Encouraging courageous connections in polarized times
October 2025 – At a time when polarization and division dominate headlines, Drew University’s Center on Religion, Culture, & Conflict and Courageous Leadership, LLC hosted The Science & Practice of Building Community Across Our Differences: Courageous Community Building.
Designed for people of all backgrounds, the event offered science-based, hands-on tools to strengthen connections with family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues; reduce polarization and foster understanding; and create a greater sense of belonging at home, at work, and in the community.
The event featured engaging activities and opportunities in a positive, collaborative atmosphere through thoughtful discussion, sharing, and interactive group exercises.
Featured speakers and facilitators included Jonathan Golden, Director, Center on Religion, Culture, & Conflict, Drew University; Brooke Deterline, CEO and Founder, Courageous Leadership, LLC; Ken White, Executive Consultant, Courageous Leadership, LLC; and Donald Proby, Executive Consultant, Courageous Leadership, LLC and Adjunct Professor, Drew University.
The evening combined Drew University’s Action Scholars program’s model of real-world problem-solving together with Courageous Leadership’s proven collaboration methods.
Ryan Hinrichs, Dean of Arts and Sciences and the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, welcomed the audience of students, faculty, staff, and members of the local community, highlighting the event as a space for connection and understanding. He emphasized the importance of teaching constructive dialogue across differences.
Golden introduced the contribution model, a methodology taught in Drew’s Conflict Resolution & Leadership program, encouraging self-reflection on individual roles in conflict rather than shifting blame. He underscored the themes of courage and humility, urging participants to consider the value in appreciating perspectives different from their own. “It takes humility to consider that we are not always correct,” he said. “And even if we are correct, can we find value or good in perspectives that vary from our own?”
Proby invited attendees to embrace silence as a foundation to building peace. “Sometimes silence can speak so beautifully, amazingly, omnipotently, preciously, exquisitely, divinely to us,” he said. “As a community, if we can give that to one another, we can give a lot.” He encouraged attendees to find courage to look beyond division and polarization. “Do not be afraid to love—what did we come to this planet for if not to love?” he asked.
“This event is a chance to learn powerful, research-based tools and experience firsthand the warmth and collaboration that makes Drew a hub for community building,” said Deterline. She highlighted the importance of curiosity and humility in connecting across divides, encouraging participants to move beyond assumptions and, instead, seek understanding.
“Courage is our ability to act on our values in the face of fear and discomfort,” said Deterline.
Throughout the session, speakers addressed the psychological impact of stress and threat in polarized interactions, describing how the brain’s “red zone” response limits reasoning and fuels defensive behaviors. They encouraged awareness of the physical sensations and thought patterns when entering this state and advocated for pausing to reconnect with values before acting.
