Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley
(Formerly the Haas Institute For a Fair and Inclusive Society)
“Somewhere inside of all of us is the power to change the world.” --Roald Dahl
In 2018, the Kelly Ann Brown Foundation board focused on supporting efforts to Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV). The Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley works to expand the electorate by strengthening outreach to underrepresented voter groups. The Institute is a multidisciplinary research center that connects established and emerging academic researchers, community organizers, communications specialists, and policymakers to find and eradicate barriers in order to build a more inclusive, just and sustainable society.
Civic Engagement Narrative Change Project, one of the programs at The Othering & Belonging Institute, is a national initiative to address cultural and racial anxiety and disaffection among voters. The goal is to create inclusivity in civic and political life.
KABF Director Maria Porter Steward received two masters degrees from UC Berkeley. She introduced us to Joshua Clark, the Institute’s political participation analyst, and the great work being done through the Haas Institute at Berkeley. Mr. Clark explains: “It aims to expand civic participation among those routinely marginalized or counted out, while simultaneously addressing tensions, fissures, and othering that keep politically non-dominant groups divided.”
The Haas project has partnerships with local organizations and communities in Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. The national project team partners with groups active in outreach and organizing, with the shared commitment to long-term power-building with underrepresented communities. Through these partnerships, the project conducts baseline assessments of civic identity, shapes narrative interventions, builds movement infrastructure, and works to connect national and state level civic engagement.
Mr. Clark further explained: “One of the major ways that we supported the GOTV efforts of groups with which we partnered on the ground was by co-creating digital products – videos for circulation through their social media platforms, and those of local artists/musicians. Many of the groups doing this work don’t have budgets or access to expertise to make these kinds of products, even though they’re crucial, especially for reaching a target constituency of young people of color. We also provided a variety of other forms of research and analysis to strengthen GOTV in several states.”
Mr. Clark sent a heartfelt thank you for the KABF grant, writing: “We are very grateful for your interest in our work, and for your commitment to social justice, sustainability, and a world that is more humane for all of its inhabitants.” KABF in return is grateful to the Haas Institute and all the wonderful nonprofits working to create a more just society.
Click here for more information on the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley.
Civic Engagement Narrative Change Project, one of the programs at The Othering & Belonging Institute, is a national initiative to address cultural and racial anxiety and disaffection among voters. The goal is to create inclusivity in civic and political life.
KABF Director Maria Porter Steward received two masters degrees from UC Berkeley. She introduced us to Joshua Clark, the Institute’s political participation analyst, and the great work being done through the Haas Institute at Berkeley. Mr. Clark explains: “It aims to expand civic participation among those routinely marginalized or counted out, while simultaneously addressing tensions, fissures, and othering that keep politically non-dominant groups divided.”
The Haas project has partnerships with local organizations and communities in Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. The national project team partners with groups active in outreach and organizing, with the shared commitment to long-term power-building with underrepresented communities. Through these partnerships, the project conducts baseline assessments of civic identity, shapes narrative interventions, builds movement infrastructure, and works to connect national and state level civic engagement.
Mr. Clark further explained: “One of the major ways that we supported the GOTV efforts of groups with which we partnered on the ground was by co-creating digital products – videos for circulation through their social media platforms, and those of local artists/musicians. Many of the groups doing this work don’t have budgets or access to expertise to make these kinds of products, even though they’re crucial, especially for reaching a target constituency of young people of color. We also provided a variety of other forms of research and analysis to strengthen GOTV in several states.”
Mr. Clark sent a heartfelt thank you for the KABF grant, writing: “We are very grateful for your interest in our work, and for your commitment to social justice, sustainability, and a world that is more humane for all of its inhabitants.” KABF in return is grateful to the Haas Institute and all the wonderful nonprofits working to create a more just society.
Click here for more information on the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley.
