Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature

Creating a World Where Everyone Belongs: From a Change of Heart to System Change

Aug 28, 2024

Angela Glover Blackwell, a leading social justice advocate and founder of PolicyLink, and john a. powell, Director of the Othering and Belonging Institute, dive deep into the urgent need for a cultural shift from individualism to a collective 'we.' They discuss the vital role of storytelling and joy in advocacy, while unpacking complex dynamics of belonging and identity. From navigating reparations to fostering a truly inclusive democracy, these two visionaries explore the pathways to creating a world where everyone genuinely belongs.

32:23

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Episode guests

john a. powell

Angela Glover Blackwell

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Transforming societal perspectives from individualism to collectivism is essential for fostering belonging and genuine systemic change.

Addressing deep-rooted racism and acknowledging shared experiences is crucial for creating a more equitable and inclusive society.

Deep dives

The Impact of Racism on Society

Racism has deeply embedded itself within societal institutions and systems, creating a hierarchy that devalues certain groups, particularly Black individuals. This systemic issue perpetuates inequality and suffering, affecting individuals who may have never encountered Black people personally, yet are still impacted by the dynamics of racial hierarchy. The conversation highlights that to foster genuine belonging, society must confront and dismantle these constructs rather than ignore their implications. Acknowledging this deep-rooted racism is crucial for instituting any meaningful change in public policy and social perception.

Intro

5min

The Interplay of Joy and Storytelling in Advocacy

2min

Unpacking Belonging and Othering

10min

Navigating Identity and Solidarity in a Multicultural Democracy

5min

Reparations and Racial Dynamics

9min

In this moment of radical transformation, shifting the societal pronoun from “me, me, me” to “we” may be the single most transformational pivot we can make in order for anything else to work. Our destiny is ultimately collective.

How can we overcome corrosive divisions and separations that are tearing us apart and create a world where everyone belongs?

In this program, we dip into a deep conversation on this topic between Angela Glover Blackwell and john a. powell, two long-time friends and leaders in a quest toward building a multicultural democracy.

Featuring

Angela Glover Blackwell is Founder-in-Residence at PolicyLink, the organization she started in 1999 to advance racial and economic equity. One of the nation’s most prominent, award-winning social justice advocates, she serves on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the inaugural Community Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve and California’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery.

john a. powell is the Director of the Othering and Belonging Institute and Professor of Law, African American, and Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley. A former National Legal Director of the ACLU, he co-founded the Poverty & Race Research Action Council and serves on the boards of several national and international organizations. His latest book is: Racing to Justice: Transforming our Concepts of Self and Other to Build an Inclusive Society.