Belonging & Bridging Divides

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We don’t want to live in societal turmoil. Ninety-three percent of people in the US want to reduce divisiveness, and 86 percent believe it’s possible to disagree healthily. Yet, with increasing political and social fragmentation, many of us struggle to move past our differences.

Civil rights scholar John A. Powell presents an actionable path through “bridging” that helps us communicate, coexist, and imagine a new story for a shared future where we all belong.

With inimitable warmth and vision, Powell offers a framework for building cohesion and solidarity between disparate beliefs and backgrounds.

Bridging is more than a discrete list of actions to follow. It’s a mindset we can develop to help foster a sense of belonging and connection.

Worth Watching:

Geoffrey Cohen on Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides

Geoffrey Cohen, professor of psychology and the James G. March Professor of Organizational Studies in Education and Business at Stanford University, discussed his book Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides with Beverly Daniel Tatum, interim president of Mount Holyoke College, president emerita of Spelman College, and a clinical psychologist with expertise in race relations. Their conversation took place on April 12, 2023, as part of the Academic Innovation for the Public Good book series. Here are the video and transcript of the event.

Deep Listening:

The Danger of a Single Story, TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

In this engaging talk, Nigerian author Adichie warns of the misunderstandings that arise when we hear only a single story about other people or places. Her message – that each person’s identity is made of many stories – is a powerful call for empathy and open-mindedness. By seeking out diverse stories, especially of those we consider different, we widen our circles of belonging and break down stereotypes that divide us.