…where Walls Once Stood — Inspired by John A. Powell
In a world that often thrives on division, the work of John A. Powell offers a quiet, powerful antidote. His concept of Bridging—building connections across seemingly unbridgeable differences—deeply resonates with me. Not as a method, but as a way of being.
Bridging begins with the radical act of seeing the “other” as part of us. As powell puts it: “We don’t just need to include others in our circle – we need to redraw the circle itself.”
I’ve thought a lot about walls. The visible ones—fences between properties. And the invisible ones—judgments and assumptions we carry, often without knowing. Some we inherit, some we build to protect ourselves. But what if they were not barriers, but invitations to open?
In Seeds of Living Connections, we are witnessing this kind of shift. Neighborhoods where people once barely knew each other begin to reconnect—through a shared harvest, a quiet exchange, a living balcony.
Bridging doesn’t mean erasing differences. It means meeting them with an open heart. Not connecting despite our differences—but through them. Real belonging doesn’t require sameness—it asks for presence, for dignity, for space to be whole.
Powell reminds us that belonging isn’t about assimilating others, but about expanding the space where all can show up as full human beings. That’s not a dream—it’s daily practice. A cultural commitment to remember: we were never truly separate.
For me, Bridging is a living expression of compassion. And perhaps, one of the most healing paths we can walk—together.
Inspired by the work of John A. Powell and the Othering & Belonging Institute.
Learn more: belonging.berkeley.edu