Learn How to Build Trust, Bridge Divides, and Engage Your Community

No matter what kind of work you do, your organization may need to navigate a complex climate of distrust, division, and disruption.

With support from foundations looking to advance civic life in America, we’ve built a toolkit with The Communications Network that helps you build trust, bridge divides, and encourage productive engagement. 

7 Steps: From Division to Actionoffers insights from science, ideas from experts, and resources you can use to assess your strategies and explore new approaches with your organization. Here’s a quick look:

1. Sharpen Strategic Focus. Achieving impact with strategic communications starts with a clear-eyed view of your primary audience—the people who have a real role to play in achieving your goals. In tumultuous times, that can be tough. Lots of voices are making lots of noise.

2. Listen To Learn. Effective communication begins with listening. Explore your own assumptions about your audience. Snap judgments are often off base. Think less persuasion, more invitation: People change attitudes on a topic when they stop and think about how it applies to their own goals and values.

3. Address Misperceptions. “Meta-misperceptions” may be the biggest driver of “us versus them” thinking. This happens when we believe other people dislike, distrust, or discount us—but this belief is wrong or exaggerated. Correct misperceptions to uncover common ground.

4. Engage Unlikely Allies. Conventional wisdom says to ignore people you perceive to be on the “other side.” That’s not always a winning strategy. Unlikely alliances can surprise people, break through the noise, and open minds to your message.

5. Convene Community Conversations. Think local. Meeting people close to home and face-to-face helps cut through the noise, counter negative narratives, and focus on real solutions. Bring people together to explore shared aspirations—and find ways to work together toward a common goal.

6. Speak Plainly—and Strategically. Watch your language. Many issues and words get caught up in polarizing politics. Cut the jargon—it always kills effective communication. Emphasize people’s positive traits through “asset-framing.”

7. Point to Problem Solvers. Showing people taking productive actions can be powerful drivers of positive behavior. Highlight people who changed their minds on a tough issue. Lift up bridge builders to counter polarization. 

Download a checklist with key questions to explore with your organization. 

If you’d like to mobilize more people for your cause, reach out to us at info@hattaway.com.

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According to our latest SPIRE audience engagement research, millions of Americans want to make a positive difference. Now is the time to engage people in meaningful conversation and purposeful action.

7 Steps: From Division to Action shares learning, tools, and techniques from dozens of experts and organizations in trust-building, bridge-building, and civic engagement.

Thanks to the following foundations for making this resource possible

• Annie E. Casey Foundation

• Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

• Barr Foundation

• MacArthur Foundation

• Mott Foundation

• Prebys Foundation

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

• Schusterman Family Philanthropies

• Surdna Foundation

• Walton Family Foundation

Organizations like these provided research and resources:

• Beyond Conflict

• BMe Community

• Council on Foundations

• More In Common

• New Pluralists

• Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley

• Pew Research Center

• Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE)

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

• Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR)

• StoryCorps

• The California Endowment

• The Chronicle of Philanthropy

• The Skillman Foundation