Trust, perhaps above all else, is fundamental to a strong nation. When we lack trust—in institutions, information, and one another—our mutual connections and shared values collapse into short-sightedness. It is no way for a society to function.

For decades, there has been an alarming decline in trust among Americans. More than 60% of people believe it’s no longer possible to have civil debates about climate change, justice reform, or other critical issues.

To strengthen trust, we must repair the structures that allow it to flourish and look for ways to build new ones. This will require leaders with vision, energy, and moral courage—qualities that the Aspen Institute fosters through the daily work of our programs and initiatives.

This week, we kick off a six-part series on trust by highlighting a few ways the Institute is preparing leaders with the skills they need to rebuild—and reimagine—an interconnected, trusting society.

Faith traditions can teach us a lot about healing societal divisions. The Aspen Global Leadership Network and the Religion and Society Program asked spiritual leaders Simran Jeet Singh, Rev. Jen Bailey, and Adam Taylor for advice on how to move past unhealthy conflict and ground ourselves in empathy.

Key takeaways:

• Our lives are intertwined. This tenet shows up in multiple faith traditions, and embracing it makes it easier to love our neighbor.

• Faith allows us to reimagine society. We can create a space where neither punishment nor privilege is based on who you are, what you look like, what you believe, or who you love.

• We can’t just “build bridges.” First, we must establish a collective vision of what we are trying to accomplish.

Read more and watch the clips here.

Moving forward rarely happens without reaching across the aisle. The Socrates Program counters polarization by bringing together emerging leaders from a multitude of political viewpoints. In their seminar sessions, leaders are given the skills and motivation to approach one another with openness, bridging divides and strengthening American democracy. Read more.

Want to Improve Trust? The Secret Is Listening

At last year’s Resnick Aspen Action Forum, leaders from across the world gathered around the theme of collective leadership, exploring what is old and new about the divides of our current moment. In one session, Ana María Vallarino, a Central America Leadership Initiative fellow, and Ashley Bell, a Civil Society fellow, discussed why the first step to rebuilding trust is understanding the sources of distrust. This conversation and the rest are a treasure trove of resources for leaders.

Navigating These Turbulent Times Could Define Your Leadership

There is a strong link between effective leadership and the state of public trust. Business, nonprofit, and government leaders have a platform—and therefore an obligation—to create space for meaningful, inclusive dialogue. Approaching trust as an effective leader means prioritizing alignment over agreement, encouraging support systems, and creating brave spaces. Read more tips here.

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