outward to traumatize Black people and communities across US

It’s been one year since George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer set off the largest protests in U.S. history and a national reckoning with racism. Beyond the protests, every police killing – indeed, every violent act by police toward...

Blog: Chauvin verdict a wakeup call for medicine and public health

The Chauvin verdict provides a much needed expression of hope and solace for the Floyd family and to the millions of black people for whom his death was a painful reminder of the collective vulnerability of being harmed by the police.

Blog: How to protect privacy & public health in Covid-19

The year 2020 has witnessed the overlapping public health crises of a global pandemic and ongoing police violence—both of which underscore the devastating effects of systemic racism in the US.

Blog: A solution to Africa's food insecurity

Any serious attempt to tackle many of Africa’s interlocking socio-political and economic challenges, such as food insecurity, must accept that Africa’s “problems” are global as much as they are local.

Asians must be a part of our story, too

Like many of you, I was deeply disturbed by the increase in violent attacks targeting Asians and Asian Americans at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic last year. We must visibly and consistently condemn this violence because of our shared humanity and concern for each other.

Blog: On Texas, the climate crisis, and a just transition to renewable energy

What’s behind the climate crisis in Texas is what’s behind the crisis more globally: corporate management fixated on extracting short-term profits, resistance to shifting to renewable energy, and disregard for communities.

Blog: Workplace surveillance harms essential workers

Studies found that working for Amazon, Lyft, and Uber can be harmful for worker health, with workplace surveillance emerging as a key culprit in pushing workers into mental and physical health distress.

We honor King's legacy by building a country where we all belong

Today is a day to reflect on the life and lessons of the Rev. Dr. King. In my family we usually have cake and play happy birthday by Stevie Wonder as part of the acknowledgement. King’s birth was indeed a gift to the world and to our nation.

Blog: Trump's eleventh-hour blitz to preserve the racial order

As the country continues to make sense of the storming of the US Capitol last Wednesday, the Trump administration is engaged in another form of deluge—an ongoing torrent of last minute regressive rules to lock into place right-wing policy priorities before the president’s last day in office.

Blog: Can we all belong? Reflections on the war in Nagorno-Karabakh

The fundamental problem in the world is the tension between people who want to build communities around a single, primary salient identity—be it racial, ethnic, religious or otherwise, and those who wish to live in diverse, pluralistic communities.

Facing November 3, and the Counting of the Votes

Today is what used to be called “Election Day,” but is better known this year as the last day to vote. Under conditions more inimical to voting than the country has seen in generations, voters have shown their resilience and determination to cast...

Blog: The past, present and future of affirmative action in California

In the wake of the uprisings this past summer, public surveys show that Americans have a greater appreciation of the reality and extent of what is sometimes called “systemic racism,” or the ways in which institutional arrangements and societal...

Blog: How to protect yourself against the threats to protesting

This blog post is accompanied by a set of safety and guidance resources at the bottom of the page for protestors mobilizing both in-person and online. Since May of this year, people have taken to the streets of Minneapolis, New York City, London and...

Blog: After Covid-19: Five Simple, Transactional Changes for a Better Society

By Stephen Menendian Sept. 16, 2020 Author's Note: I composed the first draft of this blog in early April and was working on revisions at the time George Floyd was murdered, at which point I shelved it. Revisiting it as the school year began, I was...

Blog: Turkey thrusts toward religious nationalism with Hagia Sophia conversion

July 27, 2020 By Karen Barkey Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the momentous decision to convert the Hagia Sophia Museum into a mosque. The Hagia Sophia was built in the time of Justinian, the sixth century Byzantine...

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E-Newsletter Archive

An Archive of past issues of our bi-weekly newsletter.
Jan
29

Belonging Resident Company (BRC) Audition

The Belonging Resident Company (BRC) is holding an audition to bring in new members on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29 from 7-10pm Rehearsal Interest Participation Form REHEARSALS happen MONDAYS AND/OR WEDNESDAYS from 7-9pm AUDITION & REHEARSALS will take place at Destiny Arts...

California renews OBI opportunity map for 8th consecutive year

BERKELEY: The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) has reapproved the use of an opportunity map developed by the Othering & Belonging Institute (OBI) and its partners, California Housing Partnership and the Terner Center for Housing...