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Topic: Targeted Universalism — setting fair goals for all groupsFormat: Online course with 4 writing exercisesReading time: 68 minutes to completeWho it's for: Open to everyone, any skill levelAreas covered: Education, philanthropy, and community teamwork
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Good first step: Act Targeted Universalism online course
Sign up for the free course and set aside about 70 minutes. Ask yourself: Are the goals in my community working for everyone, or just some people?
This 68-minute online course from OBI (Othering and Belonging Institute) University introduces targeted universalism — a framework for setting goals that work for everyone while paying close attention to where different groups actually stand. It covers the first three of the framework's stages and is open to learners at any level.
The course walks through the first three stages of targeted universalism. You will learn how to build a universal goal — one that applies to an entire community — and then assess how different groups and whole populations are positioned to reach it. Case studies show how the approach works in real settings: schools, philanthropic giving, and work that crosses multiple sectors. The course includes four writing exercises to help you apply what you learn. No certificate is awarded for this part; that comes with a later course in the series.
Watch the course at your own pace — it runs 68 minutes total. Complete the four writing exercises as you go; they are designed to help you connect the ideas to your own work or community. After finishing, you will have a practical starting point for using targeted universalism in planning, advocacy, or organizational work.
No fixed date
Online
This course pairs well with any equity-focused work happening in Houston — from neighborhood planning and school initiatives to philanthropic grant-making and cross-agency partnerships. If your organization is trying to move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches, the targeted universalism framework offers a clear, structured way to start.
Not every group starts from the same place. Targeted universalism helps communities, organizations, and policymakers set shared goals and then figure out what each group actually needs to reach them. If you work in education, philanthropy, neighborhood advocacy, or cross-sector projects in Houston or anywhere else, this framework can sharpen how you think about fairness and inclusion.
