The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights facilitates this program to support our mission to promote respect for human dignity and diversity through education and to foster individual responsibility to work for peace and justice.
Participants will learn how to cultivate an environment where every person's human rights are protected and promoted. Through developing the knowledge, skills, and values to create inclusive spaces and advocate for equity, they will build a foundation of shared understanding to foster just and joyful communities where all individuals belong and thrive.
This course will give participants the opportunity to explore a variety of topics centered around human rights. They’ll engage in reading, viewing, reflection, discussions, and will have the chance to practice what they’re learning throughout the course.
In order to earn the Human Rights Certificate, participants will complete each module, keeping track of their thinking and learning in a journal when prompted to do so. Each module should take around 2 hours to complete. Every module ends with a chance to try out what’s been learned in the community or workplace. We hope the opportunity to practice and reflect will help participants more fully internalize deep understandings about human rights.
Overview of Module Content:
● Welcome (1 Hour): In the Welcome section of the course, participants will be introduced to the course and the learning targets that will guide the work. They will take a pre-assessment to see what they already know about Human Rights. This module also includes an introduction to Human Rights via reading the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
● Module 1: Dignity (2 Hours) ○ Enduring Understanding: Every human being possesses inherent dignity, the foundation of human rights. Understanding and respecting this intrinsic worth is essential for building trust, fostering healthy relationships, and creating just and joyful communities.
○ Learning Target: I can explain the concept of dignity and identify ways to uphold and promote the inherent worth of all individuals.
● Module 2: Respect (2 Hours) ○ Enduring Understanding: Every human being has inherent dignity. This is the foundation of human rights. Understanding and respecting this intrinsic worth is essential for building trust, fostering healthy relationships, and creating just and joyful communities.
○ Learning Target: I can understand and demonstrate respectful behavior in interactions with others and understand the importance of valuing others’ perspectives and contributions.
● Module 3: Diversity (2 Hours) ○ Enduring Understanding: Understanding and valuing diversity brings a variety of perspectives and experiences, enriching communities.
○ Learning Target: I can recognize and appreciate the variety of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints that contribute to a diverse community and understand the benefits of diversity in our world.
● Module 4: Inclusion (2 Hours) ○ Enduring Understanding: Inclusion ensures that all individuals feel valued and have equal access to opportunities, enhancing social cohesion and innovation.
○ Learning Target: I can identify and consider strategies to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to participate fully.
● Module 5: Equity & Equality (2 Hours) ○ Enduring Understanding: Equality ensures everyone has the same rights and opportunities, while equity addresses systemic barriers by providing tailored support to achieve fair outcomes. Both equality and equity are necessary for all people fully enjoy their human rights.
○ Learning Target: I can differentiate between equity and equality and explore approaches to ensure everyone has fair access to opportunities, resources, and support based on individual needs and circumstances.
● Module 6: Joy (2 Hours) ○ Enduring Understanding: Joyful communities are those where connection is paramount and spaces are cultivated to be places where individuals are welcomed and seen. These communities work to collaboratively create an environment where all are valued and human rights are celebrated.
○ Learning Target: I can explain the relationship between joy and human rights.
● Final Project (2 Hours): At the conclusion of the course, participants will take a post-assessment to compare with their pre-assessment and reflect on what they’ve learned about Human Rights over the course of the modules. Then, they will synthesize their learning by creating a one-page Human Rights Toolkit that might include some of the practices tried during the various modules, ideas to remember, or even quotes from the readings and videos that inspire. The toolkit is a way to take what’s been learned and make it a part of the participant’s personal practice.
The Human Resources Association of Treasure Valley is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®.
This program has been approved for 14 (HR (General)) recertification credit hour toward aPHRTM, aPHRiTM, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRiTM and SPHRiTM recertification through the HR Certification Institute.
