A Conversation on Faith, Politics, and Bridging Divides with Robert Traynham
Source: Reach Media / Urban One
Faith and politics often feel like opposing forces in today’s polarized world, but Robert Traynham, the President and CEO of the Faith and Politics Institute, is working to change that narrative. With a mission rooted in fostering democracy and understanding, he leads an organization that brings people together—even those with opposing views.
Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Traynham to discuss his vision for the institute, the significance of the 60th anniversary of the Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage, and how meaningful connections between leaders can pave the way for unity and progress.
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GUMEC
So as the new President and CEO of the Faith and Politics Institute will tell us, your vision for the organization today?
ROBERT TRAYNHAM
Yeah, the vision is just as it was 30 years ago, and that is to bring people together to advance democracy. We bring members of Congress together So that they can get to know each. That sounds so silly, but candidly, most of the Congress don’t know each other. And to advance democracy and to be very declarative about faith and politics. What matters is is that you have a belief in that you have a strong belief in that higher being and that calling is to help advance democracy. That’s what we’re all about.
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GUMEC
So coming Friday is the 60th anniversary of the Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage of Bloody Sunday in Selma, AL. And understand you are leading the commemoration. So how do you see this milestone shaping conversation around civil rights?
ROBERT TRAYNHAM
So our whole ethos and our motto is looking back to walk forward together. And 60 years ago, as you know, there was the civil rights March that crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge with. There was a lot of bloodshed back then, and what we now know about back then, from 60 years ago. That there was a lot of people, a lot of foot soldiers that shed blood to make sure that we had equal rights. And so you’re fast forward to today, ironically, it’s like deja vu all over. We’re having the same conversation about dignity and about rights and making sure that voices are heard. So what we want to do is to make sure that we honor the past and we upon the past. And measure that impact from 60 years ago. But then very quickly take those lessons learned and apply to today.
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GUMEC
We definitely need that the faith and Politics Institute emphasizes bridging divides, right? So how do you plan to create spaces where leaders with opposing views can find common ground?
ROBERT TRAYNHAM
You know, it’s so sad to say this, but this is. Many members of Congress do not know each other on a personal. Their families do not know each other and what we know is that when you get to know someone, you understand their idiosyncrasies. You understand their likes and dislikes, you understand quite frankly, where they’re coming from. We all have different backgrounds. You hopefully develop a relationship with that person where you understand their. So what we literally do is take members of Congress outside of Washington, DC for three straight days, all day Friday, all day Saturday and all day Sunday with their families. And we allow them to reflect, we allow them to sit next to each other and have a quiet conversation about what they just learned. We allow them the space without any cameras, without any reporters around, just to get to know each other. We allow members of Congress to be moms and dads, and hopefully thus in the process, develop relationships with their colleagues to advance democracy.
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A Conversation on Faith, Politics, and Bridging Divides with Robert Traynham was originally published on getuperica.com
