NCDD Welcomes Civic Health Project: Scaling Solutions for Democratic Bridge-Building

​The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD) proudly welcomes Civic Health Project, a nonprofit innovating at the intersection of technology and social cohesion to bridge societal divides. Since 2019, Civic Health Project has developed cutting-edge tools like AI-driven platforms to reduce polarization and promote constructive civic engagement, backed by rigorous research and evidence-based approaches. Their collaborative efforts, including co-chairing a global council and awarding grants to support grassroots bridge-building, align closely with NCDD’s mission to strengthen democracy through connection and dialogue. Read more in the blog post below.

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The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation is thrilled to welcome Civic Health Project as our newest member—an organization whose innovative approach to bridging societal divides through technology perfectly complements NCDD's mission of strengthening democracy through meaningful dialogue and collaborative engagement.
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Founded in 2019, Civic Health Project has emerged as a pioneering force in addressing what they aptly describe as "society's dangerous divisions." This nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has dedicated itself to advancing massively scalable solutions that bridge divides, foster civil discourse, and strengthen social cohesion worldwide. Their work represents a vital intersection between cutting-edge technology and the timeless human need for connection and understanding.

Technology as a Bridge, Not a Barrier

What sets Civic Health Project apart is their bold vision of technology's potential to heal rather than harm our social fabric. While many organizations focus on the divisive aspects of digital platforms, Civic Health Project takes a different approach—investing in and developing technological solutions that actively promote prosocial behavior, constructive engagement, and democratic participation.

Their portfolio of flagship projects demonstrates this commitment in action. Through initiatives like Normsy, an AI-enhanced tool that counters toxic polarization in online spaces without restricting free speech, and the Prosocial Ranking Challenge, which tests alternative social media algorithms designed to promote healthier civic outcomes, they're pioneering practical applications of social cohesion technology. The organization's Strengthening Democracy Challenge—a landmark study involving over 32,000 participants—provides rigorous evidence on which interventions most effectively reduce partisan animosity and strengthen democratic attitudes.
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Led by Co-Founders Rob Romero and Kristin Hansen, along with a diverse team of researchers, technologists, and bridge-building specialists, Civic Health Project brings together deep technical expertise with a profound understanding of the social science behind polarization. Their approach is refreshingly empirical, focusing on measurable impact through tools like their Social Cohesion Impact Measurement Framework, which helps organizations track and improve the effectiveness of their bridging efforts.

Expanding the Ecosystem of Connection

Beyond their direct project work, Civic Health Project serves as a catalyst for broader ecosystem development. They co-chair the Council on Technology and Social Cohesion, a rapidly growing global forum with more than 60 member organizations dedicated to advancing technology that connects rather than divides. This collaborative spirit aligns beautifully with NCDD's approach to building networks of practitioners, organizations, and communities committed to democratic engagement.

The organization's commitment to partnership and knowledge-sharing extends to their support of grassroots bridge-building work. Since 2019, they have awarded more than 70 grants, mobilizing millions of philanthropic dollars to support academics, practitioners, creatives, and technologists working to heal societal divisions. This investment in the broader field demonstrates their understanding that lasting change requires collective action across multiple sectors and scales.

Their vision resonates deeply with NCDD's core values: they believe in a future where people are empowered, interactions are supported, and platforms are instrumented in ways that strengthen rather than undermine the health of our relationships, communities, and societies. This human-centered approach to technological innovation reflects the same spirit that drives NCDD's work in dialogue and deliberation.

As Civic Health Project joins the NCDD network, they bring valuable expertise in scaling bridge-building efforts through innovative technological approaches while maintaining an unwavering commitment to democratic values, inclusive participation, and evidence-based practice. Their membership strengthens our collective capacity to address division and build understanding across all levels of society—from individual online interactions to large-scale democratic processes.

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We invite you to learn more about Civic Health Project's groundbreaking work and explore potential collaborations by visiting their website at https://www.civichealthproject.org/. Together, we can harness technology's potential to create more connected, empathetic, and democratically vibrant communities.