Social Trust and Civic Healing

In 2023, the Community Foundation launched the Elevate NOVA Book Circle through which we were introduced to the work of Mónica Guzmán and her recently published book, “I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times.” The book is an excellent tool that offers a thoughtful process for how good citizens in tough times can help bridge what divides us. Her unique formula for civic healing got us all thinking about how deeper listening and curiosity can bridge gaps in understanding, especially when we disagree.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is pleased to announce the 2024 Elevate Nova Book Circle selection by David Brooks, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. David Brooks will kick-off this year’s program at our signature Shape of the Region Conference co-hosted with 19 regional partners representing all sectors and reflecting the diversity of our region to tackle the issue of broken social trust that has left Americans divided, lonely, and in social gridlock.

REGISTER FOR THE 2024 BOOK CIRCLE TODAY   2024 DISCUSSION RESOURCES 

In "How to Know a Person," David Brooks explores the vital skill essential for healthy relationships and communities—the ability to deeply see and make others feel seen. Despite its significance, this skill is often overlooked, leaving individuals feeling invisible. Brooks addresses this gap by posing essential questions about the attention and conversations needed to genuinely understand someone, drawing insights from psychology, neuroscience, theater, philosophy, history, and education.

About the Book

Guided by curiosity and a commitment to personal growth, Brooks presents a hopeful and integrated approach to human connection. The book encourages readers to be more empathetic, emphasizing the transformative power of truly seeing others and the joy that comes from being authentically understood. "How to Know a Person" serves as a beacon for those seeking meaningful connections and a deeper understanding of themselves and those around them in a society marked by fragmentation and misperception.

About Elevate NOVA

Elevate NOVA is a new initiative at the Community Foundation to help advance the 4 pillars of our mission and work: social and economic mobility, racial justice and equity, inclusive systems of economic growth, and community resilience.

On Friday, February 9 2024, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia hosted its 2024 Shape of the Region Conference in collaboration with 19 regional partners, which highlighted a key problem facing our region, and the whole country today: Americans’ belief that most people can be trusted declined 47 percent from 1984 through 2022, according to the General Social Survey. Only a quarter of Americans say that most people can be trusted as of 2022.

As keynote speaker David Brooks says, “America is fractured and living a quiet crisis of disconnection. We have lost our trust in each other and our institutions. Divided, we face uncertainty, social turmoil, and political gridlock. Yet, within every community lies an answer.” In Northern Virginia, our Insight Region^® Senior Director Denise Bellows discussed the trends in national and local data, showing that all indicators of the Virginia Trust Index are down over the past several years. Only around a third of Northern Virginians consider their neighbors “trustworthy.”
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Do you have ideas for rebuilding trust and understanding in your neighborhood and community?  We want to hear from you!
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The Community Leadership Fund makes possible the Community Foundation’s work to build social trust across our region. Help us continue this important work.
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