Sangha of Auspicious Companions

Bridging in Action

In a world filled with political chasms, grassroots groups are rewriting the rules. Everyday people across the United States are going door-to-door not to persuade, but simply, to listen. A retiree in Anaheim, California, who had warily opened his door to a canvasser, received the question: “How has all this — politics, polarization, the feeling of division — touched your life?” Initially skeptic, after thirty minutes, he found himself sharing stories he hadn’t told anyone in years and inviting his canvasser, Lorena P., to stop by again. “This gives me faith in humanity. You weren’t here to sell anything and I feel less alone,” he told her. Another group in Chicago knocked on nearly 18,000 doors for 1,400 conversations between strangers as part of a deep-listening canvass. Lawrence Benito, Exectuive Director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), remarked, “The goal wasn’t to deliver a script or win people over — it was to listen deeply.” These efforts are part of a Bridging for Democracy initiative conducted by longtime partners of UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute. This simple yet revolutionary approach is helping strangers — regardless of their political views — see each other in their humanness. In so doing, it is taking steps to knit communities back together, fostering belonging through simply having a space to be listened to.

Be The Change

Engage in a meaningful conversation with someone outside your usual circle. Listen deeply without the intention to respond, just to understand.