"Bridging — the practice of building genuine connection across difference — matters in Houston and everywhere else. This lesson explains why it's not just a nice idea but something the OBI calls crucial for our shared survival. Understanding the different scales of bridging helps you see where you already do it and where you could do more."
This free, 35-minute online course from OBI (Othering & Belonging Institute) University teaches you the three levels of bridging — individual, group, and collective. You'll hear from a diverse panel of thinkers sharing real stories, work through two writing exercises, and earn a certificate when you finish.
The course covers three levels of bridging: one-on-one connections between individuals, relationships across groups, and change at the collective or societal level. OBI Director john a. powell lays out the framework. Then a panel — poet Joy Harjo, philosopher Bayo Akomolafe, artist ALOK, and leader Akaya Windwood — share what bridging looks like in real life. OBI Deputy Director Ashlin Malouf-Gashaw closes by explaining why she bridges and what's at stake if we don't. Two writing exercises help you make the ideas personal. A certificate is awarded when you complete the course.
Set aside about 35 minutes when you can focus without interruption. Watch the video segments at your own pace. Take the two writing exercises seriously — they're designed to help you connect the framework to your own life and community. When you finish, you'll receive a certificate you can keep as a record of your learning.
This course pairs well with community conversations about belonging, equity, and civic engagement happening across Houston. If your neighborhood association, faith community, or workplace is navigating division or difference, the bridging framework introduced here gives everyone a shared language to start from.
