Social platforms thrive on division. Media narratives reward the loudest voices. Political fundraising depends on outrage.
And behind it all, a shrinking class of gatekeepers — corporate, algorithmic, and political — decide what rises and what gets ignored profiting along the way.These systems were built to provoke, polarize, and keep us scrolling.
These systems were built to provoke, polarize, and keep us scrolling.
They encourage judgment over curiosity, certainty over conversation. They distort how we see each other — turning neighbors into opponents, and strangers into threats. No wonder people are tuning out — or burning out.
But this mess is by all by design. Because if we can’t talk to each other, we can’t organize. And if we can’t organize, we can’t change what needs changing.
Not Just a Think Tank. A Rebuild Engine. We aren’t interested in adding more noise to the discourse. We’re building a new infrastructure for public thought and civic repair — anchored in research, designed to integrate diverse disciplines, and built to turn insight into scalable solutions.
We believe people can work across divides when they’re tackling issues that are hard, but not hopeless. Research shows that collaboration builds trust, even among people who disagree. That’s why we bring people together and focus their efforts on challenges where polarization has stalled progress — but common-sense cooperation is still possible.These conversations lead somewhere — toward projects, partnerships, and practical change.
Get StartedWe work with our partner WithCommunity to recruit participants, arrange structured Zoom meet-ups, moderate public discourse, and coordinate next steps for action.
Some people join just to follow along quietly. Others want to contribute feedback or ideas now and then. Some are here to make new connections.
We can all help shape the community.
Building bridges through meaningful dialogue
![[headshot] image of customer (for an outdoor adventures business)](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/68755a33ff7fd6a076f5cff0/6875935d3050a4d017c904b1_Todd-headshot-gk.jpg)
