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EG Partner: Empathy as a Force for Social Change


Class
Enrollment for this class is currently closed.

Develop the skills and tools needed to interrogate and leverage shared and divergent political goals to build effective coalitions.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Research into pro-social change, the kind that improves the world around us, all leads to empathy as the most powerful force for connection, community building, human understanding and change. This course delves deep into the ways empathy can create the world we want to inhabit. We will explore points of view on how empathy changes politics, impacts movements, creates a space for quantitative data-based knowledge acquisition, and makes us better change makers. 

In this course students will learn about how empathy works, find it in action around values, understand polarization, and work on the skills of intellectual humility and attunement to make possible the changes we need. 

 

Learning Objectives

This course provides an opportunity for learners to:

  • Define and understand empathy and its role within social movements and community building
  • Explore political polarization within and outside of the USA
  • Build stronger coalitions and be thoughtful about how trauma impacts all of the work we do
  • Recognise and respect diversity of thought, values, beliefs and attitudes

 

This course was created through and is part of :

COURSE-AT-A-GLANCE

Empathy as a Force for Social Good is one of five (5) thoughtfully and intentionally created courses that feature the voices of several experienced, well-learned and inspirational movement builders and activists, including original content with Alan Miller.

 

The topical overview of the course below provides an early taste of what you can expect as you embark on this 12 module learning journey.

Module 1: Exploring Empathy

Module 2: Creating Empathy

Module 3: Beyond Empathy and Inclusion to Listening

Module 4: Political Positionality

Module 5: Bridging

Module 6: Cory Booker Case Study

Module 7: Trauma and Resistance to Change

Module 8: The Problem of Polarization

Module 9: Developing Political Empathy and Thick Solidarity 

Module 10: Case Study: The Environmental Movement Interview with Alan Miller

Module 11: Groundtruthing & Global Action

Module 12: Intellectual, Social and Political Humility 

                AUDIENCE

                This course is designed for:

                • established and budding activists, organizers, community leaders, and coalition-builders;
                • leaders, staff, and volunteers affiliated with organizations making change within their spheres or seeking to have greater impact in the wider world;
                • anyone interested in building stronger and more resilient communities;
                • anyone who wants to pause and consider what is needed psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually to feel resourced and prepared to find their place and purpose in challenging times.

                COURSE FEE

                The total and regular cost for this course is $750.  This fee includes the cost of course tuition and materials.

                LEAD CREATOR

                Michelle Auerbach (she/her) is a world builder and  community maker who uses all her geeky skills to support and educate change shapers. She works toward a  more just and loving place where more people get taken care of better. Michelle works as a consultant, educator, and writer focused on change shaping, creativity, and leadership for individuals, organizations, and communities.

                Michelle has been studying change and developing her change shaping practice for over 40 years. She has worked with institutions (the NY City Department of Health, Kaiser Permanente, and The National Institutes of Health), organizations (from Fortune 50 companies to NGOs and nonprofits) and communities (through activist movements, consulting, designing change processes and facilitating), and she creates communications and storytelling strategies for universities, legislative change groups, and pro-social businesses. 

                Michelle was trained in facilitation and change management as well as individual and group coaching at the Columbia University School of Public Health, Kaiser Permanente, and the New York City Department of Health as well as through movements and teachers on the ground.  She was a professor of Ancient World Languages and Humanities for a decade and served as chair of the Arts and Humanities discipline for the State of Colorado Department of Higher Education. Currently, she teaches communication and story for changemakers at The University of Colorado and Sterling College. 

                Michelle was also trained as a chef in New York City at the Natural Gourmet, where she studied nutrition, Chinese medicinal cookery, and healing traditions as well as studying pastry at Peter Kump’s Institute for Culinary Education. She worked in restaurants and has done food writing for the New York Times, the London Guardian, and Sunset magazine as well as other outlets. MIchelle has a particular passion for supporting food sustainability and justice.  

                Michelle’s PhD dissertation was written on story as a trauma sensitive change technology for individuals, organizations, and communities. She studies the way we respond to change from  wisdom traditions that go back 6000 years to the neurobiology that drives our connected selves. Her book, Resilience: The Life Saving Skill of Story came out in 2022 and her second book on change shaping and storytelling is due out in 2023. If you want to read her novels or her nonfiction you can find it, and more of her writing at www.michelleauerbach.com.

                AGREEMENTS & TERMS

                 

                Enrollment provides access for one year and represents an annual commitment. There are no refunds. If you decide to stop participating in the Change Shaping: Connection-based Training for Good Trouble Makers Certificate Program or any of its component courses, you remain responsible for completing any remaining payments on your payment plan in full.  If you require an extension of time to complete the program due to unforeseen circumstances or hardship, please contact continuingeducation@sterlingcollege.edu to develop a plan to support your sustained access and successful completion.

                 

                To participate in any learning community spaces (such as discussion boards and videoconferences), you agree to follow Sterling College’s Code of Online Conduct You also agree not to reproduce or circulate proprietary materials from this program.

                You agree to respect the identities, privacy, and confidentiality of other learners in this program and will not share screenshots, recordings or information disclosed in our learning community spaces with other parties. To foster a dignified, respectful, brave space and model accountability, learners who do not uphold these requirements may have their access revoked without refund.

                 

                Course descriptions are for informational purposes only. Content may be updated or changed as planning evolves.  Sterling College reserves the right to alter the program specifics, including details about course content, instructors, collaborations, field trips and facilities at any time without notice.

                Here is the class outline:

                Course Introduction

                Welcome to Empathy as a Force for Social Change! This module includes introductions to the course and your instructor, as well as some advice on navigating NEO.

                Module 1: Exploring Empathy

                In this module, you'll be reading a paper titled "Cultivating Empathy and Internal Awareness of Social Change," as well as watching a video by Jamil Zaki on the Empathy Shortage. We will take a second look at the self-awareness and nervous system practices we took up in the very first class, Showing Up for Change (if you took that one), and expand them to include some new skills or deeper focus on the ones you have been using.

                Module 2: Creating Empathy

                In this module, we will be reading an article on engaging student activists with empathy, as well as many other embedded links that you may access if you wish. We will create a three to five minute talk on the importance of learning empathy, wherein you will include whatever data, concepts, and ideas speak to you and your community.

                Module 3: Beyond Empathy and Inclusion to Listening

                In this module, we will be reading an article on listening as an essential social justice practice, as well as watching a video on the four skills of deep listening, as well as an article on healing prejudicial attitudes. We will also be working on who you need to talk to, who you need to listen to, and how will this help build a future of change?

                Module 4: Political Positionality

                In this module, we will be reading an article on the moral empathy gaps and a paper on intersectionality in social movements. You will be drawing a map of people, institutions, organizations, and communities, with whom you intersect. 

                Module 5: Bridging

                In this module, we will be watching a video on bridging creating conditions to solve problems. We will also read a paper and visit a website on bridging. You will also be asked to consider who you are othering. 

                Module 6: Cory Booker Case Study

                In this module, we will read a Guardian article on savagely broken food systems, and we will watch two interviews with Cory Booker. Then, you will be asked what you took away from this case study that might influence how you move forward in your change shaping.

                Module 7: Trauma and Resistance to Change

                In this module, we will be reading a book chapter on Somatics, Trauma, and Social Change, a website on Adverse Childhood Experiences, and an article on how trauma can make movement or break movement, as well as another book chapter on understanding the impacts of trauma. You will also be taking a look at your movement and how trauma informed who you currently are. 

                Module 8: The Problem of Polarization

                In this module, we will watch a video on understanding division in America, why the US is so polarized, and read a case study on India. You will also read a blog post on the book, "Democracies Divided." You will then think about and try writing a description of the political polarization or sectarianism where you are trying to make change. 

                Module 9: Developing Political Empathy and Thick Solidarity

                In this module, you will be reading a paper on empathy, justice, and social change, a paper called Towards Thick Solidarity, and an article on the dangerous idea of empathy politics. You will then be asked what the strengths and weaknesses of empathy as a political force are. 

                Module 10: Case Study: The Environmental Movement Interivew with Alan Miller

                In this module, you will watch an interview with Alan Miller who you will learn more about in the Exploration section. After watching the interview and reading more about him, you will be asked to reflect on the least likely people you would collaborate with in your work. 

                Module 11: Groundtruthing & Global Action

                In this module, you will be reading a web page on targeted universalism, a paper on ground truthing, and a paper titled "The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth." You will be asked to map your reality in a way that shows how it is for you. 

                Module 12: Intellectual, Social, and Political Humility

                In this final module, you will watch a video on curiosity and connection with Deb Dana, read two articles on intellectual humility, and watch a video on cultural humility. You will be asked to make a list of things you are curious about.