Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley

With the death toll in Gaza climbing past 8,500 people, including more than 3,500 children, and hundreds more being killed each day in Israel's relentless bombardment of homes and other civilian infrastructure, we at OBI join a growing global chorus of calls for an immediate ceasefire, as has been repeatedly demanded by the United Nations, and a return of the hostages. We are heartbroken by the killings and unfathomable carnage suffered both by the Palestinians in Gaza, and the Israelis attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, when some 1,400 were killed and over 200 kidnapped, including children. We believe that all life is precious and that all people belong, and so we mourn every single loss. Our work is to build a world of belonging without othering. A feature of othering is drawing lines between those whose deaths are grievable, and those unworthy of our grief and concern. Even in the depth of our anguish, when love propels our tears and rage, we must not succumb to the drive to draw this line. Especially now, when dehumanization is widespread in governments, on the internet, in the news, in our communities, and in our bodies. All of us must vehemently reject it in all its forms and embrace the value and worth of all people. Our very survival depends on it. Full statement: https://lnkd.in/dUsCEM99

Join us for an inspiring evening at Pegasus Books! On Monday, September 9, at 6 p.m., Bay Area artist, writer, and #OBI scholar Sunaura Taylor will present her new book, Disabled Ecologies: Lessons from a Wounded Desert (UC Press, 2024). In conversation with Yomi Young, Taylor will discuss the intersection of disability with environmental devastation and resistance, followed by a book signing. When: Monday, September 9, 6 p.m. Where: Pegasus Books, Downtown Berkeley Free & Open to the Public! Full details: https://lnkd.in/gnU86NwB Masks are strongly encouraged, and we request that you refrain from wearing scented products. Please contact us if you have any access needs at [email protected]. #BookEvent #DisabledEcologies #SunauraTaylor #EnvironmentalJustice #Belonging

Traditionally Urban Planning has had a long legacy of harming communities of color, developing and implementing racist policies, and destruction of the built environment. Check Reimagining Urban Planning: Arts and Cultural Strategies from May 2, 2024. https://lnkd.in/gKAvtK9Y

NPQ is looking for articles written by movement leaders and practitioners in the field that lay out the current state of health innovations, concerns of those working in the field of health, and visions for a socially just, ethical, and responsible direction forward. Submit your work today: https://bit.ly/4dNCgZw

A few weeks ago, I received a thrilling and heart-warming email. It was from Dr. Richie Davidson, founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds of the University of Wisconsin, Madison. “Dearest Yuria, would you be available for the keynote event in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Center? We envision it as an inspiring discussion between you and me to explore your work on collective flourishing!” A thrilled and delightful acceptance followed. So, the Collective Flourishing: A Discussion with Dr. Richard J. Davidson and Dr. Yuria Celidwen, moderated by Steve Paulson, came to be. Please join us in person and via live stream to reflect on how the Western mindfulness movement has been focused mainly on individual self-improvement and how, given our world’s crises, a shift toward a focus on community and planetary wellbeing, already deeply rooted in Indigenous traditions, is crucial. Register for free and more info here: https://lnkd.in/gvCJBfhy Thursday, September 26, 2024 Livestream Time: 7-8 PM (CST) Registration: Free Registration Required

Join us for an inspiring evening at Pegasus Books! On Monday, September 9, at 6 p.m., Bay Area artist, writer, and #OBI scholar Sunaura Taylor will present her new book, Disabled Ecologies: Lessons from a Wounded Desert (UC Press, 2024). In conversation with Yomi Young, Taylor will discuss the intersection of disability with environmental devastation and resistance, followed by a book signing. When: Monday, September 9, 6 p.m. Where: Pegasus Books, Downtown Berkeley Free & Open to the Public! Full details: https://lnkd.in/gnU86NwB Masks are strongly encouraged, and we request that you refrain from wearing scented products. Please contact us if you have any access needs at [email protected]. #BookEvent #DisabledEcologies #SunauraTaylor #EnvironmentalJustice #Belonging

In-person tickets are SOLD OUT! But you can still join #OBI Director john powell for a fantastic conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Tuesday, September 10, at 7:30 p.m via cityarts.net You'll hear Justice Jackson, the first Black woman confirmed to the Supreme Court, share insights from her incredible journey from Harvard to the highest court in the land. Plus, she'll discuss her new memoir, "Lovely One," where she traces her family's rise from segregation to her groundbreaking role on the Supreme Court. It's going to be awesome! Full details: https://lnkd.in/gt9M4y2b

This series openly critiques this current iteration of urban planning in the hopes of proposing new theories, strategies, & concepts that help us arrive at where we all belong. Check out Reimagining Urban Planning: Embodiment from June 3, 2024. https://lnkd.in/gXRhM6Ue

Join us for an inspiring evening at Pegasus Books! On Monday, September 9, at 6 p.m., Bay Area artist, writer, and #OBI scholar Sunaura Taylor will present her new book, Disabled Ecologies: Lessons from a Wounded Desert (UC Press, 2024). In conversation with Yomi Young, Taylor will discuss the intersection of disability with environmental devastation and resistance, followed by a book signing. When: Monday, September 9, 6 p.m. Where: Pegasus Books, Downtown Berkeley Free & Open to the Public! Full details: https://lnkd.in/gnU86NwB Masks are strongly encouraged, and we request that you refrain from wearing scented products. Please contact us if you have any access needs at [email protected]. #BookEvent #DisabledEcologies #SunauraTaylor #EnvironmentalJustice #Belonging

Are you interested in diving into the world of zoning reform in the United States? Check out "The Uneven March of Progress: The Past, Present, and Future of Zoning Reform in the U.S." by Stephen Menendian, the assistant director of the Othering & Belonging Institute. It's a fascinating piece published in the Rutgers Policy Journal that explores the historical challenges and future possibilities for fair zoning practices. #ZoningReform #Equity #OBI Don't miss this deep dive into how zoning impacts our communities. Happy reading! Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3yUfbp1