Building Together 2024 - Plenary Sessions
Plenary Sessions
These are the times that all attendees are invited to come together during Building Together to discuss some of the largest issues related to connecting and collaborating across difference.
The Personal Work of Moving From Conflict to Curiosity
Tuesday, May 7 | 9:00 a.m.
Even in our professional lives, harnessing the generative power of conflict is intensely personal work. This is especially true in philanthropy, where our work is driven by a deep commitment to issues that sometimes divide us. New York Times columnist and author David Brooks will prepare us to make the most of Building Together by sharing the building blocks of understanding: what it takes to truly see someone else and help them feel seen. Journalist and author Mónica Guzmán, in conversation with Romanita Hairston, CEO of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, will then explore how “fearlessly curious” conversations can help us move past conflict, from the echo chambers of social media to our own dinner tables.
Welcome & Introductions:
David Hsu
Director, Building Cultures of Belonging
Omidyar Network
Heather Templeton Dill
President
John Templeton Foundation
Katie Robinson
Director
Mosaic
Speakers:
David Brooks
NY Times Columnist
Author, How To Know a Person
Mónica Guzmán
Senior Fellow for Public Practice
Braver Angels
Romanita Hairston
CEO
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
Special Appearance:
Leslé Honoré
CEO
Urban Gateways
Bridging and Equity, Hand in Hand
Wednesday, May 8 | 9:00 a.m.
During periods of rapid change, humans tend to respond in one of two ways, according to the Othering and Belonging Institute: We either “break” by seeding deep fears of “other” groups, or we “bridge,” by invoking our shared humanity in service of a greater “we.” How can we, as funders, position bridging as part of the pursuit of equity and justice – not in opposition to it? Kathleen Enright, President and CEO of the Council on Foundations will open the session before turning it over to a panel moderated by Joshua Clark of OBI, our speakers – Sulma Arias, Eboo Patel, and Eric Ward – will share different perspectives on how we reckon with our past, heal our collective wounds, and navigate charged differences to build a diverse, pluralistic, and inclusive society.
Speakers:
Sulma Arias
Executive Director
People’s Action and People’s Action Institute
Joshua Clark
Senior Social Scientist
Othering and Belonging Institute
Kathleen Enright
President and CEO
Council on Foundations
Eboo Patel
Founder and President
Interfaith America
Eric Ward
Executive Vice President
Race Forward
Special Appearance:
Luciano Antonio
The Power of Telling – and Hearing – Each Other’s Stories
Wednesday, May 8 | 4:00 p.m.
What does it look like to take one small step toward navigating divides? StoryCorps Founder Dave Isay and CEO Sandra M. Clark will share their work bringing together strangers who disagree on politics for one conversation to move beyond labels and learn about each other's lives. StoryCorps research shows that being open to hearing people’s stories, even when they are unfamiliar or challenging, can help us to move beyond assumptions, hate, and division and toward authentic connections and a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.
Speakers:
Térèse Coudreaut
Vice President/Administration
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Jenn Hoos Rothberg
Executive Director
Einhorn Collaborative
Special Appearance:
Speakers:
Sandra M. Clark
Chief Executive Officer
StoryCorps
Dave Isay
Founder & President
StoryCorps
How ‘Good Conflict’ Can Save Our Democracy From Toxic Polarization
Thursday, May 9 | 9:00 a.m.
Toxic polarization is contributing to falling engagement across civic life, with a contentious election ratcheting up tensions even further. How did we get here? And how do we get out with American democracy intact? In our closing plenary session, Amanda Ripley, author of “High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out” will help us understand how we can disrupt the cycles that push us apart and instead engage in “good conflict” that connects us across divides and catalyzes solutions for the future. Following Amanda’s remarks, Wendy Feliz from the Arthur M. Blank Foundation will lead a discussion on repairing our fractured civic life with Layla Zaidane and Ali Noorani. Together, they will help us make sense of these tumultuous times and share strategies for how funders can invest in rebuilding trust in democracy, renewing civic engagement, and building a shared commitment, across our differences, to an inclusive and thriving multiracial democracy.
Special Appearance:
Speakers:
Bob Dold
Former Member of Congress, Partner
Forbes Tate Partners
Wendy Feliz
Managing Director, Democracy
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
Ali Noorani
Director, U.S. Democracy Program
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Amanda Ripley
Co-Host of the Slate podcast, How-To
Author of High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out
Layla Zaidane
President and CEO
Future Caucus