In 2004, Dr. Corey Seemiller, Dr. Judy Marquez Kiyama, Dr. Michelle Espino, and Dr. Lydia Bell created P2O: Power, Privilege, and Oppression in response to the challenge in finding activities that were creative, meaningful, and accurate portrayals of privilege and oppression to educate students. Thus, began the creation of P2O.
P2O exposes participants to an innovative approach designed specifically to address issues of power, privilege, and oppression. Through P2O, participants have the opportunity to experience a simulation that reveals how systemic levels of privilege impact personal experiences and social identities. The activity is interactive, engaging, eye-opening, and impactful. In P2O, participants move spaces on a human game board based on membership in particular social identity groups. Based on their place on the board and on the financial wealth accumulated from their future career, participants have access to a variety of experiences and luxuries throughout the activity. Each participant has a tailored experience based on their career interests/path, membership in particular social identity groups, and individual choices they make throughout the activity.
Past Participants
Since its creation, P2O has been facilitated in a variety of settings: Local and national conferences, RA trainings, student leader trainings, social justice retreats, professional staff trainings, classes, and for non-profit and campus-based organizations for institutions and organizations. More than 3,000 people have participated in P2O since 2004.