Values & Principles
Introduction
Bridging across lines of difference is a matter of politics and coalition-building, but also one of spirit. Indeed, bridging, when done well, gives us the gift of uncovering more complex stories not only of others but also of ourselves, as we discover new points of connection with different people and communities.
Many of us working towards social justice have adopted an orientation towards bridging in recognition that any effort to advance belonging cannot be based on further othering or breaking. We hold that true belonging means belonging for everyone, including those with more or less power, resources, or status—and that belonging for one group cannot be achieved without belonging for all groups. Every person and group holds a piece of the work, and bridging allows us to engage as many people as possible in our efforts to build a world of belonging.
Still, while radical belonging includes everyone, we also recognize that there are identity and cultural groups that have been historically and presently forced to the margins in our societies. We therefore endeavor to center the needs and concerns of these groups in our bridging efforts to ensure that past and present injustices are not replicated and reinscribed. This means, among other things, that we seek to remain aware of power dynamics and the centuries of history and hurt that may exist between any two people in a bridging scenario.
Despite the importance of bridging in our collective work towards justice, crossing lines of difference is rarely easy or always rewarding, and thus we view this work as a practice as opposed to a singular activity. Like most difficult things, bridging requires training in order to build the muscles needed to walk the longer and more perilous bridges called to many of us in this moment of high fragmentation, breaking, and mistrust.
As bridging is something that must be practiced, this space is also one where mistakes will be made and discomfort may be felt. Thus, the Forum is not a “safe space”, but one that we hope is “safe enough” for the risky and sometimes perilous work of engaging across lines of difference.
We recognize that there are some bridges that each of us, individually, cannot and should not cross—due to the threat of harm or the length of power differences, for example. We seek to honor and respect our own limitations, while still working to see all people, even those with whom we cannot bridge, in their complex humanity. As OBI Director john a. powell often says, we aim to be “hard on systems, and soft on people,” recognizing that all of us are products of the systems, institutions, and structures that scaffold our lives. Our focus is thus on engaging with people who are to varying degrees different from ourselves, find points of common ground, learn from each other and share ideas, and work to build power, change systems, and counter efforts that weaken our democratic infrastructure.
Why we do this work:
To strengthen the multiracial and multi-identity coalition for democracy and to inoculate ourselves against forces that seek to divide us
We know that anti-democratic actors are successfully cultivating division and fragmentation by inflaming fear, particularly around identity and culture, and by scapegoating minority and marginalized groups as the causes of social or economic woes. These tactics are part of a larger strategy to undermine the core democratic norms and structures that underpin belonging for all groups at the structural level. Countering anti-democratic actors requires, like many things, building a multiracial, multi-identity coalition—no one group can do this work alone.
To advance the field of bridging and belonging within the social change ecosystem
We recognize that within the ecosystem of social change, there are different and equally important strategies and practices, including strategies that call out and those that call in. We view both as important and useful, but our focus in this space is on advancing the field of bridging across difference (including across ideological, racial, religious, generational, and other divides that keep us fragmented both within the social change ecosystem and beyond). Bridging work is not for everyone, and we appreciate and value other approaches to bringing about change that are more confrontational in order to raise awareness, disrupt complacency, or urgently address harms in communities. Within a social change ecosystem, all of these approaches are needed, but within the Forum, bridging and coalition-building are centered.
To embrace a more complex understanding of ourselves and others
We recognize that all of us have many multifaceted, complex, and even contradictory identities, and bridging helps us recognize and appreciate those identities in ourselves and others. This recognition further helps us to do the work of belonging more sustainably, from a place of empathy and love towards ourselves, our communities, and people who will benefit from our work but who are not yet with us (and who may never be).
To respect and acknowledge our heart’s desire to be in relationship
This work is political, but also deeply personal—some may say even spiritual. As OBI Director john a. powell often says, the head seeks to be right, but the heart seeks to connect. We are less focused in this space on being “right,” and more on learning how to be connected, including with those with whom we disagree or do not understand, and how to counteract the forces that seek to divide us.
How we do this work:
With a spirit of learning, openness, and humility, and by leaning into points of disagreement, recognizing that there are different strategies and approaches to justice work
Since this is a space of difference, it is inevitable that people disagree on tactics and strategies to advance belonging. While we do not permit any form of hate speech, we do encourage discussion and debate on how to do the work, which may be interpreted differently among members. We also encourage an awareness that not only may we change others through our bridging entanglements, but that we ourselves may be changed.
By recognizing power dynamics inherent in group identities, while also working to engage people as individuals
Everyone has a story and complex identity and experience, and we aim to ground our conversations in sharing those stories and multiple identities so we can see each other in all our dimensions. We simultaneously recognize power dynamics and deeply harmful collective histories that may be in the room and in our bodies, and at the same time strive to see each other as individuals and as equals.
We do this by acknowledging the reality of global dynamics like white supremacism and racism, while also recognizing that othering occurs in many forms, against different groups, and may manifest differently in various geographic and cultural contexts.
As our community is a cross-cultural one, we seek to remain curious about the unique histories, group identities, and political systems represented in our space, including different realities of othering and marginalization. We work to not assume identity categories or group experiences that may be more or less relevant in different contexts.
By appreciating that a bridging space is one in which all of us may be out of our comfort zones, and is likely to include discomfort
We recognize that in spaces of difference that there is a possibility of risk—of hurt, of misunderstanding, and of deep disagreement. We know bridging conversations can be hard and uncomfortable, and all who participate are showing incredible bravery so that we may all move our world forward.
With an ethos of respect, curiosity, and consideration towards ourselves and other people
We do not permit personal attacks or any form of racism, homophobia, sexism, or prejudice on the basis of identity. We will immediately address any behaviors or communications that can be interpreted as a personal or biased attack. When harm occurs, we seek to avoid further breaking or escalation between individuals, and will engage a process of repair and reconciliation led by our community facilitator and program director. However, we reserve the right to remove any individuals from our community if deemed necessary by our Advisory Board.