By Southwester Staff
With a grand vision of advancing the U.S. Constitution’s promise of forming a more perfect union, the national nonpartisan, nonprofit group +More Perfect Union seeks to bridge the deep and rancorous partisan divides in communities across the country.
The epicenter of such divides might just be Washington, DC, but the hunger for a solution is clear locally as well. The DC chapter of the organization boasts 1,300 members, including several dozen from Southwest. The group gathers to promote social connection, service and civic engagement.
Led by U.S. Army veteran Ben Bain, the DC chapter of +More Perfect Union holds free monthly events that bring neighbors with a range of ideologies and identities together, with an eye toward helping them step outside their bubbles and connect with their community.
“There’s a range of activities people can get involved in, but bringing people together, for me, in this moment is just so, so important,” Bain said.
While serving as a platoon leader in Afghanistan, Bain worked with local partners, striving to bridge a wide array cultural, linguistic and historical differences. Members of the platoon represented a range of American experiences and walks of life, making it a microcosm of the kind of connection Bain seeks to build.
“You’re bringing people together that would otherwise never have a chance to meaningfully connect, to engage and understand each other,” Bain said of his service overseas. “Whether you look different, think different, have different experiences, you all get forced together toward a shared cause. That is really missing in so many ways in our civilian life.”
To fill that void, Bain’s group has hosted more than 20 events over the past few years, attracting as many as 50 people each. Events have included museum visits, tours, service projects and shared meals. Small group discussions give participants a chance to share their opinions, but also to listen, aiming to build the personal connections that can be lacking in a deeply divided, hyper-partisan atmosphere.
To join a future event, visit www.mpu.us/chapters/washington-d-c/.