We are constantly hit with reminders of the divisive state of society in the news and social media. It is very easy to get caught up in a cycle of frustration, anger, tribalism, and resignation when thinking about what comes next in our collective future. We all need to find tools to make it easier to break that cycle and focus our energy, stress, and anxiety about the future into something that helps us make meaning out of this moment in time. Citizen Connect is one of those tools.

Citizen Connect, a signature project of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund alongside The Fulcrum, is a complementary vehicle for delivering on BAEF's primary goals. As a “front door” to over 600 organizations, Citizen Connect welcomes people to the healthy democracy movement, offering access to many resources and events to foster civic learning, engagement and understanding.

Launched in early 2021 amid deepening political divides and widespread misinformation in America, Citizen Connect has emerged as a beacon of hope. The platform was created to bridge the ever-widening gaps in our society by connecting individuals with diverse viewpoints and fostering constructive dialogue.

Recognizing the need to tailor the site as our communities have evolved, Citizen Connect has been re-architected to present focused landing pages that reflect key areas of practice among our practitioners. These pages are dedicated to resources on bridging, civic learning and participation, governance, and trustworthy information:

• Find Common Ground: Facilitating understanding and collaboration among people with different perspectives.
• Democracy 101: Educating citizens about the fundamentals of democracy and the importance of civic participation, as well as offering ways to increase civic engagement.
• Change the System: Promoting systemic reforms that enhance democratic integrity and functionality.
• Seek the Truth: Addressing misinformation and promoting media literacy to ensure a well-informed citizenry.

In addition to these core areas, Citizen Connect has introduced a top-level section of hot topics to provide visitors with immediate points of entry and action on pressing issues. As a movement, we’ve talked a lot about rapid response and addressing current issues. Initially focusing on critical election-related topics such as voting, nonviolence, and disinformation, these pages are adaptable and can be expanded to cover more subjects and create localized hub guides.

Despite the site’s reconfiguration to include these new landing pages, Citizen Connect has preserved its original functionality. Users can still search for events, on-demand content and organizations as before. This ensures that the platform remains a comprehensive resource for those seeking to engage in civic activities and familiarly access valuable information.

The resources and events offered by Citizen Connect are not just tools but a vital lifeline for those seeking to foster understanding and meaningfully engage in civic life. By connecting individuals with diverse organizations and initiatives, Citizen Connect empowers citizens to take an active role in shaping the future of democracy.

Featured Content

• AllSides (Blog) May 17th: ‘Christian Nationalism,’ ‘Never-Trumpers’ and Other Biased Terms This Election Season
• American Promise (Newsletter) May 17th: Campaign Finance Roundup: May 17, 2024
• American Values Coalition (Blog) May 16th: When Online Narratives and Offline Reality Collide
• Ballotpedia (Resource) May 21st: Three Republican-controlled legislatures ban ranked-choice voting in one month
• BillTrack50 (Blog) May 21st: WarGames Reboot: Congress vs. the Robot Apocalypse
• Independent Voter (News) May 20th: Good Party: A Free Resource to Help Independents Take on the Two-Party Duopoly
• Issue One (Article) May 15th: National security leaders from Issue One’s National Council on Election Integrity respond to the Senate Intelligence Committee's hearing on 2024 election threats
  

Podcasts

• Andrew Yang (Forward) May 19th: Political software is a walled garden. Can anyone break through?
• DaviesContent (How Do We Fix It?) May 16th: Refuge: A Unique Strength of Liberalism: Professor Bryan Garsten
• Politics in Question, May 16th: What is the state of American Democracy?
• The Democracy Group (Future Hindsight) May 22nd: The Path to Decarbonization
• The McCourtney Institute for Democracy (Democracy Works) May 19th: How elected strongmen weaken democracy

Citizen Connect Featured Events

• Network for Responsible Public Policy (May 23rd @ 7:30 pm EDT) Identity in Urban-Rural Political Division: Consequences and Solutions
• Bipartisan Policy Center (May 28th @ 1:00 pm EDT) The Evolution of Digital Literacy in the Age of AI
• Braver Angels (June 1st @ 2:00 pm EDT) Depolarizing Within
• Brookings (June 3rd @ 6:00 pm EDT) Paths to progress: Race, equity and democracy
• Bridge Entertainment Labs (June 4th @ 1:00 pm PDT) What’s Making Us Laugh? What Role Does Comedy Play in Pulling Us Together – or Driving Us Apart?



Featured Fulcrum Articles

• Steven Hill, May 23rd: Do high housing costs threaten the American dream?
• Clark Merrefield, May 23rd: 5 things to know about election administration funding: A research-based tip sheet
• F. Willis Johnson, May 22nd: The Olympics encourage democratic reflection
• Stephen Rogers, May 21st: What is the Antisemitism Awareness Act?
• Seth David Radwell, May 14th: Trump was spot-on when he spoke of 'American carnage'