Building Bridges Means Building Relationships Across Communities

 

It’s not unusual to feel alone and apart from others. In fact, according to a recent article on psb.org, a recent U.S. Census Bureau survey found that “People with robust social connections are more likely to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. Americans have been spending less time with friends and more time alone since the pandemic, which has only intensified the sense of social isolation.” In fact, some surveys tell us that about 60 percent of people in the U.S. feel lonely on a regular basis.

When we feel separated from each other, we are less attached to place and we’re more likely to leave where we are and look for more fertile ground. Michigan has a retention problem. The rate of people leaving the state is higher than the rate of people moving to Michigan or being born in Michigan. Could our disconnectedness have something to do with this?

In 2017, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Gallup partnered on a report called Soul of the Community. The findings from the report are both remarkable and seem to be common sense at the same time. Bottom line, the more that people feel attached to their community, the better off the community will be economically and among the top drivers for attachment (retention) are opportunities for socializing and a community’s openness to all people.

 

How can we connect?
We believe wholeheartedly in the power of trust and belonging to make our communities connected, resilient, equitable places where people love to live. Because of this, the MML Foundation has been operating a microgrants program called Bridge Builders for the past four years.

Bridge Builders are people who work to repair relationships in their communities through placemaking projects and initiatives that intentionally and creatively bring people together, build trust, and create a sense of belonging. We offer small, one-time microgrants that fund creative projects. Projects bring together neighbors, artists, business owners, elected officials, and more in neighborhoods and on Main Streets across Michigan.

Since 2020, and across the 500+ Michigan Municipal League member communities, we’re proud to have collaborated with 50 communities across Michigan who have astounded us with their incredible projects – from downtown parks to Underground Railroad gardens.

We know that we’re not alone in wanting to support the Bridge Builders who are working to heal their neighborhoods and communities and bridge what we think divides us. We’re thankful for initiatives such as the Bridge Builders Innovation Showcase, which seems to fit our Michigan Bridge Builders to a tee!

This year we’re excited to collaborate with Common Agency and the Listen First Project as they create a platform to recognize “bridge builders” across the nation through the 2023 Bridge-Building Innovation Showcase. The Showcase, part of the Listen First Project, will provide a national platform for teams across the country that are problem-solving locally across ideological, racial, and generational divides to showcase their efforts — both the concrete initiatives they’re taking as well as the relationships they’ve built across divides through the process.

 

How to apply for the 2023 Bridge-Building Showcase

Give you and your team of community members a platform to showcase the concrete initiatives you’re taking and relationships you’ve built across divides through the process. After the initial application process, ten teams across the country will advance to a second round of interviews with judges who are leaders in the bridge-building field. The judges will select five teams to invite to the Showcase. The Showcase teams will benefit from:

• An all-expenses-paid trip to Kansas City, MO on Oct 13-15, 2023, including flights from their hometown, meals, and two nights of lodging
• A $1,000 cash prize to support their future efforts
• A multi-media, national platform to share their efforts and amplify awareness of the issue they’re addressing
• The opportunity to connect with other diverse teams of problem-solvers across the country

The application deadline is July 7th, 2023.  You can apply here.