The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where We All Belong

by john a. powell

Overview

A bold guide for connecting across differences—even those that seem impossible

“Wise and visionary, powell helps us find the courage to forge connections with others, the earth, and ourselves in order to transform the world from the inside out.” —Valarie Kaur, bestselling author of See No Stranger and Sage Warrior

We don’t want to live in a society in turmoil. In fact, 93 percent of people in the US want to reduce divisiveness, and 86 percent believe it’s possible to disagree in a healthy way. Yet with increasing political and social fragmentation, many of us don’t know how to move past our differences. Civil rights scholar john a. powell presents an actionable path through “bridging” that helps us communicate, coexist, and imagine a new story for our shared future where we all belong.

With inimitable warmth and vision, powell offers a framework for building cohesion and solidarity between disparate beliefs and backgrounds. Bridging is more than a discrete list of actions to follow—it’s a mindset we can develop to help us foster belonging and connection. Key elements of the bridging mindset include:

• Understanding how deeply “othering” shapes our world, priming us to see difference of any kind—race, gender, political orientation, etcetera—as a threat

• Identifying where “breaking” happens, when people are excluded or treated differently for being perceived as other

• Embracing “belonging” as one of our core human needs—we all want to feel seen, valued, and appreciated just as we are

• Committing ourselves to treat all people like they belong

• Allowing ourselves grace when we inevitably fall short—and resolving to try again

Throughout the book, powell shares personal reflections as well as practices to help you begin bridging wherever you are—in your community, friendships, family, workplace—even with those whom you might never have imagined you could find common ground.

“Bridging is a salve for our fractured world,” powell says. “We can overcome the illusion of separateness by honoring our differences, transcending the notion that difference divides us, and instead cocreate a world where everyone belongs.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781649631657
Publisher:	Sounds True
Publication date:	12/03/2024
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

john a. powell is an internationally respected expert in the areas of civil rights, racial identity, fair housing, poverty, and democracy. He is director of the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley, where he holds the Robert D. Haas Chancellor's Chair in Equity and Inclusion, and is a professor of law, African American studies, and ethnic studies. He is the author of Racing to Justice, coauthor of Belonging without Othering, and cofounder of the Poverty & Race Research Action Council. For more, visit johnapowell.org.

Editorial Reviews

A revered scholar and beloved educator, john a. powell inspires us to believe in a world of belonging—and shows us how to labor for it. Wise and visionary, powell helps us find the courage to forge connections with others, the earth, and ourselves in order to transform the world from the inside out. The Power of Bridging is your essential guide for building a world of belonging, right where you are.” —Valarie Kaur, bestselling author of See No Stranger and Sage Warrior

“john a. powell’s vision for a world where we all belong is powerful and compelling, in large part because it's rooted in decades of values-based work advocating for civil and human rights. His ideas have inspired shifts in policy that have transformed people's daily lives, and his approach to justice questions has influenced countless activists and policymakers alike." —Michelle Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of The New Jim Crow

“With careful attention to the realities of fragmentation and the stories that reproduce it, john a. powell points us toward a better story—what he calls a ‘bridging story’—that can help us find a bigger ‘we.’ This is the kind of work we need to build toward a Third Reconstruction of America.” —Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, author of White Poverty and The Third Reconstruction

“The Power of Bridging gives us the understanding and tools we need to recover the innate bonds we as human beings have with each other and invites us to actively build bridges across the generational, cultural, political, and ideological divides that shape our world. Both timely and timeless, this is a unique guide to help us navigate the challenges we face as a society.” —Ai-jen Poo, cofounder and president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, cofounder and director of Caring Across Generations, author of The Age of Dignity

“At a moment of great division and turmoil, john a. powell leads us toward each other, asking us to imagine a world many of us cannot: one where we all feel a deep sense of belonging and connection. This brilliant book is a must-read for all practitioners of social change, and for everyone committed to preserving and expanding multiracial democracy.” —Deepak Bhargava, president of The JPB Foundation, coauthor of Practical Radicals

“We need john a. powell’s call to bridging and belonging now more than ever. At a time when it seems as if our social fabric is broken and coming undone, powell lays out an intimate vision that is as inspiring as it is practical. Through an engaging narrative, this book empowers us all to become bridgers so we can all belong.” —Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

“An insightful and moving exploration of belonging, bridging, and interconnectedness, this book challenges readers to embrace empathy and understanding in a world where everyone deserves to feel valued and accepted. A thought-provoking read by one of the most inspirational thinkers of our time who inspires us to have courageous conversations and encourages the critical shift towards a more inclusive and compassionate society.” —Kumi Naidoo, former secretary general of Amnesty International and executive director of Greenpeace

“The Power of Bridging is a page turner I would recommend to everyone. I was stunned how similar john's background was to my own, and though we took different paths in life, we somehow wound up in the same place in many ways. For sure, there is a wide gulf between my world, john’s, and many others—which is why bridging is so necessary. All people are all places, and this book teaches us new skills of engagement that anyone can apply in their daily lives.” —Pastor Bob Roberts Jr., founder of GlocalNet, cofounder of the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network

“In The Power of Bridging, john a. powell shows us how to expand the tables we occupy by building bridges with those society has othered. By doing this, we can save the world we have and leave a better one for future generations. powell has personally changed my own life and approach to being human. His invitation to bridge, and innovation around social change, is a game changer that will be studied beyond our time.” —Ben McBride, cofounder of Empower Initiative, author of Troubling the Water

From the Publisher