Video: Belonging without Othering

On April 15, john powell and Stephen Menendian sat down with interim Dean of Social Work Susan Stone to discuss their book, Belonging Without Othering at the UC Berkeley School of Social Work. Transcript Susan Stone: As you might know, social work is...

Video: Bridging to Belonging

On January 22, 2025, john spoke at the NorthSound ACH 2025 Partner Convening about the importance of bridging to belonging, in times of crisis and in times of collaboration. Bridging is applied in the context of relationships and groups of people...

Video: Knowledge Production

We hosted the second installment of our Arab Women & Feminist Visions for Equity and Belonging webinar series on Tuesday, April 8, with speakers from Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the Western Sahara sharing their experiences related to the theme of...

Targeted Universalism Explained

Watch the explainer video and enroll in the free course now! Targeted Universalism is a framework that goes beyond inclusion in existing structures that serve only some of us. Instead, it invites everyone to roll up their sleeves and co-create new structures designed to serve all of us.

Targeted Universalism Explained

On Tuesday, April 8, we gathered for the live launch of our new course on Targeted Unversalism. We hosted a conversation between our TU creators and experts, OBI Director john a. powell, Assistant Director Stephen Menendian, and Deputy Director...

Video: How to make sense of this moment

OBI Director john a. powell and researchers contextualize the current moment our world is experiencing in a 90-minute virtual conversation. They look at what is driving the rise of authoritarianism across the globe, and discuss pathways forward to build a world where everyone belongs and no one is excluded.

Stephen Menendian presents at the Racial Equity Commission Meeting

Stephen Menendian presented at the California Racial Equity Commission's Framework Development Committee meeting on March 20, 2025. Stephen presented principles for how to develop sustainable racial equity policy and guidance. His presentations...

Video: Rights, Equity, Dignity & Social justice

On March 5 we launched the first of a 3-part webinar series, titled, "Arab Women & Feminist Visions for Equity and Belonging," featuring speakers from Syria, Iraq, Tunisia, and Algeria. This first event in the series was on the theme, "Rights, Equity...

Crip Spacetime: Access, Failure, and Accountability in Academic Life

On February 13 we hosted author Dr. Margaret Price to discuss her new book, Crip Spacetime: Access, Failure, and Accountability in Academic Life. In her talk Dr. Price, who is a Professor in the English Department and Director of the Disability...

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.

Video: Our Future Economy

What strategies, ideas, skills and relationships will build a future economy that ensures the wellbeing of all workers, communities, and ecosystems? How do we move from the pressing needs and harm today to structures that foster wellbeing for all?

Community Conversations: Reclaiming Democracy, Building Belonging, featuring john a. powell

On January 19, 2025, john powell participated in a panel at the Oakland Museum of California’s “Community Conversations: Reclaiming Democracy, Building Belonging,” co-hosted by the Othering & Belonging Institute. Addressing an audience of local...

Power in Belonging Video Series

En español | Tiếng Việt “I want a better future. For me, for you, and for everyone.” —Tracy La, VietRISE We invite you to learn from the multiracial and intergenerational bridging between Vietnamese and Latinx communities in Orange County, California...

Belonging in Practice: Shaping Inclusive Systems Throughout the World

On November 18, john a. powell served as the keynote speaker at the 2024 Global Opportunity Youth Network convening in Pune, Maharashtra, India. His keynote presentation reflects on the many forms of othering as well as the tactics, frameworks, and infrastructures that we must build to make belonging a global norm.

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.

Explore Othering and Belonging

E-Newsletter Archive

An Archive of past issues of our bi-weekly newsletter.
May
6

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

Register We hope you'll join us for the third and final installment of our Arab Women & Feminist Visions for Equity and Belonging webinar series. This third event will focus on the critical role of Arab women and feminists in...

Video: Belonging without Othering

On April 15, john powell and Stephen Menendian sat down with interim Dean of Social Work Susan Stone to discuss their book, Belonging Without Othering at the UC Berkeley School of Social Work. Transcript Susan Stone: As you might know, social work is...