Start Date: March 15, 2021
Cost: $30
Duration: 4 weeks
Registration: Now Closed.
Guide: Taya Pocock
This is a 4-week course. Each week, you will be provided access to that week's lesson, activities and discussion forums. In addition, you will be invited to participate in 3 live Zoom sessions with Taya, your course guide. Zoom dates and times are noted below. Don't forget to mark your calendars!
Included Zoom Dates:
Saturday, March 20th at 8am PT
Saturday, April 3rd at 8am PT
Post-course Zoom: Saturday, April 17 at 8am PT
Recordings will be available
Welcome! Humanity 360’s innovative media, mindfulness and social engagement-based curriculum is geared around recognizing common humanity and how societal issues shape us and are shaped by us. Stepping into the footsteps of others facilitates a sense of perspective and recognition, while going inside to inspect one’s own inner relating and responses to these issues provides insight and resolve. Our ultimate goal is to awaken each participant to a sense of agency and self-determination. An understanding of how each issue can be addressed through action and engagement and how this in turn leads to a greater inner sense of fulfillment and purpose.
Throughout this first series titled: “Environmental Concerns That Affect Us All – and what we can do about it” we will be looking at the four following topics:
- Food Democracy and Seed Protection
- Wildlife and Habitat Protection
- Climate Adaptation and Migration
- Nature and Technology
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the class series, students will:
- Gain valuable insights and knowledge into each topic
- Recognize personal “affectedness” and how to engage more meaningfully
- Reach a sense of resolve and empowerment
- Know concepts relating to altruism, compassion and social engagement
- Have the tools to know what they can do to affect change in their own lives and in those of others
Who Will Benefit
- Anyone who wants to become more aware of others and concepts of common humanity.
- Anyone who wants to affect change but doesn’t know where to start or what they can do to contribute.
- Anyone interested in bringing this type of curriculum to their respective students/communities.
- Anyone interested in learning about social topics and how each individual can make a difference.
- Anyone who cannot look away anymore and recognizes the importance and relevancy of addressing these topics for resolution and action.
Send questions and suggestions to Taya.
Course Overview
Week 1: Food Democracy and Seed Protection
Within this unit, course participants learn about concepts pertaining to equitable access to food and the barriers that prevent this. As a basis for this, we look at different initiatives underway that encourage community gardening and create more accessible pathways for individuals of all social backgrounds to be able to grow, buy and eat healthy foods. We also look at the impact of nutrition on social class and human potential. Furthermore, participants are also introduced to the topic of seed preservation and the urgent need to protect biodiversity. Featured: Ron Finley - The Guerilla Gardener Will Bonsall - Seed Preservationist featured in the film: “Seed - The Untold Story.”
Week 2: Wildlife and Habitat Protection
We are proud to showcase the work of the Orang-Utan Republik which promotes awareness and provides education around the conservation of habitats for the rapidly dwindling Orang-Utan populations of Sumatra, Indonesia. This unit not only introduces individuals to the importance of habitat protection, but also discusses causes contributing to extinction and how consumption habits can help protect endangered species. Featured: Gary Shapiro and the work of the OrangUtan Republik of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Week 3: Climate Adaptation and Migration
We'll look at the growing crisis of climate change as it pertains to migration and survival relocation. We look at the work being done by organizations and individuals around the world, from Bangladesh, to the Dominican Republic to the desert landscape between the United States and Mexico. We will look at research and predictions to use this as a basis from which to discuss viable solutions and the need to address these developments proactively and compassionately.
Week 4: Nature and Technology
This unit looks specifically at our use of technology over time and the impact technology has had on nature, from the physical environment to the nature of social interactions and neurology. Our goal is not to condemn technology, nor prescribe ways of using it, but rather to be able to develop a mindful relationship toward the use of technology and understand the larger impact this has. In this unit particularly, we focus on differentiating individual, interpersonal and systemic use of technology. While we will discuss aspects of technology that increase issues for a sense of common humanity (such as attention economy, filter biases, etc.) we will also be looking at aspects of technology that can bring people together. This unit will include VR footage of technological innovations in harmony with nature as well as explain wholesome models and theories with which to move forward (e.g., Buckminster Fuller, proposed community models).
About the Facilitator
Taya Pocock, Founder/Executive Director of Humanity 360
Inspired by a desire to assist youths in understanding the lives of folks in different parts around the world and finding their true purpose in life, Taya Pocock's background as a cultural anthropologist, educator and multi-media agency owner led her to create Humanity 360 in 2016. She has been the driving force behind Humanity 360 and has presented at conferences such as SXSW Interactive in Austin, TX as well as serving on numerous boards of mission-based non-profits.
Taya is passionate about adapting rich media 360 virtual tour and VR applications to exemplify the diversity of the human experience. She is inspired by the tenacity and resiliency of the human spirit. She believes that many individuals making many small changes all around the world is how we build a better world for tomorrow. Through empowerment, community and agency. Taya is a certified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and, most recently, became a facilitator of Compassionate Integrity Training (CIT).
← Go back Next page →
