Our Mission:

How we Started

The Building Bridges steering committee is made up of leaders in different public safety organizations and civil society organizations. Established in 2016, we came together during a time in our country of heightened tensions within certain communities and polarizing political rhetoric. Our community is not immune to the influences of these factors. We came together as members of the human family to affirm our inherent dignity, to build and strengthen trust with one another, and to cultivate that trust within the communities we serve.

Our Goals and Commitments

We resolve to work collaboratively toward the goal of a yearly Summit with the following understandings, commitments, and agreements:

We agree to promote a supportive environment for respectful, meaningful and authentic sharing of unique perspectives. We agree that discussions focused on specific cases or incidents during the Summit will detract from this goal. We commit to discussing fully these matters as the need arise at a time and place outside of the Summit.

We agree to raise and discuss any topics of disagreement in good faith and support resolution of those topics as a steering committee in furtherance of the goals of promoting understanding and trust. We agree to consult with and obtain consent of all steering committee members before communicating any message on behalf of the group or seeking any publicity for our efforts. We agree to approach our work on the Summit with an eye toward the future, rather than a focus on the past.

We agree to model civility and respect in our relationships with one another and to use our best effort to understand each other’s perspective. We agree to set a positive example in developing enduring relationships to promote future constructive dialogues.

We agree that our efforts to build bridges to understanding one another make our community stronger and safer for all.

Building Bridges is a coalition of individuals, organizations both public and private. We do not conduct any political lobbying, including on legislation or candidates.

Topics We Cover

In 2023, we will discuss strategies to respond to bias. Marking our first in-person event since 2019, we will come together to create a collaborative and respectful safe space to work towards better understanding and solutions.

In 2022, we hosted multiple discussions focused on confronting homelessness and supporting the unhoused community.

In 2021, we discussed public safety and what it means to a diverse group of community members and law enforcement professionals. We also focused on ways we can all become more civically involved.

In 2020, we celebrated our 5th anniversary. We came together in a virtual format and had courageous conversations on reimagining public safety during unprecedented challenges for communities in the midst of a global pandemic, social unrest and political upheaval.

In 2019, we united in efforts to improve how we prevent, respond to and seek justice for traumatic incidents and criminal acts motivated by hate and bigotry.

In 2018, we explored the data surrounding racial disparities in our communities, and the impact of actions taken to remove these disparities in our institutions of justice.

In 2017, we continued this work with a focus on implicit bias and its impact on community.

In 2016, as representative of public safety, government, faith, and civil society, we gathered at a time of heightened tensions and polarizing political rhetoric to break down barriers, and to strengthen the bonds of trust between us and the communities we serve.