Bridging Deep Divides
The United States has long been defined by the great diversity of its people. Whether that diversity enriches or divides the nation, however, is not a given. Where there is deep difference, there is a need for bridgebuilders: citizens with the mindset and skills to transform diversity into pluralism.
Bridging the Gap Program Goal
We envision a culture where the heroes are the bridge builders. Towards that goal, the program is designed to reduce the polarization in our country by giving students, faculty, and administrators the skills they need to find common ground across deep divides while solving problems on their campuses and in their communities.
Bridgebuilding Defined
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Bridgebuilding is intentionally coming together across differences to respect diverse identities and divergent ideologies, cultivate mutually inspiring relationships, and cooperating to take shared action for the common good. Bridgebuilding is both a choice in any given moment and a lifelong process of continued learning.
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Bridgebuilders engage with folks different from them in joint action around issues of shared concern
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Bridgebuilders respect others’ identities and perspectives, even when they don’t agree
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Bridgebuilders build mutually inspiring relationships across lines of differences
