• COURSE OVERVIEW • 

As many of you know, 2025 has been a challenging one for many of us.  As educators who care about justice for people and our fellow animals, it’s difficult to witness the myriad horrors being inflicted upon marginalized communities, from bans on DEI and raids on immigrant communities to attacks on the rights of transgender people and threats to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, which puts at risk, among others, thousands of students with disabilities.  

In addition, there is a lot of uncertainty for nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, along with the constituencies they serve, who are dependent upon federal resources for survival.  In addition, the othering that is being done to people reflects a pattern of dehumanization that harms nonhuman animals as well. 

During these times, how can we come together as a community to support one another and to help one another thrive?  The Conversation Circles offer a space where comprehensive humane educators can share their understanding about interconnected systems of oppression and a commitment to a more just, sustainable, and compassionate world for all beings.  These spaces can provide support for building individual resilience and engaging in resistance, connecting with like-minded educators and advocates for support, and taking care of ourselves and our communities.