Building Bridges, Not Walls: Fostering Collaboration, Trust, and Belonging in Our Tri-County Communities

 

The Aspen-to-Parachute corridor is shown here in a map provided by Aspen Community Foundation.

On Friday, June 27, 2025, I had the privilege of presenting at the CIVICO Colorado Governors Fellowship 2025 Regional Gathering in Glenwood Springs, CO. This gathering’s core purpose is to equip Coloradans for public service and civic leadership, with key outcomes including understanding our state’s challenges, developing competencies, strengthening networks, learning from public officials, and implementing individual development plans. It was an honor to contribute to such a vital initiative.

During the gathering, Fellows immersed themselves in crucial topics like our foundational economy, workforce, and housing. They also had the unique opportunity to learn directly from esteemed public officials like AG Phil Weiser and former Speaker Russell George, and hear from community leaders such as Darla Calloway of Habitat for Humanity. My session, “Collaboration, Competition, and Trust,” built directly on these rich insights, delving into the very essence of how our communities function and grow amidst the varying viewpoints and ideological differences in our tri-county region.

My presentation highlighted a crucial framework for understanding our regional dynamics: the concepts of “othering” and “belonging.” We discussed how “othering” – the process of marginalizing and creating division – often leads to “breaking” dynamics, where groups turn inwards and push others away. This fragmentation, unfortunately, directly impedes our collective progress.

Conversely, fostering a true sense of “belonging” within our communities encourages “bridging” – actively connecting across differences to build a more inclusive ‘we.’ As John A. Powell wisely states, “Bridging is a precondition for belonging. Without bridging, it is not possible to build a society in which everyone belongs.” While “bonding”(connecting with those like us) is essential for group cohesion, it is “bridging” that unlocks our true collaborative potential.

The Civic Capacity Challenge

My research, formalized in my thesis, applied the Civic Capacity Index (CCI) to our tri-county region. The CCI is a diagnostic tool that measures a community’s ability to collaboratively address complex challenges. Our findings indicate that Pitkin, Eagle, and Garfield Counties are currently ‘struggling’ in key areas such as Collaboration, Inclusion, Leadership, and Civic Culture. This ‘struggling’ status directly correlates with instances where “breaking” dynamics overshadow “bridging” efforts.

This data underscores a vital truth: the persistent challenges we face in areas like affordable housing (as discussed by panelists Kelly McNicholas Kury, Cristina Gair, and Betsy Crum) and workforce development (with insights from Carolyn Tucker and Mark Gregory) cannot be solved by any single person, organization, or sector alone. They require a concerted, collaborative effort – a commitment to fostering belonging and actively building bridges.

Adaptive Leadership: A Path Forward

Drawing on the principles of Adaptive Leadership, we explored how to navigate these complex issues. We recognized that many barriers to collaboration are “adaptive challenges”—meaning they require changes in our beliefs, values, and relationships, not just technical solutions. Barriers like differing perspectives, a lack of process, trust deficits, and resistance to change are often symptoms of underlying “othering” at play.

The session engaged participants in rich discussions, identifying local examples of these adaptive challenges and brainstorming practical “bridging opportunities.” It became clear that strengthening our civic capacity demands:

  • Defining a Shared Civic Culture: Actively creating common ground and inclusive narratives.
  • Increasing Leadership Capacity for Bridging: Investing in leaders who can skillfully facilitate connections across differences.
  • Implementing Formal Collaborative Processes: Providing the structures and tools that support effective “bridging” efforts.

Building Bridges, One Step at a Time

The energy and engagement from the CIVICO Fellows were inspiring. It’s clear that while the path to deeper collaboration and a thriving civic culture may be challenging, it is absolutely essential for the resilience and prosperity of our tri-county region. As the Fellows continue their journey with their upcoming Regional Gathering 5 in Grand Junction in September and the Commencement Celebration in Denver in October, I am confident they will carry these insights forward. Each of us has a role to play in fostering belonging and initiating “bridging” efforts—one conversation, one partnership, one willingness to see beyond the “other” at a time. Kudos to D.J. Wheeter, Matt Jordan, and Leslie Townsend for this engaging opportunity for leaders in Colorado!

Let’s continue to build those bridges.

Andrea Palm-Porter