This multidisciplinary group of Yale graduate and professional school students will come together in a monthly discussion group to dig into real-world challenges and inspiring examples of liberatory, anti-racist and intersectional practices in businesses, organizations, and communities. A primary focus will be placed on how to put learnings into practice in students’ lives and work. The group is open to graduate students with any level of experience. 

Sessions will center the topics including: regenerative food systems, equitable business models, racial, economic, and environmental justice, sustainability, community-driven work, and workers’ rights. We will examine concrete ways to put intersectional equity and inclusion into practice and the importance of listening and relationship building in doing this work. We will learn from movement and industry leaders, nature, and global indigenous approaches, and dig into practical ways to shift power dynamics to prioritize life, all people, and the planet.   

Session materials will include guest speakers and engaging multi-media content such as videos, podcasts, and social media, with not more than two hours of materials per month. Guest speakers and group content center BIPOC leaders and perspectives as well as white people working in solidarity and are drawn from the New Haven, national and international communities. Group sessions will be interactive with a mix of full group and small group discussions. Group commitment includes an initial one-on-one welcome meeting with group facilitator Tagan Engel, and an option to help create discussion prompts for one session based on the prep materials. Each monthly session will include lunch from New Haven BIPOC-owned restaurants and time for social connection as a cohort. 

If you are a Yale professional school student from any school and are interested in engaging in peer discussions about these topics and examining how these perspectives and practices can help you address positive and effective social change in business, organization, municipal, and community work, we encourage you to apply!

The application for this discussion group is now open! 

Please check the schedule to ensure you can make at least 7 of the 9 sessions before applying.

Apply now

Please apply no later than Sunday, September 4 at 11:59 PM.

All sessions are Fridays from 12:00-1:30 PM ET. Dates listed below.

Pre-work such as webinars, readings, or other multimedia content will be available on the student’s own schedule in advance of the Friday discussion groups. Many guest speakers will visit during scheduled discussion group sessions. 

DATES

• September 23
• October 14
• November 11
• December 2 
• January 27
• February 17
• March 31  
• April 21
• May 5 (social gathering, date may change)

Tagan is looking for a Student Manager to help co-manage this discussion group.  If you are interested, you can find the job description and application instructions here. 

Tagan Engel is a Resident Fellow with the Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY) and brings more than 25 years of experience in cross-sector food systems and justice work - as a chef, entrepreneur, community builder, and grassroots organizer. She is from New Haven, hosts The Table Underground podcast, is a member of Tzedek lab, and is a founding board member of Soul Fire Farm. Through CBEY Tagan works on regenerative food systems, intersectional equity, and working with local communities. Full bio HERE.