Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute Compassionate Conversation Series:
"Bridging and Belonging"
featuring
john a. powell
Director, Othering and Belonging Institute
Robert D. Haas Chancellor's Chair in Equity and Inclusion
Professor of Law, African American Studies and Ethnic Studies
University of California, Berkeley
and
Ralina L. Joseph
Vice Provost of Inclusive Excellence
Professor, UCLA Department of African American Studies
moderated by
Maia Ferdman
Deputy Director, UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute
Staff Director, UCLA Dialogue Across Difference Initiative
About the event: john a. powell is a renowned scholar and advocate in the areas of civil rights, structural racism, housing, constitutional law, equality, democracy and belonging. He is the director of the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley, where he holds the Robert D. Haas Chancellor’s Chair in Equity and Inclusion and is a professor of law, African American studies and ethnic studies. powell has served as the national legal director of the ACLU and is well-known for the development of an “opportunity-based” model for thinking about affordable housing, racialized space and the many ways that housing influences other opportunity domains including education, health, health care and employment.
About the series: The "Compassionate Conversations" series features speakers who share a deep and humane commitment to engaging others with compassion, empathy and respect.
The UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute Compassionate Conversation Series:
"Bridging and Belonging"
featuring
john a. powell
Director, Othering and Belonging Institute
Robert D. Haas Chancellor's Chair in Equity and Inclusion
Professor of Law, African American Studies and Ethnic Studies
University of California, Berkeley
and
Ralina L. Joseph
Vice Provost of Inclusive Excellence
Professor, UCLA Department of African American Studies
moderated by
Maia Ferdman
Deputy Director, UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute
Staff Director, UCLA Dialogue Across Difference Initiative
About the event: john a. powell is a renowned scholar and advocate in the areas of civil rights, structural racism, housing, constitutional law, equality, democracy and belonging. He is the director of the Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley, where he holds the Robert D. Haas Chancellor’s Chair in Equity and Inclusion and is a professor of law, African American studies and ethnic studies. powell has served as the national legal director of the ACLU and is well-known for the development of an “opportunity-based” model for thinking about affordable housing, racialized space and the many ways that housing influences other opportunity domains including education, health, health care and employment.
About the series: The "Compassionate Conversations" series features speakers who share a deep and humane commitment to engaging others with compassion, empathy and respect.
