Daily Resource Highlight - 05/02/2022

Posted by on May 02, 2022 at 1:56 PM

Below are the highlights and featured resources of this past week’s Daily* Resource.

April 26, 2022 - Major Membership Growth Update; And Civvys Deadline Extended!

More and more people are waking up to the realization that we need to work together to get America back on track. And when I say “we,” I mean all Americans; all ideologies, races / ethnicities, ages, etc. We are not going to recapture the American Dream if our only answer to every problem is “Elect more [insert your party here]!”

That’s why we are so committed to rewarding the collaborative spirit with the Civvys Awards, which will be presented at the first ever Civic Season in Atlanta, GA. We already have a lot of nominations, but we want your favorite project or organization to be nominated, too! Make sure to submit your nomination by the extended deadline of April 29th.

It’s also why we’ve seen a lot of interest from organizations – both new and established – in joining the vibrant Bridge Alliance community. These organizations are doing great work on their own, but it’s clear that we can accomplish so much more when we collaborate. That’s why we’re excited to welcome:

We are thrilled to support the missions of these impressive organizations as they work to empower everyday Americans and ensure that our nation is a global beacon for democracy now and into the future. If you know of other organizations that are doing similarly important work, encourage them to apply for membership. We are always looking to strengthen our community.

April 28, 2022 - An Important Challenge: Argue The Other Side on These Issues

First thing’s first – get in your nominations for the Civvys! The deadline is tomorrow.

Years ago, I remember Stephen Colbert interviewing a lawyer about a controversial political topic. Somehow, the lawyer ended up making the case both for and against, at which point Colbert asked “Wait, so what’s your position?” The lawyer responded, “Who’s paying me?”

Lawyers get a bad reputation because of this “hired gun” mentality. But in honor of the National Week of Conversation (April 24-30), I want to flip this thinking on its head. During this week, we are asking each other to listen to and understand others’ perspectives. And if you truly understand somebody else’s perspective, you should be able to convincingly argue in favor of their belief.

So here are some opportunities to understand the “multiple perspectives” on hot-button issues and see if you can step into their shoes:

I recognize that these (especially the last one) can be highly charged, emotional topics, and so I want to be clear that I am not saying that both perspectives on these topics are equally valid. Nor am I suggesting that you should moderate or compromise on your own beliefs.

The challenge is to go beyond accepting that well-meaning, decent Americans could think differently than you, and to embrace your inner-lawyer by (briefly) finding a forceful argument for their perspective. If you could convince somebody else that that other perspective makes sense, then congratulations! You’ve completed the challenge.

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