The ‘polarisation’ distraction

However difficult it is to properly gauge the significance of historical events while still living through them, we can surely already state with confidence that the Covid pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine together constitute a truly seismic and transformative sequence of years for the world.

Racist Language Should Not Be Purged From Property Deeds

Note: This blog is being published on the occasion of California law AB 1466, which is related to this topic, going into effect. The last few years have brought much greater awareness of the degree to which racism is embedded in our society. Although...

Aligning Federal Policy to Local Needs

We are pleased to release results from our Spring 2022 survey on long-term policy priorities at the federal level. Our team conducted landscape research of major policy platforms and visions to identify 100+ cross-cutting federal policies in five areas tied to crisis resilience.

Reproductive rights crucial for belonging

The Othering & Belonging Institute is deeply disappointed in last week's Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, which we view as a step backwards not just in the fight for women's rights, but for all groups vying for equality.

Rightwing power grab renders Supreme Court illegitimate

In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization an illegitimate, radical, rightwing court overturned half a century of settled law established by Roe v. Wade to advance a political agenda. But why do I refer to the current US Supreme Court as...

Launching the transatlantic Democracy & Belonging Forum

June 15, 2022: Today, OBI is thrilled to launch its first global initiative, the Democracy and Belonging Forum , a new network for civic leaders in Europe and the US who are committed to countering pernicious polarization and democratic degradation...

Equity 2.0? What is Targeted Universalism and How Does It Address Inequality?

This is an excerpt taken from this May 2022 webinar in which OBI Director john a. powell explains the concept of Targeted Universalism. This excerpt was originally published here. Transcript john a. powell: What happened in terms of the application...

Overcoming Toxic Polarization

This law review article published in the Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality, authored by OBI Director john a. powell, explores the nature of the problem of toxic polarization and what we must do about it. It argues that bridging is necessary but...

All Policy is Health Policy

Where we live shouldn’t determine the length or the quality of our lives. We all belong in communities whose conditions allow us to live the healthiest lives possible. These conditions include stable housing, access to quality healthcare, jobs with...

Podcast: Cultures of Care ep. 2 | Naima Green and Rich Medina

Welcome back to Cultures of Care, a special new miniseries from Who Belongs? hosted by Evan Bissell and Giovanna Fischer. This series celebrates people that practice collective care in unconventional and insurgent ways. In this episode, we speak with photographer Naima Green and DJ Rich Medina.

Podcast: Cultures of Care ep. 1 | Nicki Jizz and Kristina Wong

We're debuting Cultures of Care, a special new miniseries hosted by Evan Bissell and Giovanna Fischer that celebrates people who practice collective care in unconventional and insurgent ways. This episode, we speak with drag queen Nicki Jizz and comedian Kristina Wong.

Six Actions to Make Belonging Real in Tech

What would it take to collectively own our data? How could we regulate the environmental impact of resource-intensive technologies? These are just some of the big questions about technology facing us on a global scale. In our 2021 landscape scan on...

Belonging despite the state of exception

The processes of belonging and othering often appear together, as distinct vectors of the same historical moment or process, as alternative social struggles for recognition.

21st Century Racial Residential Segregation in the US

On April 21 Equity Metrics Director Samir Gambhir gave an overview of his program's research on racial residential segregation in the United States as part of the University of California Office of the President's Confronting Racism speaker series...

Video: Teaching for Racial Equity & Housing Justice Curriculum Launch

This April 21 Zoom event marked the launch of a set of more than two dozen curriculum and resources on teaching for racial equity and housing justice, designed in collaboration with Bay Area teachers. Coming out of a two year-long project in...

Explore Othering and Belonging

Targeted Universalism Case Study: Vision for Baltimore

Vision for Baltimore (V4B) is a successful program at Baltimore City Schools (BCS) designed to provide annual vision screenings for all students and, when necessary, to provide follow-up eye exams and eyeglasses at no cost to families. Download PDF...
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Depolarization Day

Want a chance to hear from experts studying the root of what’s driving us apart and how we come back together? Eager to build the skills to listen empathetically, elicit narratives of connection, and interview professionally? Looking for a chance...

The Power of Bridging

A research-backed guide for building bridges across difference in any area of our lives, from esteemed civil rights scholar john a. powell. We don't want to live in a society in turmoil. In the US, 93 percent of people want to reduce divisiveness...