Prof. john a. powell speaks on "othering" and "belonging," followed by a conversation with Prof. Margalynne Armstrong. Free, accessible event in Palo Alto.
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Topic: Fighting 'othering' and building belonging in communitiesSource: Houston civic event listingSpeaker: Prof. john a. powell, UC BerkeleyCost: Free, with book signing and light refreshmentsAccessibility: Wheelchair accessible with closed captioning
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Search 'Beyond the Divide john a. powell Houston' to find the date, time, and location so you can sign up and bring a neighbor.
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Our CommunityOthering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley
Professor john a. powell, one of the country's leading voices on race, justice, and democracy, talks about 'othering' — the way groups get pushed to the margins — and how communities can move toward 'belonging' for everyone. Santa Clara University law professor Margalynne Armstrong joins him for a conversation after his remarks. The event is free, wheelchair accessible, and includes closed captioning. Copies of Prof. powell's latest book will be available to buy and get signed, and light refreshments follow.
The program runs about two hours and has three parts. First, Prof. powell gives a talk on othering and belonging. Then he and Prof. Armstrong have a moderated conversation. Finally, there's an informal reception with light refreshments, a book sale, and a signing of Prof. powell's recent book, 'The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where We All Belong.' Admission is free. Closed captioning is available throughout, and the space is fully wheelchair accessible.
Come ready to listen and reflect. You don't need any background in law or sociology — Prof. powell is known for making big ideas feel real and personal. If you want to go deeper after the event, the book signing is a great moment to ask a quick question or pick up a copy of 'The Power of Bridging' to read with friends or a faith group. The event is presented by St. Mark's Episcopal Church's Becoming Beloved Community Task Force and co-sponsored by more than a dozen local faith communities, so it's a natural place to connect with neighbors who care about these same questions.
No fixed date
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Parking is available in the large lot behind the church.
This event grows out of the Becoming Beloved Community work happening inside St. Mark's Episcopal Church and across a wide network of Bay Area faith communities. If Houston neighbors are exploring similar conversations locally — on belonging, race, housing equity, or bridging divides — the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley publishes free research and resources you can explore from anywhere. Local faith coalitions, neighborhood associations, and civil rights organizations are often good starting points for finding that kind of community closer to home.
Words like 'othering' and 'belonging' describe something many of us feel but rarely have language for. 'Othering' is what happens when a person or group is treated as less than fully part of the community — because of race, religion, income, or other differences. 'Belonging' is the goal on the other side: a community where fairness, justice, and care are real for everybody. Prof. powell has spent decades studying civil rights, structural racism, housing, and poverty. Hearing him think through these ideas out loud — alongside Prof. Armstrong, whose work focuses on housing discrimination and race and law — is a rare chance to go deeper than the usual conversation.
