ROOTED (Respecting Ourselves & Others Through Empathy & Dialogue) is a group of trained facilitators dedicated to creating student-led spaces of solidarity, empathy and learning for members of the Columbia community to explore identity, power and privilege and how these forces impact experiences on campus and beyond.

Our trained student facilitators have prepared three interactive virtual workshops to lead for interested clubs and organizations. Students of all identities and experiences are invited to participate in these powerful peer-facilitated conversations. Each conversation’s goal is to explore how power and privilege intersect with the topic; what participants can learn from hearing one another's experiences; and what can be collectively gained through recognizing our own power and social responsibility.

Questions? Email rooted@columbia.edu.

Spring 2021 Workshops

Unpacking Inclusion

This dialogue breaks down the way in which we as students approach and discuss “identity awareness” in on-campus clubs and extracurriculars. We will unpack concepts like “tokenism” and “affirmation” and think about tools and strategies for building inclusivity for ourselves and the clubs that we are involved in.

Creating Accountability

This dialogue unpacks how we think about accountability in a club setting. We will interrogate how individuals hold themselves and their peers accountable. Using restorative justice techniques, participants will learn how they can hold their organization accountable and develop solutions to address harmful behaviors in the organization.

Power Dynamics

This dialogue explores power dynamics within club spaces. We will discuss formal and informal forces that shape whose voice has value in a space, learn strategies to create environments where every member matters and think through ways to address conflicts when they arise.