Long Bridging Toward Democracy and Belonging

Our current era is defined by an "us vs. them" mindset due to politics deeply embedded in institutional polycrisis, political and social fragmentation, and suspicion of each other. These dynamics, nationally and globally, are leading us toward dehumanization of each other, which in turn is fueling violence, wars, and the erosion of democratic values. Building the “bigger we" will require new tools and infrastructures that will change our modes of being and working, from redefining our strategies and agendas to how we’re measuring our success. 

Suppose the path toward building the infrastructure for "belonging without othering" is the right direction: How might we then practice leadership in and beyond our movements, organizations, communities, and nations in the context of defending collective institutions and norms that support multi-racial democracies and dignified life? 

This panel offers practical applications for long bridging and practices across social and institutional differences to help us see bridging as a prerequisite condition for belonging, in order to humanize, see, and engage with seemingly uncomfortable allies to preserve our planet, common humanity, and democratic norms.

Multiple approaches, strategies, and sectors doing this work with a coherent vision and set of principles can add up to a new school of thought that drives a collective project articulated around human dignity and belonging. 

Panel curated by Olivia Araiza and Elsadig Elsheikh