john a. powell--a Thought Leader Who Can Help Us Bridge Differences and Work Together
The InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit has embarked on an ambitious interfaith project to bridge differences and re-create our community. john a. powell is a national leader in understanding our nation’s current struggle with race and equity as well as divisions regarding religion and politics. He is Director of the Othering and Belonging Institute and Professor of Law, Ethnic Studies, and African American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.
In his presentation last year for the InterFaith Leadership Council, Professor powell expressed these thoughts about our society’s conflicts:
· Too often we view people as having only one identity rather than multiple facets—personal, professional, religious, ethnic etc. This “flattening of identities” into one—i.e. as a white person--hampers our connection with each other.
· We can love each other without necessarily understanding or dominating each other.
· Individuality can be an expression of fear.
· Othering (thinking of people unlike ourselves as the “other”) is not solved by “saming.” We need to recognize differences and similarities.
· Belonging is different than inclusion—we can co-create something we belong to.
· By bridging differences we can tell a new story together.
This program is co-sponsored by the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. Saeed Khan, Associate Professor and Director of Global Studies at Wayne State University, will moderate the program. A donation of $100 is suggested. Please register at:
