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:
- American Values Coalition - is providing a home for Americans with traditional values who feel politically homeless.
- Belfer Center at 92Y - they are working to reduce polarization through their Share Our America Initiative and supporting pro-democracy efforts through their Newmark Civic Life Series.
- Election Reformers Network - is committed to promoting safe and secure elections with impartial election administrators. They recently released a report on the dangers of partisanship.
- The Narratives Project – which scours social media and presents the views on hot-button issues from both major perspectives.
- RepresentWomen - are working to lower the structural and cultural barriers that prevent American women from running for office. They are committed to supporting women of all backgrounds and ideologies.
- SNF Agora Institute at JHU - is strengthening global democratic institutions by promoting civic engagement and dialogue.
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:
- How Should We Handle Potentially Controversial Monuments and Mascots? (a guide from Essential Partners)
- Would Congressional Term Limits Encourage Bipartisanship? (arguments for and against presented by IVN)
- How Should War Powers Be Balanced Between Congress and the President? (a survey done in cooperation with Voice of the People)
- Should Abortions Be Legal? When (If Ever) Should They Be Illegal? (part of AllSides’ AllStances series)
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.
Featured
- AllSides (blog) Apr 21st: Feud Over Masks on Public Transportation Revives Politicized Mandate Debate
- AllSides (blog) Apr 22nd: Conservatives Feel Blamed, Shamed and Ostracized by the Media
- Ballotpedia (newsletter) Apr 22nd: Weekly Brew: April 22, 2022
- Braver Angels (blog) Apr 18th: ‘Braver Angels plays a role in protecting our national security’: A military intelligence analyst shares his perspective
- Braver Angels (video) Apr 19th: President Trump, Ukraine, & the Future of Conservatism: Reds Discuss | Steve S., Marc Ang, & Paul N.
- Braver Angels (form) Apr 27th: Braver Politics
- BridgeUSA (blog) Apr 25th: TAP: A 5-Year Check In
- Business for America (blog) Apr 25th: The High ROI of Civics Education
- Citizen University (newsletter) Apr 27th: Part 1: the head, heart, and hands of citizenship
- Civic Spirit (form) due May 20th: Educators Cohort
- Common Ground Committee (blog) Apr 22nd: Earth Day: Getting Beyond the Recycled Arguments
- Election Reformers Network (report) Apr 6th: The Dangers of Partisan Incentives for Election Officials
- FairVote (report) Apr 22nd: Dubious Democracy
- FairVote (video) Apr 15th: FairVote: 30 Years of Impact, A Coming Decade of Promise
- Hispanic Leadership Fund (blog) Apr 19th: The Cost of Living and Economic Uncertainty Is Rising. Why Do Regulators in Washington Want to Squeeze
- Interactivity Foundation (blog) Apr 14th: Just Imagine…the Origins of Societal Change
- Listen First Project (video) Apr 22nd: #ListenFirst Friday Why should you attend America Talks and celebrate National Week of Conversation
- Mormon Women for Ethical Government (blog) Apr 20th: Earth Day Call to Action: Thank Elected Officials for the Environmental Provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
- Participatory Budgeting Project (report) Apr 26th: Participatory Policy-Making Learning Exchange
- Participatory Budgeting Project (report) Apr 28th: 2021 Impact Report
- The Center for Election Science (blog) Apr 27th: 2022 Congressional Primaries Vote-Splitting Tracker
- Unite America (newsletter) Apr 21st: Let’s save politics from getting stupider