We are disappointed to announce that
this course series has been cancelled.
Pursuing a Process Practice & Becoming a Better World
A course series on Building the Beloved Community is more than just group of classes to disseminate information—it’s an invitation to be part of a transformative movement toward justice, care, and connection. Now more than ever, we need each other, and this class provides the tools to cultivate flourishing communities of belonging through deep listening, nonviolence, and mutual support.
Through the wisdom of Robin Wall Kimmerer, Howard Thurman, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr., students will engage in deep, reflective study of relational ecology, contemplative activism, and radical love. In the spirit of Ubuntu, this course is for those who want to go beyond theory—who are ready to embody the principles of justice and compassion in their daily lives. Together, we will explore how to heal divides, foster dialogue, and build a world rooted in care.
The Beloved Community is not a destination but a process—a dynamic, evolving practice of justice, compassion, and interconnected becoming. Explore the intersection of process thought, Indigenous wisdom, and visionary activism to build relational, evolving, and thriving communities.
Courses
Interweaving the Tapestry of Life & Learning from Indigenous Wisdom
Course 1: Braiding Sweetgrass
Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass calls us to reimagine our relationship with the natural world through reciprocity, gratitude, and interconnectedness. Whitehead’s process thought resonates deeply with this Indigenous wisdom, emphasizing the relational nature of reality and the creativity inherent in all living systems. In this class, we will explore how Indigenous practices align with process philosophy to cultivate a flourishing life rooted in mutual care and respect. Together, we’ll consider how reciprocity can heal fragmented relationships—with ourselves, others, and the Earth. Through this lens, we’ll begin to see how building the Beloved Community is rooted in acknowledging our interconnectedness with the natural world as a foundational process practice.
| Dates: | April 10 – May 15 |
| Times: | Thursdays, 5:00 – 6:30 PM Pacific |
Examining the Dynamics of Nonviolence & Moving From Opposition to Transformation
Course 2: Mahatma Gandhi’s Political Vision
Gandhi’s Selected Political Writings present a philosophy of nonviolence as a dynamic and creative force for social change. Whitehead’s vision of the world as an interconnected process highlights the power of persuasion over coercion and the role of gentle, transformative power in reshaping oppressive systems. This session will examine how Gandhi’s vision of satyagraha (truth-force) and Whitehead’s emphasis on relational power can inspire us to challenge injustice while fostering community and collective growth. By understanding nonviolence as an active and evolving process, we’ll explore how the Beloved Community requires ongoing dedication to equity, mutual understanding, and transformative engagement.
| Dates: | May 29 – July 3 |
| Times: | Thursdays, 5:00 – 6:30 PM Pacific |
Seeking Harmony in Diversity & Finding Unity Amid Difference
Course 3: The Search for Common Ground
Howard Thurman’s The Search for Common Ground invites us to seek unity amidst diversity, recognizing the sacred within every individual. Whitehead’s process philosophy echoes this call, suggesting that every entity contributes uniquely to the ongoing creative advance of the universe. In this session, we will reflect on how Thurman’s quest for common ground and Whitehead’s emphasis on relational becoming offer tools to transcend polarization, nurture empathy, and co-create the Beloved Community. Here, building the Beloved Community becomes a process of embracing diversity as strength and cultivating shared understanding through intentional dialogue and collaboration.
| Dates: | August 26 – September 30 |
| Times: | Tuesdays, 5:00 – 6:30 PM Pacific |
Pursuing the Beloved Community as a Process of Becoming
Course 4: Where Do We Go from Here
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? offers a bold vision of the Beloved Community—a world where justice and compassion guide human relationships. Whitehead’s process thought complements this vision, portraying reality as a dynamic and evolving process, where every action shapes the future. In this final session, we will explore how King’s dream and Whitehead’s cosmology challenge us to envision a flourishing life and take actionable steps toward co-creating a more just and compassionate world. We’ll conclude the series by discussing how building the Beloved Community is not a static goal but an ongoing process requiring continuous reflection, commitment, and collective action.
| Dates: | October 14 – November 18 |
| Times: | Tuesdays, 5:00 – 6:30 PM Pacific |
Sign up for one course or the whole series.
We need one another when we mourn and would be comforted.
We need one another when we are in trouble and afraid.
We need one another when we are in despair, in temptation, and need to be recalled to our best selves again.
We need one another when we would accomplish some great purpose, and cannot do it alone.
We need one another in the hour of success, when we look for someone to share our triumphs.
We need one another in the hour of defeat, when with encouragement we might endure, and stand again.
We need one another when we come to die, and would have gentle hands prepare us for the journey.
All our lives, we are in need, and others are in need of us.
–George Odell
Format, Method, & Requirements
The series consists of four online courses (via Zoom), and each course includes six sessions. While each class can stand on its own and be taken individually, the series as a whole weaves a narrative of growth, renewal, and collective responsibility. Rooted in the relational and transformational possibilities of Whitehead’s process philosophy, the series frames the Beloved Community as a dynamic practice rather than a static ideal. Each text offers unique insights into how interconnectedness, justice, and compassion shape the process of becoming, inviting participants to engage deeply with these principles in their lives and communities.
As a part of the endeavor to build the Beloved Community, it offers a community engagement component that encourages the pursuit of meaning, commitment to truth-seeking pluralism, and first-person engagement through participation in community dialogues. It also includes a service learning component that aims to identify and build upon those values through interracial, intergenerational, and interfaith conversations with our community partners and other community stakeholders.
Our courses are highly interactive and engaging, and utilize what's called the "cyclonic method" of learning. The cyclonic method is a circular discussion model that fosters community-building and deep listening. Participants share responses to a guiding question while others listen without judgment, allowing insights to spiral and evolve. Rather than a linear debate, this method encourages creating space for diverse voices and shared understanding. Through this non-hierarchical, nonlinear process, participants engage in a dynamic exchange that strengthens relationships and deepens collective wisdom.
To foster a deeply meaningful and transformational learning experience, all students are required to do the following:
Attend the live sessions (online via Zoom)
Contribute to the online discussions
Volunteer in your local community
About the Instructor
Dr. Richard Rose is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the University of La Verne, an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Executive Director of the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies of Southern California (ECBCS). Richard earned his Master of Divinity degree from Howard University School of Divinity and the Doctor of philosophy degree from Claremont Graduate University. His current research examines global issues related to interfaith dialogue and religious pluralism. He sees his life work as building the beloved community, which is the title of one of his courses. He has published An Interreligious Approach to a Social Ethic for Christian Audiences and 7 Meditations on the Lord’s Prayer.
Enrollment is limited to 35 students.
Braiding Sweetgrass
- Access to single course
- Receive one-on-one guidance from the instructor and course assistants
- Interact with class members via online discussion platform
- Receive early notification of future courses
- * If you are experiencing financial hardship, contribute whatever can afford to help support this and other programs like it.
Complete Course Series
- All the benefits of the individual course, plus . . .
- 10% discount
- Access to all four courses
- Access to series-only resources.
This course is made possible through a collaboration between friends.
Claremont Circle of Chairs
Got more questions? We've got answers. Contact Us.