In these challenging times of political polarization, we’re sharing with you a transformative framework from our friends at the Othering & Belonging Institute (OBI) that can help advance our collective work for racial justice. We believe you’d find value in their approach to creating systemic change that benefits everyone while addressing the specific needs of underserved communities. 

John,

I’m reaching out from the Othering & Belonging Institute (OBI) at UC Berkeley where I have the honor of working with director john a. powell. We're a leading research and action center committed to addressing systemic inequities and creating a world where truly everyone belongs, and no one is othered.

These times are deeply painful and uncertain. We’re all feeling it.

But the Othering & Belonging Institute can help.

With today’s political climate making DEI efforts more challenging than ever, it’s a great time to learn about Targeted Universalism (TU) and consider how it might help your work.  

In an era of political polarization and fiscal austerity, policy debates too readily become trapped in a binary of either universal responses or targeted solutions.Targeted universalism means setting universal goals pursued by targeted processes to achieve those goals. It gives you the tools to design, implement, and talk about programs in a way that is genuinely inclusive. By highlighting our shared social and civic connections, it pushes back against the notion that equity work is just for “special interests.”

This timely framework, already in use by government agencies, businesses, schools, nonprofits and public health groups, is a powerful and practical way to advance equity. It focuses on meeting the specific needs of marginalized communities while lifting outcomes for everyone.

I’d love to invite you to sign up for our free resources for policymakers, educators, and community leaders — and to learn more about Targeted Universalism.

We’d also like to share an opportunity to sign up today for belonging, bridging, segregation mapping, radical imagination and other resources, and be the first to get an invitation to our free Targeted Universalism course, launching in early 2025.

Thank you for your commitment to belonging without othering,

Ashlin Malouf Gashow
On behalf of the Othering & Belonging Institute  

P.S. Don’t miss out—subscribe to our list and learn about our new books on Bridging and Belonging Without Othering, and OBIU.org, our free online learning platform with courses designed for equity-minded leaders and changemakers.