Democracy is tough

American democracy might be even tougher. While the Unites States didn't invent the idea of participatory governance, the place that birthed many of We are Open Circle's practices and principles sure took the idea to a whole 'nother level.

Not only are we asked to make decisions together in our cities, states, and country as a whole, but we are doing it in one of the more diverse countries in the world, one with a history of visionary idealism, great religious and political plurality, and a history of enslavement, genocide, and colonization far beyond our shores. This paradox is one every American is living with, whether we choose to face it or not, and whether we chose to live here or were born here.

On the Beyond Listening Podcast this month, we had the pleasure of diving in with Chris Arlen and Maj Toure. While they work in very different political arenas, and express the imperatives of democracy quite differently, I was struck by their focus on starting with empathy, understanding, and common ground, and moving toward the ongoing process of finding solutions together.

While fixing the disordered and polarized state of national and international politics is of utter importance in a world that is facing unprecedented and perhaps existential challenges, both Christopher and Maj provide a glimpse at what it looks like to go beyond assumptions and biases, to build communities of interconnection and solidarity.

You can do this too. We are Open Circle focuses our work on organizations (for-profit, not-for profit, religious, educational, and informal) because we know we can make a difference there. We aren't waiting for a president, congress, parliament, or council to change the lives of the people we live and work with. We are focusing on places where people actually live much of their lives, and where each of us can make a difference. Change starts with each of us, right where we are.

We believe that in the very act of working together toward common goals, whether that's building a great company, or a great nation with "liberty and justice for all," we have an opportunity to live our ideals, and discover new ones, in the process.

~ Adam