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Democracy & Belonging Forum - Building Bridges Across Divides
Why this matters
The Democracy & Belonging Forum is a global network of over 350 civic leaders from Europe and North America working together to strengthen democracy and reduce harmful divisions in society. Through research, meetings, and funded experiments, the Forum helps communities build coalitions that can defend democracy while advancing social justice.
Overview
The Democracy & Belonging Forum is a global network of over 350 civic leaders from Europe and North America working together to strengthen democracy and reduce harmful divisions in society. The Forum focuses on 'bridging' approaches that bring different groups together instead of pushing them apart. They believe democracy works best when everyone feels they belong, especially people from marginalized communities. The network was created to counter authoritarian populism - movements that gain power by making people afraid of those who are different from them. Through research, meetings, and funded experiments, the Forum helps communities build coalitions that can defend democracy while advancing social justice. They offer three levels of engagement: Get Informed (learn through research and analysis), Get Involved (join the network and attend events), and Get Activated (lead bridging initiatives and join leadership programs). The Forum is connected to UC Berkeley's Othering & Belonging Institute and provides tools, frameworks, and programs like the Democracy & Belonging Leaders Cohort to help people create positive change in their communities.
Democracy and Belonging Forum ORGANIZATIONS CHANGE LAB COMMUNITY PARTNER Community, Culture and Belonging Sep 3 Written By THECHANGELAB Democracy & Belonging Forum - The Change Lab 🌍 Transatlantic Network Democracy & Belonging Forum UC Berkeley Othering & Belonging Institute A transatlantic network and research hub connecting civic leaders in Europe and North America to counter authoritarian populism, reduce toxic polarization, and strengthen multiracial democracy through bridging approaches that center belonging for marginalized communities. 350+ Network Members 2 Continents Active Research Hub Visit Website Learn More at OBI Why This Matters Democracy and social justice aren't competing priorities—they're deeply interconnected.
Over the past decade, authoritarian populist movements have found success by inflaming issues of identity, causing groups to "bond" inward rather than "bridge" outwards to build coalitions. The Forum recognizes that othering can't be countered through more othering, and that democracy rooted in belonging means engaging with those different from ourselves.
Through research, convenings, and funded joint experiments, the Forum grapples with the tension of countering injustice while building bridges toward a larger "Us" that can effectively defend democracy and advance belonging. Action Center Choose your level of engagement with democracy and belonging work - from learning to leading change. 📚 Get Informed Understand authoritarianism, democratic erosion, and bridging strategies through curated research.
📖 Understanding Authoritarian Populism → 🔬 Research & Analysis → 📰 News & Announcements → 🤝 Get Involved Join the 350+ member network and participate in transatlantic conversations and convenings. 🌐 Join Global Network → 💬 "Edges in the Middle" Conversations → 📅 Virtual Network Events → ⚡ Get Activated Lead bridging initiatives, join cohorts, and implement democracy-strengthening strategies in your community.
🌉 Bridging Tools & Frameworks → 👑 Democracy & Belonging Leaders Cohort → 🎯 Network Catalyzers Program → Wayfinder Explore more resources aligned with your engagement level and interests Engagement Levels Get Informed Get Involved Get Activated Related Focus Areas 🏛️ Democracy 🤝 Community 🎓 Education Action Approaches 📚 Read & Research 🌐 Meet & Network 🛠️ Build Skills 🚀 Organize & Start Research, Network & Leadership Dive into democratic research, connect with the global network, or contribute to the mission. 📊 Research & Analysis 📑 Authoritarian Populism Primer 🎤 "Edges in the Middle" Series 📄 Research Publications 🌐 Global Network 👥 Forum Leadership Team 🤝 Member-Led Communities 📧 Newsletter & Updates 🎯 Programs & Action 🎓 OBI University Courses 💡 Funded Joint Experiments 🌍 In-Person Convenings Ready to Bridge for Democracy?
Join 350+ civic leaders using research-backed approaches to strengthen democracy and build belonging.
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