Posted by on February 06, 2018
The Bridge Alliance is thrilled to welcome the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) as the newest member of the Alliance. The NCoC was founded in 1946 with the goal of harnessing the patriotic energy and civic involvement that surrounded World War II. In 1953, Congress recognized the importance of the NCoC’s mission and incorporated it under a federal charter, making it one of less than 100 federally chartered non-profits in existence today.
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Posted by on January 29, 2018
Friend -
We are delighted to share this article from TIME Magazine. Arlie Russell Hochschild does a great job of highlighting the work of the Bridge Alliance and our member organizations, as well as emphasizing the potential of our burgeoning movement to revitalize our democracy. She believes, and we agree, that organizations like Living Room Conversations can play a critical role in encouraging respectful discourse among citizens -- helping to alleviate the partisan rancor that has only worsened with each passing year no matter who is elected. We are particularly pleased that Ms. Hochschild took the time to participate in a Living Room Conversation as part of her research.
At the same time, we remind ourselves that the democratic reform movement is much broader than civil discussion. The issues our members seek to solve are much bigger and more enduring than any one person or administration. That is why we characterize our members’ work as the weaving of an enduring new American Tapestry for political reform. Our media strategy will highlight the efforts of our members in the coming months and we are confident that, as we do so, more people will learn about the democratic reform movement, write about it, and thus amplify our message.
Bridge Alliance
Bridge Alliance Members In The News:
Issue One - Bloomberg Politics
Take Back Our Republic - U.S. News
Independent Voter Project - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Posted by on January 22, 2018
Hello Bridge Alliance members and supporters,
I'm grateful and highly enthusiastic to join the Bridge Alliance as Director of Development. I'm eager to help advance the transformational reform efforts of the Bridge Alliance organizations as we aspire together to form a more perfect Union. I've enjoyed working with many of you in the course of my duties at Take Back Our Republic, and more recently, through Dare To Be United.
I joined the Bridge Alliance because I believe our nation is at a crucial turning point. We can no longer accept the corrosive outcomes of "establishment quo" politics in our self-governance. We must redefine political courage; it takes more backbone to work together on areas of agreement than reflexively fighting against “the other side” for useless and unsustainable partisan gain. We must stop wasting time on the narrower set of issues that divide us and start working with each other on the vast sea of opportunities that will create a more representative government of, by, and for We the People.
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Posted by on January 19, 2018
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Colorado and New Orleans are where our members are making major strides to promote electoral and government reforms. These reforms will encourage lawmakers to be more responsive to their constituents.
In 2017, Centrist Project, Independent Voter Project, and Represent.Us collaborated to develop an independent voter education database. These Bridge Action Grant recipients successfully demonstrated a hunger in Colorado and paved the way for reform-minded candidates in their 2018 state election cycle. You can check out the latest on these candidates here.
We are also excited for the Unrig the System Summit -- hosted by member organization Represent.Us -- which is just around the corner. Our co-founder and co-director Debilyn Molineaux is part of an impressive lineup of political thought leaders who will be addressing the future of American politics over three days (February 2-4) in New Orleans, Louisiana. Besides Debilyn, over a dozen Bridge Alliance members will be represented at the Summit, including several members of our brand new Bridge Alliance Leaders Council. We look forward to seeing everybody there!
Bridge Alliance
Bridge Alliance Members In The News:
Posted by on January 08, 2018
Friend --
We at the Bridge Alliance believe that each one of us can make a difference. We believe that collectively there is no limit to what We the People can do.
So be creative. Use your talents. Have fun. Create your own personal call to action for 2018.
Make a resolution to improve our democracy.
Pick your favorite way to help and commit to doing so:
- Sign a Petition
- Volunteer Your time: Actively engaged people can make a difference. Need an idea, contact us.
- Speak to 1 new person a month who holds differing political views, host a Jefferson Dinner or a Living Room Conversation, read a publication that represents a different viewpoint (AllSides.com)
- Become an e-Activist: Pick a few organizations and stay in touch and involved via following on Twitter, Facebook, and/or via email.
- Donate Whatever you can afford: Just $10, $25, or $50 a month can make a difference. Make it a monthly donation if possible. It helps organizations budget if they know that they are getting a consistent influx.
- Spread the Word: Just spread the word about organizations, events, or petitions that you believe in.
- Attend a community meeting: Need an idea? Contact us.
- Write Letters to the Editor focused on your vision of how to improve and revitalize our democracy
- Run for Office: Sound crazy? - Start in your own back yard and see how it goes.
- Or just make sure to vote in not just the big elections but in local town elections for all types of positions, and primaries as well
Now is the time. A year from now you may wish you started today.
If you have other great ideas to share with our community we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Bridge Alliance
Bridge Alliance Members In The News:
Posted by on December 27, 2017
Friend -
This year the Bridge Alliance family added 20 new member organizations. We now have 83 members that are helping to weave the new American Tapestry for political reform. Some of these members were able to meet each other this past April at our 2017 Bridge Summit in Dallas, where they began to collaborate on exciting new projects to promote change and amplify our collective voice.
We also provided our members with news media, social media, and fundraising training, as well as distributing nearly $600,000 in Bridge Action Grants. Our members used these grants to lay the foundation for a broad spectrum of reforms, ranging from creating a website to “mismatch” people with different ideologies, to helping state legislators reduce polarization in their states through civility workshops. Other projects focused on promoting electoral and legislative reforms; developing a program of syndicated radio / TV vignettes; evaluating negativity bias in social media; and encouraging constructive dialogue within different communities.
Finally, we co-hosted the First Annual American Civic Collaboration Awards this past October with Big Tent Nation. The American Civic Collaboration Awards -- or “Civvys” for short -- gave us the opportunity to recognize our members’ tremendous accomplishments. We would like to thank judges Peter Levine, Betsy Wright Hawkings, and David Sawyer for lending their time and expertise to the event; their contributions were invaluable.
We expect to continue to grow and support our members in 2018. In particular, we are excited to boost media coverage of our members; award additional grants; and provide further opportunities to collaborate as we work together to strengthen America’s democracy. More details will be coming soon.
Bridge Alliance
Posted by on December 20, 2017
Friend --
During these shortest of days in the northern hemisphere, our season includes a multitude of holidays and opportunities for transformation as the light returns and days begin to lengthen.
We have much in common during this season. We have festivals and holidays that last for multiple days — a way to connect us with each other. We exchange gifts and share celebration with our friends and family. We prepare special meals and use extra light to decorate our spaces.
While we may celebrate different religions or none at all, our common need to draw close to those we care about is universal. In this season of darkness, let us reflect together on our shared humanity and shine our light brightly to create the country we want to be.
Happy Holidays to you all!
David, Debilyn, Katie, Jeremy & Victoria
Bridge Alliance
Posted by on December 18, 2017
Friend -
We are excited to promote Joan Blades (Living Room Conversations) and John Gable's (AllSides) TED Talk about freeing ourselves from our filter bubbles, which they presented last month at TEDWomen in New Orleans. Political opposites, Joan and John met at Bridge Alliance's initial planning meeting and became fast friends. Their talk discusses bridging gaps between people from opposite sides of the political spectrum and how conversations can create space for understanding and perhaps even friendships. Watch it here!
Living Room Conversations and AllSides created AllSides for Schools, a tool that helps educators foster civil dialogue, collaboration, and critical thinking among their students.
Joan and John are a wonderful example of what can be accomplished when we work together and focus on understanding first. We are proud to have been supported by them in the formation of Bridge Alliance and to being a catalyst for their connection!
Bridge Alliance
P.S.
Posted by on December 11, 2017
Friend --
We are thrilled to announce that Debilyn Molineaux, our Co-Founder & Director, will be a speaker at the Unrig The System Summit hosted by Bridge Alliance member Represent.Us in New Orleans on February 2-4.
Unrig The System Summit is no ordinary conference. No endless panels and speeches. It’s fast-paced and fun, with plenty of time to self-organize as you mingle with top advocacy leaders, academics, comedians, musicians, celebrities, activists, philanthropists and journalists. This is about crossing partisan and ideological divides and working together on concrete solutions to unrig America’s political system…. with plenty of New Orleans fun mixed in.
Click here to register - We hope to see you there!
Bridge Alliance
Posted by on December 04, 2017
Friend -
In the past few weeks, Bridge Alliance has welcomed 3 new member organizations to our steadily expanding membership base. We have seen members work on diverse issues throughout 2017, all while promoting civility and collaboration. 2018 brings new opportunities for our members to collaborate with each other and for our movement to reach greater heights. Our newest members are Students PIRGs, Issue One, and MapLight.
Student PIRGs are independent statewide student organizations that work on issues like environmental protection, consumer protection, and homelessness. For nearly 40 years students working with chapters have been making a difference in people's lives and winning concrete changes. Learn More
Issue One is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to political reform and government ethics in order to strengthen democracy and return government to the American people. Learn More
MapLight’s mission is to achieve a government that (actually) works for the people by illuminating the influence of money in politics, empowering voter engagement, building online civic transparency tools, and advancing democracy reform. Learn More
Bridge Alliance
