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A bold guide for connecting across differenceseven those that seem impossible
Wise and visionary, powell helps us find the courage to forge connections with others, the earth, and ourselves in order to transform the world from the inside out. Valarie Kaur, bestselling author of See No Stranger and Sage Warrior
We dont want to live in a society in turmoil. In fact, 93 percent of people in the US want to reduce divisiveness, and 86 percent believe its possible to disagree in a healthy way. Yet with increasing political and social fragmentation, many of us dont know how 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 our 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 followits a mindset we can develop to help us foster belonging and connection. Key elements of the bridging mindset include:
Understanding how deeply othering shapes our world, priming us to see difference of any kindrace, gender, political orientation, etceteraas a threat
Identifying where breaking happens, when people are excluded or treated differently for being perceived as other
Embracing belonging as one of our core human needswe all want to feel seen, valued, and appreciated just as we are
Committing ourselves to treat all people like they belong
Allowing ourselves grace when we inevitably fall shortand resolving to try again
Throughout the book, powell shares personal reflections as well as practices to help you begin bridging wherever you arein your community, friendships, family, workplaceeven with those whom you might never have imagined you could find common ground.
Bridging is a salve for our fractured world, powell says. We can overcome the illusion of separateness by honoring our differences, transcending the notion that difference divides us, and instead cocreate a world where everyone belongs.
