Diversity, Culture and Social Justice in Psychedelics
In partnership with the University of Ottawa, School of Psychology
January 8th – March 25th | Every Monday from 10am-12pm PST
This course, taught by leading experts and the first of its kind in the psychedelic field, will teach students to consider the cultural, social, historical, and economic context that influences the so-called “psychedelic renaissance.”
Students will be introduced to basic concepts around psychedelics and justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JEDI). The goal of the course is to explore the ways in which psychedelics influence and are influenced by factors such as social justice, privilege, and diversity and to better understand their reciprocal influences on psychedelic science, therapies, and praxis. Topics include: anti-racism, implicit bias, queer aspects, intersectionality, cultural humility, social identity, power and privilege, healing the racial divide, uses of Indigenous plant medicines, and challenges around their mainstreaming and globalization.
This course is intended to be intellectual, personal, and experiential. We will examine structural issues that act as systemic barriers to JEDI efforts. Students will also be challenged to think critically and confront aspects of themselves, their beliefs, behaviors, and needed areas of growth, such as their individual, familial, and group legacies of privilege and disadvantage, their personal commitments to social justice, advocacy, and social change in the psychedelic community and the world more broadly. These perspectives are crucial for deepening our understanding of the expanding future of psychedelic medicine in ways that are equitable and just.
