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From Division to Action

Helping organizations build trust, bridge divides, and engage their communities

This guide offers information and ideas to help you advance your organization’s goals in a climate of distrust, division, and disruption. 

Learn more

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About

7 Steps: From Division to Action

Millions of Americans are wondering what they can do to make a difference. Now is the time to engage people in meaningful conversation and purposeful action.

What’s inside?

Each section provides practical lessons and guiding principles from brain science and communications research, along with questions and resources to help you and your team explore solutions.

View The Steps
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Case Studies:
The 7 Steps in Action

Discover real-world stories of organizations putting the 7-Step Framework into action to bridge divides and build stronger communities.

Case Studies

Resources

Curated learning hub

View all
  • All
  • Step One
  • Step Two
  • Step Three
  • Step Four
  • Step Five
  • Step Six
  • Step Seven
Resources
We Can Build Bridges
Step Seven
We Can Build Bridges
Step Seven

is a free course from Interfaith America that highlights real-world examples and offers practical tools to help you apply these approaches.

Step Seven
The Commons: Where a divided America comes together
Step Seven
The Commons: Where a divided America comes together
Step Seven

in the Chronicle of Philanthropy features case studies, interviews, research, and advice from a wide variety of voices.

Step Seven
Living Room Conversations
Step Seven
Living Room Conversations
Step Seven

highlights stories of everyday people coming together to talk across divides, showing how honest conversation can build understanding.

Step Seven
Resources
Coming Together, Not Apart: Inside the Work of Turning Conflict Into Collaboration
Step One
Coming Together, Not Apart: Inside the Work of Turning Conflict Into Collaboration
Step One

by the Council on Foundations offers practical examples for foundation leaders striving to lead effectively across differences.

Step One
SmartChart
Step One
SmartChart
Step One

by Spitfire Strategies is a free tool designed to help mission-driven organizations create an actionable and effective communications plan.

Step One
Case Studies - The 7 Steps In Action
Step One
Case Studies - The 7 Steps In Action
Step One
Step One
Resources
Belonging Without Othering
Step Two
Belonging Without Othering
Step Two

Podcast and other resources by the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley can help you create meaningful connections with new audiences.

Step Two
Practical Tools for Navigating Charged Conversations
Step Two
Practical Tools for Navigating Charged Conversations
Step Two

The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative has Practical Tools for Navigating Charged Conversations to “turn difficult interactions and important discussions into productive learning conversations.”

Step Two
Replenishing Trust
Resource, Step Two, Step Five
Replenishing Trust
Resource, Step Two, Step Five

by Spitfire Strategies. Trust is low toward organizations and other people, but you can take action to renew trust in your community.

Resource, Step Two, Step Five
Resources
An Emerging Tool in the Polarization Toolbox
Step Three
An Emerging Tool in the Polarization Toolbox
Step Three

by Beyond Conflict shows how to correct misperceptions that lead to polarization.

Step Three
Resources
Why Love Is the Most Powerful Force in the Universe
Step Four
Why Love Is the Most Powerful Force in the Universe
Step Four

by The Nation is an in-depth interview with Desmond Meade of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. (You can watch his ComNet keynote here.)

Step Four
Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology
Step Four
Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology
Step Four

The Pew Research Center’s Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology identified nine different types of Democrats and Republicans.

Step Four
The Hidden Tribes of America
Step Four
The Hidden Tribes of America
Step Four

More in Common’s The Hidden Tribes of America identified seven distinct groups, from “Progressive Activists" to “Politically Disengaged” to “Devoted Conservatives.”

Step Four
Resources
Cultivating Contact: A Guide to Building Bridges and Meaningful Connections Between Groups
Step Five
Cultivating Contact: A Guide to Building Bridges and Meaningful Connections Between Groups
Step Five

by Welcoming America helps you create trust and belonging when bringing people together.

Step Five
Braver Angels
Step Five
Braver Angels
Step Five

“brings organizations together to help grow and spread a social movement for bridging the partisan divide.”

Step Five
A 3-Part Playbook to Build Connection and Community
Step Five
A 3-Part Playbook to Build Connection and Community
Step Five

in The Chronicle of Philanthropy suggests ways to create opportunities for people to work together.

Step Five
Resources
The Power of Asset-Framing
Step Six
The Power of Asset-Framing
Step Six

by The Skillman Foundation features tips from expert Trabian Shorters.

Step Six
Make It Plain
Step Six
Make It Plain
Step Six

A video by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, addresses jargon and deficit-framing.

Step Six
Leveraging AI for Clear and Accessible Web Content
Step Six
Leveraging AI for Clear and Accessible Web Content
Step Six

by WebFirst shows how different AI tools can help you translate jargon.

Step Six
Resources
We Can Build Bridges
Step Seven
We Can Build Bridges
Step Seven

is a free course from Interfaith America that highlights real-world examples and offers practical tools to help you apply these approaches.

Step Seven
The Commons: Where a divided America comes together
Step Seven
The Commons: Where a divided America comes together
Step Seven

in the Chronicle of Philanthropy features case studies, interviews, research, and advice from a wide variety of voices.

Step Seven
Living Room Conversations
Step Seven
Living Room Conversations
Step Seven

highlights stories of everyday people coming together to talk across divides, showing how honest conversation can build understanding.

Step Seven

Contributors

Our trusted contributors

TrustPlaybook.org was made possible thanks to support from the following foundations:

  • Walton Family Foundation logo.
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation logo.
  • Charles Stweart Foundation logo.
  • Barr Foundation logo.
  • MacArthur Foundation logo.
  • Prebys Foundation logo.
  • Arthur M. Blank Foundation logo.
  • Charles and Lynn Schusterman logo.
  • Surdna Foundation logo.
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Download the 7 Steps Guide

Print it, post it, or keep it by your desk. A practical, research-based framework you and your team can use every day to build trust and bridge divides.

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