Los Angeles Bridge Builders Collective

We are a group of practitioners and organizations committed to elevating the field of bridge building as a method for communicating across differences, preventing conflict, and building connections across communities, individuals, and groups

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What is Bridge Building?

In the face of division, polarization, and hate, Bridge Builders make Los Angeles…

Empathetic

Bridge builders help people connect with and understand each other more fully and build deeper relationships

Resilient

Bridge builders foster skills and relationships that help communities address conflict proactively and weather the storm when conflict arises

Generous

Bridge builders create spaces for people to express themselves fully, practice kindness, and both make and learn from mistakes

Curious

Bridge builders encourage people to explore new and unfamiliar ideas and challenge their preconceived notions

Innovative

Bridge builders help groups break through stalemate, explore new ideas, and problem solve more effectively

“Bridge building” aims to increase our individual and collective capacity to resolve conflict, work across differences, and lead empathically and effectively.

What do bridge builders do?

We design inclusive processes for political participation

We promote democratic norms

We mediate conflicts

We facilitate dialogues

We foster positive intergroup relations

We build coalitions

We promote deliberate decision-making

Los Angeles is home to many “bridge building” leaders and organizations, whose expertise crosses sectors and audiences. The Los Angeles Bridge Builders Collective functions as connective tissue between these efforts, building a critical mass of practitioners and expertise to help further our individual and collective goals.

The Collective supports bridge builders in the following ways:

Visibility

Demonstrate the tremendous benefits and transformational power of various bridge-building approaches

Capacity-Building

Foster collaboration and resource-sharing between bridge-builders in Los Angeles

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Advocacy

Advocate for more effective and responsive support for the entire field of bridge-building

Los Angeles is one of the most diverse, dynamic, and innovative cities in the world. As a port city, as the global entertainment capital, and as home to almost 200 spoken languages, Los Angeles is a bellwether – and a setter – of global trends. It is thus well positioned to be a model of transformational, comprehensive, and effective bridge-building.

How the LABBC can serve you:

I'm a Bridge Builder

Are you an organization in Los Angeles involved in intergroup work and using a bridge building approach? 

      • Get in touch with us to learn more about the LA Bridge Builders Collective and to tell us about your work and needs.

      • Check out the Bridge Builders Mapping Project to see where your work fits into the LA landscape.

I'm looking for Bridge Builders

Are you looking for bridge building expertise? Whether you want to facilitate a difficult conversation, combat polarization, improve intergroup relations generally, or support the field of bridge building in LA, we want to connect you to the right expert. 

    • Explore the Bridge Builders Map Project for a broad collection of practitioners and organizations in Los Angeles with a range of audiences, expertise, and approaches.

    • Become a supporter of the Los Angeles Bridge Building Collective to improve our reach and ability to elevate the field.

Either way, sign up for updates about the field of bridge building, the development of the map, and updates from the LABBC

Get in touch with Los Angeles Bridge Builders Collective