The Tri-City Herald recently published an opinion piece by Jodi Sandfort, one of the leaders of the University of Washington Civic Health Initiative, in which she shares how the rebuilding of civic trust can help overcome partisan polarization.
To illustrate a path forward, she highlighted the success of the Washington Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute (WA-CELI), which is a program designed to rebuild civic trust and reduce partisan polarization among elected officials in Washington State. Developed by the UW Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and The William D. Ruckelshaus Center, WA-CELI fosters collaboration by helping leaders reconnect with their shared identity as public servants. Through training in conflict resolution, integrity-based leadership and community-focused service, the program demonstrates that bipartisan cooperation is possible when trust and mutual respect are prioritized.
Sandfort also emphasized that rebuilding civic trust is not just the responsibility of elected officials, but rather a collective effort. She introduced the Project for Civic Health, a statewide initiative promoting respectful engagement, constructive disagreement and the pursuit of common ground. By encouraging individuals and organizations to commit to these principles, the project aims to cultivate a culture of civic health across Washington.