Personal development and communication
with an anti-oppression lens.
Are you ever afraid of saying the wrong thing or offending someone unintentionally?
Do you want to learn more about people different from you, but don’t know how to ask?
Do you want to interrupt oppression, but don’t know where to start?
Do you want to join a community of people who care?
What is The Culture of Respect?
The Culture of Respect is a personal development and interpersonal communication course centered around exploration of our diverse identities and anti-oppression concepts.
The course is co-created in real-time by the participants and team of facilitators. Together, we explore 7 different systems of oppression through activities, guided discussions, and structured "Speak Outs."
The course covers:
The Dynamics and Structure of Oppression;
Classism;
Ableism;
Sexism;
Heterosexism;
Religious oppression;
Racism;
And Ageism.
By the end of the course, participants are...
More accepting and understanding of themselves and others;
Clearer on the dynamics of oppression and how the same systems fuel all oppression;
Confident communicating with people with similar and different identities than themselves on sensitive issues;
And equipped with the skills to interrupt the cycle of oppression personally and interpersonally.
This 10-week, 25-hour course is facilitated by a team of experienced individuals who create “a safe space to have dangerous conversations.”
Join Us
Join our email list and learn more about what The Culture of Respect has to offer you.
Our Story
With origins in the Peer Education for Human Relations (PEHR) program at Cornell University, The Culture of Respect began as an in-person college course that has been delivered at several colleges and universities in the U.S.
In 1995 a group of educators from the PEHR program at Cornell were asked to pilot The Culture of Respect at neighboring Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS). The course made such an impact there that it was adopted into the course catalogue immediately, and by the fall of 1998 it was officially accepted as an academic minor at the Colleges.
After earning a PEHR minor while a student at HWS, educator Philip Poczik brought The Culture of Respect to Drexel University and then Union College.
Hundreds of people have participated in the in-person version of this experience, and dozens have been trained as facilitators in the model. We are thrilled to be able to bring The Culture of Respect to a wider audience by now offering it virtually.
Please reach out to learn more about The Culture of Respect model, methodology, and how to enroll or book our services.
The first Culture of Respect class at Drexel, 2005
“If someone had said to me that oppression was still something that was affecting the lives of each and every one of us prior to The Culture of Respect, I would have acknowledged this and accepted it; I may have even nodded in agreement. But I would have had no idea what that really meant. This course exposed me firsthand to a mind-boggling amount of information about the reality of the world we live in...what I have seen within this course gives me hope that what I will do in the future will not be in vain, but will be a stepping stone in the right direction.”
— John M., former participant and facilitator
The Culture of Respect helps participants make sense of the world today.
“This course has allowed me to take time and reflect back on my life in a way that I have never done before in any other setting.”
— Mike, Participant
“This course was such a unique opportunity for me to learn from others; it was the first time that I have had the chance to listen to the journeys of such diverse people.”
— Alexa, participant
“I soon found out that this course was much more than a course; it was a gateway to becoming a better person.”
— Meghan O., participant
“After taking this course, and interacting at such a personal level with such a great variety of people… my relationship with my coworkers has improved.”