• Personal Acceptance
    Embracing oneself serves as an important starting point for embracing others. The Empowerment Initiative investigates the factors that impact self-esteem, self-efficacy and other facets critical to developing and maintaining a healthy sense of identity. It also explores ways of combating anxiety, depression and other barriers to personal acceptance.
  • Social Acceptance
    Interacting with family, friends, classmates, co-workers and other groups influences how people perceive themselves and the world around them. Accordingly, the Empowerment Initiative researches and develops prevention and intervention approaches designed to cultivate understanding, tolerance and an appreciation for individuality.
  • Cultural Acceptance
    The Empowerment Initiative considers how a variety of interrelated systems – from communities to schools to the media – establish cultural codes and environments that cultivate or impede attitudes of acceptance. The initiative also examines how these conventions and contexts shape the social experiences and personal perspectives of individuals.

Our Mission

The Empowerment Initiative supports translational research designed to foster positive, accepting communities free from bullying and other negative behaviors. Studies conducted through the Empowerment Initiative focus on identifying and addressing the complex personal, social and cultural factors underlying such behaviors, thereby advancing practical solutions to promote healthy relationships within families, schools and communities.

Learn More

The Latest

June 14, 2013
H.E.A.R. Website Goes Live
June 3, 2013
White House Hosts National Conference on Mental Health
May 20, 2013
FUNraising with Paul Mitchell Schools
April 18, 2013
Empowerment Initiative Presents Research in Nebraska, Missouri
April 5, 2013
“Bully” Screening, Panel on April 10
March 22, 2013
Born Brave Bus in NYC, Chicago
March 5, 2013
Target Bullying on the Big Ten Network

Recent Tweets