The Work of Renewing Our Civil Contract (Part 1)
What holds us together—and what happens when it frays Two weeks ago, I sat in a room with about 400 people in Spokane, brought together by the Innovia Foundation. They came from small towns and rural counties across eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Farmers. Nonprofit leaders. Faith leaders. Community organizers. People who care about their…
From a Build Site to a Shared Table
How a Habitat Interfaith Build sparked a growing partnership From a Build Site to a Shared Table How a Habitat Interfaith Build sparked a growing partnership Two years ago, at a Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Build, Pastor Erik Kindem picked up a hammer. So did Rabbi Allison Flash. They were there for the same reason…
Belonging, Dehumanization, and the Work of Coming Back Together
On Friday I will have the opportunity to speak with a group of leaders in Arizona who are working to reduce political violence. They are coming from different backgrounds and different political perspectives. But they share a common concern: something is changing in our country. The tone is sharper. The distrust is deeper. And more…
Dehumanization and Political Violence
Political violence doesn’t begin with weapons—it begins with how we see each other. When we reduce people to categories, fear grows, trust breaks down, and harm becomes easier to justify. This resource helps leaders understand how dehumanization develops, why it spreads, and how it can be interrupted. It offers practical tools to strengthen relationships, set…
The Society We Deserve
Political scientist Rachel Kleinfeld says democracies heal when everyday people choose to move toward one another — not away. We cannot wait for Washington or a single leader to fix what’s broken. Renewal begins locally, with neighbors rebuilding trust, holding each other accountable to our best values, and creating small victories that ripple outward. Every…
Build: The Long Work of Civic Muscle
Building is where the future lives. It is the slow work of: Building renews democracy from the ground up. It creates what we call civic muscle—the ability of a community to face stress without tearing itself apart. Why Build Is Essential Now Our democracy is not only polarized. It is fragile. We need: Building does…
Block: Why Protecting People Matters
Blocking is the strategy of protection. When systems harm people, especially the vulnerable, silence becomes complicity. Blocking is necessary. More to the point: Blocking is about love. I recently listened to some Lutheran leaders in Minneapolis/St. Paul. They have been organizing with many groups to support neighbors in terror imposed by the federal government there.…
Bridge: Why Trust Is the Oxygen of Democracy
Democracy does not run on agreement. It runs on trust. Right now, trust is collapsing. We sort ourselves by media. We assume the worst about people in other groups. We rarely sit at tables with those who see the world differently. That is not accidental. Polarization is profitable. Outrage drives engagement. Fear mobilizes voters. But…
Resistance is Not Futile – And Not Enough
Resistance Is Not a Vision You may remember the Borg from Star Trek. They would appear and announce: “Resistance is futile.” It was terrifying because it meant you would be absorbed into a system with no freedom, no individuality, no humanity. Today, many people feel something similar. So people say, “We must resist.” And sometimes,…