Targeted Universalism
Beyond Equity and Towards a World of Belonging
Developed by Seed co-founder, john a. powell, Targeted Universalism provides a framework that helps combat our sense of polarization by setting universal goals pursued by targeted processes to achieve those goals; with the vision of creating a society where all people can thrive and belong at their fullest potential.
As a firm, Seed centers Targeted Universalism and Belonging, and wishes to share the framework to achieve the goal of creating a world of belonging, where all fit within the circle of human concern. Please see our resources below to learn more about our signature framework and vision, with credit given to Wendy Ake of the Othering and Belonging Institute, for the comprehensive TU Bibliography, from which many of these resources are sourced from.
Bridging and Belonging: The Foundation of Targeted Universalism
Books
(forthcoming) “The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where We All Belong” by john a. powell
“Belonging without Othering: How We Save Ourselves and The World” by john a. powell and Stephen Menedian
Articles:
EIGHT KEYS TO BRIDGING OUR DIFFERENCES
The article dives into eight main points of bridging our differences, which delve into the benefits on the individual, as well as on broader society. These include a shared sense of humanity, less political polarization, and allows for deeper reflection and healing that can lead to equitable change in society. Furthermore, the articles dives into the nuances of belonging, emphasizing that bridging involves risks (such as rejection of ones ideas while being emotionally vulnerable), along with clarifying that not everyone should bridge, especially under the context of dangerous situations.
Bridging or Breaking? The Stories We Tell Will Create the Future We Inhabit
The article discusses an in-depth analysis on the concept of belonging, and its importance in 21st century society.
Case Studies and Interactive Materials:
powell, john a. 2012. "Poverty and race through a belongingness lens." Northwest Area Foundation, Policy Matters 1, no. 5 (April). https://www.coloradotrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Poverty_and_Race_through_a_Belonging_Lens-1.pdf.
powell, john a., Jeff Raikes, and Jenn Hoos Rothberg. 2021. "Targeted universalism and bridging." Filmed 9 November 2021 at the Social Impact Exchange, Exchange 2021: The Systems Summit. Panel conversation, 1:04:23. https://socialimpactexchange.org/exchange2021-plenaries-targeted-universalism/
https://belonging.berkeley.edu/targeted-universalism
Anderson, Ryan, Jolene De Jong, and Joseph White. 2022. "Places to belong: Practical considerations for creating inclusive and impactful places of work." Cooperative Real Estate Journal 12, no. 1 (Autumn): 65-75.
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/hsp/crej/2022/00000012/00000001/art00007?crawler=true&mimetype=application/pdf
Bridging and Breaking Curriculum from OBI
An interactive curriculum on bridging and breaking from the Othering and Belonging Institute.
Belonging Design Principles – Othering and Belonging Institute
Podcast:
Who Belongs? A Podcast on Othering and Belonging
A podcast series by the othering and belonging institute that interviews various community leaders on how to develop communities and a broader society that centers belonging and equity. Topics cover belonging in the context of faith based institutions, creating public spaces of belonging, as well as key aspects of belonging and how it plays with society. The podcast aims to encourage public dialogue across groups in society with the aim of bridging between groups.
Video:
Building Belonging in a Time of Othering, with john a. powell
A lecture on belonging by john a. powell, and shows the measurable impact
Targeted Universalism
Articles/Resources:
Transformative Research Toolkit
Transformative research refers to any research that brings about positive change in individuals, communities, and societal structures. This toolkit is created for cultural workers, activists, and leaders within communities. It is specifically crafted to assist in implementing change strategies involving methods such as participatory action research, community organizing, cultural strategy, popular education, and other approaches that prioritize the knowledge of local communities. Referred to as a 'toolkit', its materials are meant to be utilized to support individuals and communities in their efforts to create change within public policies and systems, empower themselves, and alter public perceptions. Various tools included in this resource may prove more beneficial and relevant based on specific needs and various socio-political environments.
powell, john a., Stephen Menendian, and Wendy Ake. 2019. "Targeted Universalism: Policy and Practice." Othering & Belonging Institute.
https://belonging.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/targeted_universalism_primer.pdf.
powell, john a. 2022. "Equity 2.0: What is Targeted Universalism and How Does It Address Inequality?" Nonprofit Quarterly, 08 June 2022. https://nonprofitquarterly.org/equity-2-0-what-is-targeted-universalism-and-how-does-it-address-inequality/
Getting to Yes: How to Generate Consensus for Targeted Universalism
A case study from FSG on how to generate consensus support for Targeted Universalism, using a case study from Staten Island on reducing inequities within the public education system. The study highlights the three main steps on developing support for using a TU model, including the essential role of in-depth disaggregated data to highlight present inequities, clarifying the application of TU compared to other models, and allowing for difficult conversations and community voices to be centered throughout the process.
Golden-Vazquez, Abigail. "Achieving Equity Amid Difference: The promise of targeted universalism," Nonprofit Quarterly, 26 January 2022. https://nonprofitquarterly.org/achieving-equity-amid-difference-the-promise-of-targeted-universalism/.
Zucker, Sarah, Kimberly Martini-Carvell, and Morgan Reiss. 2022. "Targeted Universalism: Help Me Grow’s approach to advancing equity." Help Me Grow National Center. https://helpmegrownational.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Targeted-Universalism-Help-Me-Grows-Approach-to-Advancing-Equity_HMG-National-Center-2023.pdf.
Targeted Universalism: Our Path Forward
An overview of TU by the National Equity Project, with an applied example of implementation in the K-12 education space
Case Studies/Practical Applications:
Implementing Targeted Universalism
An article discussing the application of a TU model in the state of Oregon for “Oregons Kitchen Table”, a civic engagement program meant to gather feedback from a wide array of community members to engage more civic participation and to bridge the gaps of civic participation. The article discusses the ways in which a TU approach may struggle in a political context, such as bringing together a large group of differing stakeholders due to logistical and group constraints.
Francis-Oliviero, Florence et al. 2020. "Theoretical and practical challenges of proportionate universalism: A review." Rev. Panam Salud Publica 44: 110 https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2020.110.
Jacques, Olivier and Noël, Alain. 2021. "Targeting within universalism." Journal of European Social Policy 31, no. 1 (February): 15–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958928720918973.
Fuentes-Rohwer, Luis, and Guy-Uriel Charles. 2021. "Pathological racism, chronic racism, and targeted universalism." California Law Review 109, no. 3: 1107. https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3997&context=facpub.
Godwin, Katherin. 2023. "Targeted universalism uses social capital to increase equity in COVID-19 recovery." ncIMPACT Initiative, University of North Carolina, https://ncimpact.sog.unc.edu/2022/12/targeted-universalism-social-capital-increases-equity-in-covid-19-recovery/.
By practicing targeted universalism, policymakers can aim specific strategies, such as social capital-based programming, at problems that plague marginalized groups to advance equity in COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.
Farmer, Thomas W, et. al. 2022. "The Developmental Dynamics of Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties of Youth of Color: Systemic Oppression, Correlated Constraints, and the Need for Targeted Universalism." Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders 30, no. 2: 71–85. https://doi.org/10.1177/10634266211068892.
Farmer, Thomas W., David L. Lee, William J. Therrien. 2022. "Targeted universalism and tiered systems of adaptive support: Centering intervention on the developmental needs of students with exceptionalities. In Handbook of special education research, edited by Thomas W. Farmer, et. al. Oxfordshire: Routledge.
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003156857-29/targeted-universalism-tiered-systems-adaptive-support-thomas-farmer-david-lee-william-therrien.
Leubolt, Bernhard, Karin Fischer, and Debdulal Saha. 2014. "Are targeting and universalism complimentary or competing paradigms in social policy? Insights from Brazil, India, and South Africa." International Journal of Labour Research 6, no. 1: 75-94. https://labordoc.ilo.org/permalink/41ILO_INST/1s2ok2m/alma994847783402676.
Perry, Ravi K. 2013. "Deracialization Reconsidered: Theorizing Targeted Universalistic Urban Politics." In 21st Century Urban Race Politics: Representing Minorities as Universal Interests, edited by Ravi K Perry, xxiii-xliii. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0195-7449(2013)0000018004.
Perry, Ravi K. 2013. "Epilogue: Future Prospects for Targeted Universalism." In 21st Century Urban Race Politics: Representing Minorities as Universal Interests, edited by Ravi K. Perry, 297-300. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0195-7449(2013)0000018018.
Health Equity and the Circle of Human Concern
An in-depth article on the benefits of TU in the context of health equity.
Beyond Equity: Targeted Universalism and the Closing of the Racial Wealth Gap
The article discusses the idea of Targeted Universalism in the context of closing the racial wealth gap, which highlights the need to go beyond an equity framework and towards a framework of TU and Belonging. In specific, the article discusses how equity (which traditionally favors closing gaps), can be problematic in that it does not focus as much on the outcomes needed to thrive for all. The text describes how a TU approach can use data analysis between segment groups to create a more in-depth intersectional approach towards analyzing racial disparities, and towards creating solutions that create bridging between groups, and a sense of belonging and prosperity for all.
Podcasts:
Podcast: Targeted Universalism with john. a powell
Johnson, Rob. 2021. Interview with john a. powell. Economics & Beyond for the Institute for New Economic Thinking. Podcast audio, 1:05:00. 25 January 2021. https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/podcasts/john-powell-the-pandemic-is-a-missed-opportunity-to-address-racial-disparities
Videos:
Othering & Belonging Institute. 2017. "Targeted Universalism." Explainer video, 3:48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgGcftWpwUQ&t.
USING TARGETED UNIVERSALISM TO ENGENDER BELONGING [VIDEO]
This short video highlights why equity is not enough in our contemporary society, due to the fact that we cannot treat all people the same, as well as not neglecting the needs of certain groups. With a TU approach, engendering belonging can lead to equity driven outcomes for all in society.
Beyond Equity: Unpacking Targeted Universalism
A lecture by john a. powell with the Institute with the Institute of Nonprofit Practice, with a lecture on the basics of targeted universalism, as well as a Q&A on how to apply TU, its differing applications in organizations with differing levels of understanding of equity, and the importance of TU’s application in all aspects of society in order to create a society which centers belonging and bridging between various groups.
powell, john a. 2019. "Targeted Universalism." Filmed 12 April 2019 at the North Central Washington Accountable Community of Health Annual Summit, Moses Lake, WA. Video, 39:06. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ8hDFaEJ1g.
powell, john a. 2012. "Leading Toward Equity: Targeted Universalism." Filmed August 2012 at the Oakland Unified School District, CA. Video, 40:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpC7kirYDGQ.
powell, john a. 2011. "Universal Programs and Their Impact." Filmed 11 May 2011 at the California Endowment. Video, 4:48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTCkYRo8ViQ.
In this presentation, john a. powell discusses targeted universalism, structural racialization and implicit bias.