About the Human First Lens
The Human First Lens is designed to empower all people the reach their own unique highest and fullest potential by leaning about their own human rights and basic human needs, as well as how to identify, alleviate, and overcome oppression that might come their way.
Who is the Human First Lens for?
The Human First Lens is for everyone who wants to learn more about themselves and others, and who want to intentionally reduce barriers to accessibility, inclusion and diversity such as racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and political and religious discrimination. It’s also envisioned for use by:
- Employers and employees of all types, including at large corporations, small businesses and nonprofit organizations;
- Public workers, including police officers, social workers, healthcare and mental health professionals, public transportation providers, and government employees;
- K-12 students (generally 8th grade and up);
- Parents, teachers and college professors;
- Social change advocates; and
- Elected officials.
What Sets The Human First Lens Apart?
Trauma-Informed, Empowerment Based, Evolutionary Content
The Human First Lens recognizes all people can learn and grow. It’s designed to be presented in a safe learning environment without judgement, fear or blame. In addition, participants are encouraged to offer and share their own lived experiences to improve the Human First Lens for future learners and participants if desired.
Transparency and Self-Determination
Participants are encouraged to do additional research and learn about and compare other points of view (if desired). Parents, colleagues, family, friends and co-workers can also see the entire content and provide input and guidance as needed. Employers, nonprofit boards and small business leaders also have complete access to the content. There are no surprises or hidden agendas.
Mission and Vision Focused
As a project of All People Thriving, The Human First Len’s mission is to empower all people in the United States of America to define and reach their own unique highest and fullest potential – and to see and view others in a way that allows them to define and reach their own unique highest and fullest potential, too. Ultimately, All People Thriving envisions a world where people thrive, and oppression – like racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and political and religious discrimination – no longer exists.
Key Learning Objectives
The Human First Lens includes more than 14 topics and exercises that are designed to help learners:
- Identify their own basic human rights and basic human needs;
- Identify and understand the cycle of oppression;
- Understand key concepts in human relationships;
- Understand the basic concepts of the Spectrum-Based View of Human Diversity;
- Identify, interrupt and reject oppression involving human diversity, including racism, sexism, homophobia, religious oppression, political oppression, ageism, ableism, classism, immigration-based oppression, good guy versus bad guy lenses and general “othering”; and
- Become more empowered by exploring and identifying their own viewpoints and experiences.
Anticipated Outcomes
Prolonged and broad-based use of the Human First Lens is likely to result in:
- Increase in people who feel they are truly thriving and able to reach their own unique highest and fullest potential;
- Increase in people reporting they have and are experiencing healthy relationships;
- Increase in people feeling empowered to identify, reject and overcome internalized, interpersonal and systemic oppression;
- Eradication of diversity-based oppression at the interpersonal, internal and systemic levels;
- Reduction in crime and community conflicts;
- Reduction in mental health challenges associated with external and social factors;
- Overall reduction of oppressive policies, systems and laws; and
- Increased ability to achieve 100% of people reporting they feel their communities and workplaces celebrate diversity, and are accessible and inclusive of all people.
Copyright
Use of Materials
All materials that may appear here are copyright All People Thriving (unless otherwise stated), and are free for use in publications, applications and your own implementation as long as credit is provided appropriately and used within the recommended Teaching Guidelines (if applicable). This is because All People Thriving believes in continued expansion of knowledge and has a true desire to help make lasting, positive change for humanity. However, materials may not be used to disparage, harm, bully or “call out” others, or to justify discrimination, exclusion, or deny for individuals their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Disclaimer
Rights to Edits, Errors and Omissions
All People Thriving welcomes new information and reserves the right to edit or change materials. This is because while All People Thriving strives as much as possible to be diligent and complete in its research and theoretical perspectives, All People Thriving can: A) Learn new things; B) Be wrong; and C) Have typos. While All People Thriving strives to prevent the latter two, All People Thriving certainly hopes for the former. Further, the Human First Lens intentionally includes surveys as part of its process to allow for input and improvements. Additions are likely to be included.
Legal
The Human First Lens is designed for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be used to replace professionally licensed mental health care, medical care, legal advice or financial advice.
Developer Credits
The Human First Lens was developed and created using the Integrity Model by independent sociologist and human rights advocate, Ryan Acker, founder and Executive Director of All People Thriving.
Special Thanks to Editors and Contributors
All People Thriving also recognizes Sarah Landis, Theresa Johnson, review partners, and anonymous survey respondents who have contributed to the development and improvement of the Human First Lens.
