Brief: Evidence that Bridging Works
This brief was prepared by Julia Kamin, Civic Health Project Research Consultant, and Karissa Raskin, CEO of Listen First Project.
This brief explores the growing field of “bridging”—bringing people together across lines of difference to foster curiosity, trust, and social cohesion—and presents compelling evidence that bridging efforts measurably improve attitudes, empathy, and readiness to collaborate across divisions.
Key Findings
Bridging Has Positive Impact
Across both academic research and real-world measurement tools like the Social Cohesion Impact Measurement (SCIM) Framework, bridging efforts consistently:
Increase openness and intellectual humility
Reduce animosity toward political or cultural “others”
Strengthen pluralist norms and respect for differing views
Boost confidence in participants’ ability to have hard conversations and build community across dividesEvidence that Bridging …
📈 Statistically Meaningful Changes
Most bridging programs studied created meaningful attitude shifts (defined as 0.2 or greater standard deviation), especially in:
Valuing listening
Decreasing affective polarization
Encouraging participants to see value in diverse perspectivesEvidence that Bridging …
Lasting (Though Still Emerging) Effects
Some studies show that impact persists beyond the event—up to 3–6 months later—but more research is needed to confirm long-term behavioral change, such as sustained civic engagement or shifts in voting patternsEvidence that Bridging ….
Not Just Preaching to the Choir
SCIM comparisons show that participants in bridging activities closely resemble the average American—meaning these efforts are not only reaching the already-converted. Many participants are moderate or even skeptical about bridging before they attendEvidence that Bridging ….
Implications for The Change Lab
This research validates a core principle of The Change Lab: connecting across difference works—and can be measured. The SCIM data, in particular, provides a helpful structure for evaluating programs like Dining with Purpose or Community Conversations. It reinforces the need to pair relational strategies with systems thinking—and to track impact both short- and long-term.
Future Considerations
The next frontier is scale and sustainability. As the brief notes:
“The most important question for the field is not how their engagements can be better — but how to get more Americans in the bridging door and at the conversation table.”Evidence that Bridging …
This call to action aligns with The Change Lab’s goal of building civic muscle at scale—from neighbor-led circles to board-level strategy.
