The Work of Renewing Our Civil Contract (Part 2)
Why trust takes time—and why that’s not a weakness In moments like this, everything feels urgent. The headlines are loud. The stakes feel high. And many of us are asking: What can we do—right now—to fix this? That question makes sense. But there’s a challenge we don’t always name: The kind of change we need…
Resources for Building
Resources and Networks to Strengthen Civic Muscle Each of these organizations offers training and learning communities – and can often connect you to other leaders – none of us can do it alone! Better Together America is a nation-wide, nonpartisan support network of local, regional, and state “Civic Hubs.” These civic hubs are helping build…
Resources for Bridging
Each of these organizations offers training and learning communities – and can often connect you to other leaders – none of us can do it alone! The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation is a network of innovators who bring people together across divides to tackle today’s toughest challenges. NCDD serves as a gathering place,…
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…