The EmpowerED Pathways Approach to
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, SEL, and antiracism
Reimagining Inclusion
Mainstream diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives tend to categorize individuals and reinforce separation into groups based on fixed identities. This collectivist mentality limits empowerment and belonging.
In contrast, Empowered Humanity Theory cultivates value-centered, dynamic identities not confined by labels. Practices like adopting a dignity lens also build an understanding of our shared hopes and struggles.
The result is welcoming environments where people bring their whole authentic selves to foster innovation, not homogenized conformity.
Disrupting Racism and Bigotries
Many conventional anti-racism approaches vilify individuals based on group identities, exacerbating societal divides stemming from “us vs them” mentalities. This taps psychological tendencies for prejudice.
Alternatively, EHT’s practices of shared storytelling and compassion proactively diminish these harmful inclinations. Actively seeking commonality rather than confrontation addresses injustice at its roots.
This collaborative process connects our shared yearnings for safety, community, and purpose across all groups. It appeals to conscience and a higher nature, not condemnation rooted in power dynamics.
Enhancing Social-Emotional Wellbeing
Some social-emotional learning (SEL) models categorize students in ways that ignite psychological self-protective fear-based instincts. Judgment replaces understanding, while diversity gets minimized into assimilation.
Conversely, EHT aligns with scientific research on wellbeing by intentionally cultivating capacities like attention, resilience, generosity and positive outlook. It focuses on our universal hopes and struggles.
This empowers students to construct dynamic identities around their values and highest vision to impact the world. It awakens them to common humanity waiting underneath surface differences.
