• Presentations
  • November 12, 2024

Belonging without Othering

On November 12, 2024, john powell gave a keynote speech at the Nonviolence Factory about how othering and belonging relates to their organizing work. The audience consisted of fifty-five human rights activists involved in speaking out against authoritarianism from around the Euro-mediterranean region.
  • Presentations
  • November 13, 2024

Belonging without Othering

On November 13th, 2024, john powell spoke at a forum hosted by UNESCO and Novact in Barcelona. john provided the audience with a primer on belonging and othering.
  • Presentations
  • October 5, 2024

Belonging without Othering

On October 5, 2024, john powell gave the keynote speech at the 2024 Black Tech Saturday summit in Detroit, which was attended by minorities in the tech space.
  • Presentations
  • September 25, 2024

Bridging & Belonging: Forefront Annual Summit

On September 25th, john gave the keynote address at Forefront Annual Summit. Forefront is a statewide association that represents Illinois’ grant-makers, non-profits, as well as their advisors and allies. john touched on topics of othering and...
  • Presentations
  • September 3, 2024

Belonging & Social-Emotional Learning

On the 3rd September, john gave the keynote presentation at an event organised by the Greater Good Science Center, in collaboration with the Sacramento County office of Education and UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare. john spoke of the...
  • Presentations
  • June 26, 2024

Building Belonging through Targeted Universalism

On June 26th, john powell was the keynote speaker at the National League of City’s National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) Summer Conference. He discussed how othering, belonging, and targeted universalism relates to Black...
  • Presentations
  • June 20, 2024

Defending Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access through Belonging

On June 20, 2024 OBI director john a. powell gave the George H. Frederickson Lecture at the National Academy of Public Administration’s 2024 Social Equity Leadership Conference in Stamford, Connecticut. In light of recent attacks on DEI initiatives...
  • Presentations
  • June 11, 2024

Belonging: Bridging Beyond Othering

OBI director john a. powell was the keynote speaker for the launch of Belonging Colorado, an bold statewide initiative that aims to bring together Coloradans across lines of difference in order to foster greater belonging across the state so that all...
  • Presentations
  • March 15, 2024

Building Belonging through Targeted Universalism

john was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Equity Summit for the Municipal Management Association of Northern California. The event centered on Equitable Representation, and how to advance BIPOC Leadership in local government. john focused on the...
  • Presentations
  • February 14, 2024

Presentation: Why healthy humans need belonging

On February 14, Othering & Belonging Institute (OBI) Director john a. powell guided attendees from the UC Davis Health and the MIND Institute through a conversation on OBI's frameworks. The presentation gave attendees a comprehensive understanding of...
  • Presentations
  • February 14, 2024

Bridging & Belonging Through Community Action

OBI Director john a. powell gave the keynote address at the National Community Action Partner Annual Conference on February 14, 2024. This year's conference marked the 60th Anniversary of the Economic Opportunity Act that launched the Community...
  • Presentations
  • January 30, 2024

Growing Beloved Community by Bridging Our Divides, with Professor john a. powell

On January 30th, Professor powell sat down with Bishop Marc and Paloma Pavel to discuss his work with belonging, his background, targeted universalism, the future of OBI's work, and how he sustains himself throughout his work. Download a recording of...
  • Presentations
  • January 13, 2024

The Future of Spirituality and Belonging, with john a. powell

On January, 23, 2024, Director john. a. powell sat down with Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp and Reverend Ben McBride to discuss the future of spirituality, belonging, memory, and the relationship between structure and story. Listen to the two-part...
  • Presentations
  • January 7, 2024

Podcast: To Free the Captives: A Plea for the American Soul

In this episode Director john. a. powell talked to Tracy K. Smith about her new book, To Free the Captives. powell and Smith discussed Smith's term as a Poet Laureate for the United States and how she has used poetry to create feelings of belonging...
  • Presentations
  • November 7, 2023

How foundations can apply Targeted Universalism

On November 7, 2023, Director john. a. powell addressed five hundred foundations from all over Michigan about how targeted universalism can and should play out in education and philanthropy. powell also used this opportunity to explain his framework...

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An Archive of past issues of our bi-weekly newsletter.
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  • March 5, 2025, 9am - 10:30am PT / 12pm - 1:30pm ET / 6pm - 7:30pm CET

Arab Women & Feminist Visions for Equity and Belonging (Part 1/3)

RSVP Here We hope you'll join us for the 3-Part Arab Women & Feminist Visions for Equity and Belonging webinar series, the inaugural series of the Global South Women & Feminist Visions for Equity and Belonging project and new Global...
  • Video
  • January 21, 2025

Our Collective Moment: Spiritually-Based Activism in 2025 and Beyond

On January 21, 2025, john powell participated in a Zoom conversation with PICO California about how othering, belonging, and bridging (a practice of belonging) relate to their faith-based community organizing, empowering spiritually-centered people to create systemic change. The audience consisted of over 100 members of PICO's network who support a multiracial, class-solidarity society where all can thrive.