Civic Bridgers is a 501c3 that strengthens American democracy by preparing emerging leaders to bridge divides.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LIBBY STEGGER

I am a Civic Bridger because I believe authentic connections across lines of difference are the foundation of strong communities. My work is guided by courage and humility - having the determination to take meaningful action while remembering I'm just one part of a greater whole. I approach bridge-building with deep confidence in our collective potential for growth, even through missteps and challenges.

Libby Stegger founded Civic Bridgers in response to the deep polarization that accelerated and deepened following the 2016 election. She witnessed friends, family, and co-workers cut off communication with members of “the other side,” motivated by resentment, judgment,  and deep distrust. On extreme ends of the spectrum, partisans censored nuance to achieve ideological lockstep, abandoned divergent views in fear of rejection, and splintered into ever-smaller circles of identity-based coalitions.

As curious and civil dialogue with “the other side” became a cultural third rail, Americans descended into a reductionist view of morality – simply put, it’s who you vote for. This primed the emerging generation to view leadership as a good/bad binary, and for leaders themselves to align with candidates or parties over democracy itself.

Civic Bridgers prepares emerging leaders to defend democracy through bridging, a set of skills and practices that heal polarization and revive pluralism. Unlike many leadership programs, we do not prepare bridgers to wield power over others; instead, we prepare them to leverage collective power to bridge some of America’s most calcified divides.

VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS
JILL CAREY

 I am a Civic Bridger because I am called to love, honor, and serve all people. I am a values-guided person with high standards of probity – this often puts me at odds with others, especially when it comes to politics. But my northstar is love, and that means I don’t need an enemy to have an agenda. I can fight for my values while bringing people together and achieving a higher place of understanding, mutual care, and progress.

PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
JASMINE NGUYEN

 I am a Civic Bridger because I am a Gen Z digital native. I’ve spent years connecting with people from around the world across online communities: social justice activism, queer culture, fashion, and video games to name a few. In the past decade, people and media are seemingly more polarized, using a screen to speak behind without consideration of others. I am a Civic Bridger because I believe in everyone’s good faith and a common humanity.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
INGA CAPISTRANT-KINNEY

I am a Civic Bridger because I believe that our communities are stronger when we find common ground. It is important that unique perspectives are heard, and we can bridge political and ideological divides by understanding what unites us. I feel called through my work in public service to uplift the voices of marginalized people and ensure that everyone has a seat at the table.

VIDEOGRAPHY FELLOW
TAYLOR CANAS

I am a Civic Bridger because, as someone with a passion for media and storytelling, I believe it is my duty in this current political landscape to elevate the truth— not just the big picture, Washington D.C. truth—but that of everyday Minnesotans, information that can keep us grounded in our community and able to incite change therein.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Ellie Lucas

    Founding Board Member

    Hunger Impact Partners

  • Ash Hanson

    Board Member

    Department of Public Transformation

  • Thomas Antony

    Board Member

    Red Ventures Optum

  • Christine Reed

    Board Member

    New Millennium Academy

  • Len Sanqui

    Board Member

    Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches

  • Nicole DeBoer

    Board Member

    Southwest Minnesota Arts Council

  • Julian Condie

    Board Member

    Junior Achievement North

  • Libby Stegger

    Executive Director

    Civic Bridgers

OUR PARTNERS IN BRIDGING

Green leaves and brown tree trunks with Banyan Community in the center.
Cultural Wellness Center with health, heritage, harmony below. Three rings of orange, green, and blue to the left.
Foundation for Essential Needs with red flower.
Great MN Schools with Minnesota state shape made up of colorful education iconography.
Initiative Foundation with "if" in red circle.
Minnesota Multifaith Network with Minnesota state shape surrounded by orange, blue, green, red dots with lines.
MIGIZI with bald eagle shape.
Lead MN with Minnesota state shape in green with connected white lines.
Project for Pride in Living with "ppl" inside green circle.
Northside Achievement Zone to the right of cyan N with "NAZ" in the center.
West Central Initiative with Minnesota state shape outline and regions in color..
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council.

OUR PROGRAMS

Diverse youth with "VOTE" stickers on back of fists. Background is blurred smiling faces with Beyond Civics curved text.

BEYOND CIVICS
FOR TEENS

Beyond Civics is a 10-week enrichment program that trains teens to become Bridgers: community leaders who engage and solve problems across lines of difference.

Campus Bridging Initiative text over farm rows and buildings.

CAMPUS BRIDGING INITIATIVE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

Campus Bridging Initiative bridges the urban-rural divide by immersing students from rural and urban community colleges in two weekends of cross-cultural learning and collaboration.

People collaborating and working on a table with books, pens, and phones.

FELLOWSHIP
FOR YOUNG ADULTS

The Civic Bridgers Fellowship immerses young leaders in a year of bridge-building at a local nonprofit or government agency.