Adam Calder
Last month, over a hundred young chapter leaders from across the country–even as far as Hawaii– huddled for a weekend in a balmy, but characteristically breezy, downtown Chicago.
This year has been a tense one, with campus protests, an assassination attempt, and a Democratic campaign shakeup serving as the backdrop for a presidential election to come during the fall semester. But for three days in late July, bridge-builders from 63 campuses came together. This was more than just a gathering: It was an opportunity to connect, to deepen our collective commitment to forge a politics of hope.
A testament to our growth since our last summit in 2023: Over 90% of the attendees had not been to a previous summit. One of those chapter leaders was Lauren, the President of BridgeBU at Boston University. With no set expectations, she walked into the opening reception and was surprised by the scale of the movement.
“I immediately realized that Bridge is so much more than a club for the discussion-hungry,” she said. “It’s a movement of young people that is wide-reaching and deep, working together for a common cause.”
It’s easy not to realize the scope of this movement or the size of our footprint when chapter leaders are working within their own campuses. Lauren, and so many attendees like her, hadn’t yet seen the demand for a change to the way Americans interact politically. Understanding this was a main driving point of our summit.
More than a social retreat, the summit served as an opportunity for chapter leaders to grasp the meaning and the importance of the work we do on their campuses. ‘Bridge The Gap’ is an event held at every summit where chapter leaders get the chance to speed run multiple discussions with their peers. It’s not a debate, but a chance to learn from each other, and a good touchstone for the work.
Lauren joined a conversation about gender-based care for minors in which she found herself at a table with people diametrically opposed to her views.
“Even those who I assumed would be fully supportive of gender-affirming surgery expressed thoughtful concerns about how it should be approached, especially when it comes to children,” she recounted. “It was refreshing to hear the nuance that I assumed wouldn’t be present. This discussion reminded me why BridgeUSA is so important: It creates space for the kind of dialogue that doesn’t just tolerate differences, but engages with them deeply.”
The group navigated the complexities of the issue with a shared belief in being supportive. Many chapter leaders expressed their view that participating in the event showed them exactly what can happen with civil dialogue.
The energy created over the weekend didn’t stop in Chicago. It’s being carried back to campuses nationwide and will directly lead to concrete examples of dialogue this semester. Chapter leaders like Lauren have been equipped to provide the crucial space for young people to engage.
“Before the summit, I had a somewhat narrow view of what our chapter could do. I hadn’t considered the full range of possibilities for getting students involved. Hearing from other chapter leaders about the events they had hosted opened my eyes to the innovative ways we can build out our community.” As Lauren and her counterparts discovered throughout the weekend, these events aren’t just about conversation; they’re about creating a space where students feel connected and excited to participate. And importantly, know that they’re not alone. They are among dozens of other chapters also working to heal political dialogue on campus.
The experiences shared by our students at the summit are evidence of the impact of bridge-building work. It’s more than just a yearly event; it’s a critical component of our mission. And leaders like Lauren show that it’s essential to understanding the impact they are having on their campuses.
She put it plainly: “I left the summit with my Notes App filled with new ideas for BU.”
