Bridging to Belonging empowers belonging by growing skills and providing bridging experiences in small, diverse groups.
The work of creating spaces of belonging is at the foundation of all the other great work being done in the community. It supports successfully of co-creating the future together.
This program has been developed in partnership with Vitality Source, LLC. It utilizes science-based principles and methods, and is intended for all community members. 
We need your voice!
There are many ways to get involved in Bridging to Belonging. Select a tab below for more details.
Join us in an upcoming learning opportunity!
Upcoming Film Screenings
Stay Tuned for Opportunities!
Workshop Opportunities
Bridging the Divide: From Division to Belonging Workshop
In a world where division often feels inevitable, what does it take to truly belong and to help others feel they do too?
Join us for an engaging morning where we’ll explore why connection can be so difficult and what we can do about it. Learn the hidden forces behind social divides, hear stories of hope, and practice simple tools to build bridges across difference.
Whether you’re a student, a parent, a professional, or simply someone who cares, you’ll leave with renewed insight, practical steps, and a take-home guidebook for creating belonging in your everyday life.
Registration Fee: $35
Includes an interactive 1.5 hour session, plus a take-home guidebook.
Choice 1: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 21915 Beech St., Dearborn, MI 48124
Saturday, August 15 2026, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
REGISTER HERE
Choice 2: Islamic Center of America, 19500 Ford Rd., Dearborn, MI
Saturday, August 22 2026, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
REGISTER HERE
Discussion Group Opportunities
Community Through Conversation: A Bridging to Belonging Discussion Series
A welcoming space for conversation, connection, and growth. Through storytelling and shared reflection, participants explore values, deepen relationships, and help shape a more connected community. No prior experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to engage.
Participants receive access to online learning materials as well as a Participant Guide to take home, offering reflection prompts, resources, and tools to support learning during the sessions and beyond.
Registration Fee: $150
Includes five two-hour sessions, plus approximately one hour of self-directed preparatory work prior to each discussion.
Stay Tuned for Opportunities!
Support Bridging to Belonging by hosting a film screening, workshop or a cohort group experience!
Become a Moderator
Our program relies on trained moderators to ensure that the group experience creates a space of belonging. You can receive training and become a moderator for groups that fit your schedule. The first step is to join a cohort group experience and let us know of your interest in becoming a moderator!
Wondering How to Create Belonging in Your Organization?
Belonging is at the heart of why people join, contribute and stay in organizations. The most important steps you or leaders in your organizations will do is to learn and practice intentionally building bridges across differences. Our human tendency is to try to create belonging through conformity – recruiting and gathering with those who seem most like us. However, true belonging comes when we know that we are heard, seen, valued and can contribute even when we are different. Because the reality is that we are all different in many ways.
If you want someone to engage and contribute more, first ask “Am I showing them that they belong and I want what they bring?”.
Our Impact So Far
Bridging to Belonging aims to have short and long-term impacts in 2 areas: Increased sense of belonging & Increase the number of people practicing bridging skills to engage across differences in the community. Click below for our latest impact report.
Additional Resources
If you are not quite ready to get involved in the program, start your learning about how to build bridges of belonging here. Each one of us is needed to co-create the future and we welcome you in whatever way you can join us!
There are many ways to start learning how to build unity and bridges across differences.
- If you disagree with someone, spend time finding out the story of why they think the way they do. Everyone has a reason they see the world as they do.
- One of the most impactful ways to build belonging is to look for what you appreciate in others. Find something you appreciate in someone around you and practice telling them about it!
- Understand your own story. What experiences have been most impactful on how you see the world? How do you try to make a difference and why?
We work with many partners at a local and national level to build unity and belonging in the community. We have curated a list of their learning resources in our Bridging to Belonging Library.
