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Bridge Building as a Civic Muscle

In this guest blog, Campus Compact Bridge Building Fellow Lisa-Marie Napoli shares insights about the power and purpose of bridge building and dialogue in creating a more just and equitable future.
Campus Compact Blog

By Lisa-Marie Napoli, Director of Political and Civic Engagement at Indiana University Bloomington & Campus Compact Bridge Building Fellow

In 2012, the release of A Crucible Moment report brought to light a critical need and “a national call to action” in the field of civic learning and democratic engagement. This commonly referenced report highlights the need for educators to find pathways and create opportunities that can address challenges and, “advance an educational vision that would make civil learning and democratic engagement an expected part of undergraduate education.” 

At the heart of civic learning and democratic engagement, in a multi-faceted, pluralistic society, lies the need for community members to work across differences (aka bridge building). Skills in conflict management, conflict resolution, facilitation, and similar areas beckon for attention as key aspects of communication to bridge these differences. Being a bridge builder in this way - in an era of upheaval, stark polarization, and trauma - is no small task. To many, it can be a daunting and intimidating process and, at the same time, a great and worthy challenge to figure out how to build these skills (as some call civic muscle) and intentionally apply them for positive change. 

Campus Compact creates opportunities to explore this intersection where civic learning and democratic engagement meet: the place where bridge builders are called upon to act. And certainly, to act quickly as the need prevails every day in social media, news media, and rippling down to our local communities in many ways. However, we do not need to or should we rush or panic. This will prevent us from being our best selves to handle the complexity, emotions, information, and issues that need unpacking. Bridge building requires us to slow down, consider things carefully, and take a breath to contemplate how best to proceed. The Compact24 conference in April will provide multiple workshops on key concepts of bridgebuilding and models for implementation. I invite you to join us!  We’ll also share more information, models, and resources throughout the spring and summer via blogs to read and communities of practice so be on the lookout! 

Even with the explosion of political vitriol experienced in 2016, the silver lining is that it was met with a flurry of constructive responses and positive actions. We do not always see this because it is something that does not often make the news. However, amazing people were able to tap into opportunities for financial and structural resources. From this, a plethora of organizations, programs, and resources began to emerge at a new level and in a new way tailored to the needs of those in higher education struggling with the tensions between civic learning, conflict management, and democratic engagement. We cannot forget that this work was already happening long before by a smaller subset of people and organizations, but now we have the great fortune to find an overwhelming number of ways where people can share ideas and find support. Because this work can realistically feel heavy as we “step in the middle” of the murkiness of conflict divisiveness, we need to tread lightly. We need to explore these issues, the resources, and our community / organizational needs lightly but seriously with curiosity and commitment to action. We need to show support for ourselves and others, and enact courage to seek support, ask questions, and connect with each other openly and generously on the journey to addressing the deeply dividing issues of our time. 

Every day is filled with potential opportunities to learn more, share more, and build more bridges. I say potential because I recognize my privilege and recognize the critical importance of seeking out those in marginalized situations where obstacles to reaching this potential exist. With this, the aim is to stay humble yet positive; to remember others along the way and uplift them as we move forward in the work. In the words of Interfaith America’s Bridging the Gap work, they define bridge building as “Engaging across difference in ways that respect identities, foster mutual relationship, and seek a common good.” This definition seems apt, especially as we consider that, along the way, bridge building creates opportunities for empowering individuals and organizations, and it bears in mind the motivations, mindset, attitude, and skills that are part and parcel with this work. Bridging the Gap also refers to their program in a way where many of us can relate in respect to the design as a way “to support a culture where our heroes [and heroines] are bridge builders.” The hope is that this heroism translates and transfers to all and that those who are able to step into these shoes can do the same for others, especially those in less privileged situations.

In conducting this research, I discovered that the lists of resources, examples, and websites highlighted below only begin to skim the surface. The number of universities doing this work in engaging, active, and successful ways is extensive. I know that many groups and resources are left off this list and I seek forgiveness for my shortsightedness. But the lists are long, and I genuinely hope we can continue to explore, talk and learn from and with each other, and add to these lists on our own to share and to find support and upliftment at a time when we need it most. May the upcoming year of election 2024 be filled with light and insights as we override the binary thinking that keeps us polarized and stuck, and we allow ourselves to explore the gray areas of conflict with a newfound perspective to move us collectively forward in constructive ways leaving no one behind.   

Highlight of related Campus Compact resources

Campus examples

Field resources

Other Resources: