AN UNCOMMON ORGANIZATION

 

Since the 2024 election of Donald Trump, it has been difficult to find an uplifting story that addresses the issues that divide us as a nation, a state, and as a community. One local concerned citizen and her “uncommon” organization have given me hope that there may be a way forward.

Several years ago, I worked with Emily Holmes and other local citizens on a project to reform Washington County’s form of government. I was impressed with Holmes’ ideas to improve local government and with her years of service as a North Strabane Supervisor.

When Holmes appeared on the front page of the Dec. 20, 2024 Observer Reporter at a townhall meeting in Charleroi in her role as Senior State Program Officer for Common Ground USA (CGUSA), I knew there was an important story to be told. Holmes recently sat down with me to explain the mission of CGUSA and its uncommon approach to foster community healing from political violence.

Holmes’ previous work as a consultant serendipitously made her aware of CGUSA and its domestic projects at a roundtable she attended. When an opening in Pennsylvania was posted by the organization, she eagerly applied and was accepted for the position.

CGUSA initiated a “Resilient States Project,” focusing on Pennsylvania and Texas. The aim in the Commonwealth was to “pull together diverse society leaders to prevent, defuse, and respond to political violence.” The broad definition of political violence was “threats, harassment, intimidation, and physical actions used to limit who participates in public life.” The goal was that “over the long term, this prevention work would allow us to strengthen social cohesion and build collective resilience throughout the Commonwealth.”

Why focus on Pennsylvania? CGUSA had determined that political violence tied to elections and elected officials was “especially acute” in our state. Moreover, recent events placed Southwestern Pennsylvania at the epicenter of political violence. First, on July 13, 2024, the assassination attempt on then former President Trump occurred at the Butler County Fairgrounds, while he was campaigning. Second, in Charleroi, Washington County during and after the election, scapegoating of the Haitian immigrant population became a national issue and caused major disruption to the community. CGUSA believed that it had the proven formulae and resources to tap down the political violence. It could “bring people together across dividing lines to transform conflict into collaboration.”

The parent organization of CGUSA, Search for Common Ground, has over four decades of international experience in conflict zones across the world. It has been successful in humanizing neighbors and in addressing misconceptions that tear communities apart. Its experience in applying tested evidence-based interventions was introduced in Pennsylvania. Working in the background, out of the limelight, CGUSA provides “resources, connection, and thought partnership for communities experiencing the effects of political violence but who were unsure on how to move forward.”

In connection with the assassination attempt at the Butler County Fairgrounds, CGUSA supported a public vigil of local faith leaders to “come together to cleanse and reclaim the farm show grounds for its intended purpose.” 

At the Charleroi townhall meeting on Dec. 18, 2024, CGUSA joined with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to offer support for the under siege Haitian community. Holmes explained at the meeting that, “Local leaders should foster opportunities for community cohesion. It’s a lot harder for a person to say they hate someone or a group of people if they meet that person or someone in that group personally.”

Holmes pointed to the efforts of Washington’s Republican State Senator, Camera Bartolotta, in encouraging cooperation. The Senator pushed back against members of her own party to offer her support for the Haitian community. Bartolotta criticized those who would “disparage these hard-working people who have escaped atrocities and who are here legally to work, and pay taxes, and raise their children, and be part of the community.” Bartolotta’s words were important because research shows that individuals who distrust national leaders still respect local officials.

Following the election, CGUSA sponsored “Love Anyway Feasts,” a campaign to remind Americans of the power of community and “to offer an alternative to ‘us and them’ politics.” The vision was “to see people walk away from this political season and still love their families, friends, and neighbors: especially ones who voted differently than them.”

In January, such an event, supported by CGUSA, took place in Charleroi. As reported by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, “On a recent Saturday evening, about 75 people crowded into a small room at an event center, where a local performer sang an original song he titled, ‘Better Together.’ After they piled their plates with pizza, Haitian and Liberian cuisine, the attendees sat down next to strangers they, on a surface level, had little in common with. And then they talked.”

Holmes attended the event and offered some sage advice on why such events are important. “Local leaders already have experience working across dividing lines to get things done – I mean, you don’t need to be associated with a certain party to agree to fix a pothole.” Clearly, her years of experience as a North Strabane Supervisor are serving Holmes well as an ambassador for CGUSA.

Those of us who closely follow politics are unfortunately drawn to social media and our favorite cable news station. Confirmation bias reinforces our distrust and polarization, even in our own communities. As an alternative, Holmes’ uncommon organization can lead us to some common ground.