What We Do
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The Challenge
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In recent years, political discord has reached levels unseen in a generation. Growing income inequality and rapid demographic changes are creating feelings of insecurity and instability.
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At the same time, the growth of “fake news” and media echo chambers are making it harder for people to talk to each other. People are experiencing a loss of trust and becoming less willing to engage with opinions different from their own.
This loss of trust is a threat to our democracy: when we can’t trust each other, we lose our ability to communicate and cooperate across ideological and cultural lines.
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Communicate
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Share new perspectives about inequality, immigration, and what it means to be German through social and traditional media
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Provide a platform for people to share their own stories through viral interactive media campaigns
Connect
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Organize events to bring people together who don’t normally meet, and enable them to interact with each other in an open, welcoming environment
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Host community dialogue events on specific topics that allow people to express their values and needs, ask difficult questions without feeling judged, and brainstorm solutions together
Catalyze
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Help scale programs already addressing these challenges to help them reach more communities and expand their impact
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Bridge the gap between grassroots change-makers and government, helping raise the profile of change-makers and connect policymakers with community needs and problem-solvers
Our Mission
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Die Brückenbauer respond to these challenges by supporting a country-wide movement of renewed dialogue and community-building in three ways:
Our Team
Based in Berlin and Frankfurt, Die Brückenbauer are led by a diverse team
of community leaders and experts in entrepreneurship, civil society,
economic development, and tech innovation.
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Jessica Berlin
Public Policy & Economic Development Expert; Founder, CoStruct
Mike Kang
Facilitation and Strategy Expert; Founder, Evolve on Purpose
Rana Jalali
Industrial Engineer & Business Consultant; Founder, Irana Consulting
Dr. Nakeema Stefflbauer
Technologist & Middle East Expert; Founder, FrauenLoop
Filipe Abreu
Developer & Designer; Founder, WeLaborate
Luter Filho
Designer & Creative Director; Co-founder, NAME
Thair Orfali
Legal Assistant
Thomas Dünwald
Environmental Scientist MSc.
Omri Zaied
Software Developer; Co-founder, Practix
Are You a Brückenbauer? Get Involved!
Who is a Brückenbauer?
If you help build bridges, whether in your community, business, or in our society,
You are a Brückenbauer.
Die Brückenbauer is a movement and network that can help you
amplify your impact, and help you amplify others’ impact.
How you can get involved:
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Suggest a project​: Have an idea to build bridges in your own community? Get in touch to discuss how we can help!
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Find a project: Do you want to build bridges in your community, but don't know how to start? Get in touch to find out what Brückenbauer activities are going on in your area and how you can contribute.
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Flag your events with #DieBrueckenbauer: Are you hosting an event that is bringing together people who do not know or trust each other? Do you help create healthy relationships between people of different backgrounds? Make yourself known by using #DieBrueckenbauer in your media.
Get in touch:
Jessica Berlin (jessica@diebrueckenbauer.org) or
Mike Kang (mike@diebrueckenbauer.org)
​Die Brückenbauer (‘Bridge Builders’) is a network of volunteers, nonprofits, community groups, and businesses working to overcome social and political divides in German society.
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We build positive relationships
between groups of people who do not know or trust each other, and
We develop and scale practical solutions
to the challenges that lie at the root of this distrust.