WHAT IS BRIDGE BUILDING?
“Bridge building” work increases our individual and collective capacity to resolve conflict, work across differences, and lead empathically and effectively. This capacity is central to a healthy city and civil society. “Bridge builders” have training and expertise in conflict resolution, communication across differences, facilitation, and models of deliberative and collective decision-making.

By transforming seemingly intractable conflict into opportunities for empathy, inclusion, consensus, and shared governance, bridge builders not only address the challenges of polarization, division, and hatred, but build healthier, effective, and more resilient people and communities. Effective bridge building has been shown to improve problem-solving, to increase creativity and productivity, and to elevate a sense of “belonging,” which is key to a functioning community and society.

PURPOSE OF THIS SURVEY
This survey is designed to identify the organizations, initiatives, and individuals engaged in bridge-building in Los Angeles. This mapping will allow the collective, funders, politicians, community organizations, and other leaders to understand the state of the field as it stands, to identify gaps in the field, and to more easily locate bridging resources (e.g. facilitators).