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Change leaders: Emma Petty Addams, Mormon Women for Ethical Government

Emma Petty Addams
Courtesy Mormon Women for Ethical Government
David L. Nevins
By David L. NevinsFeb 09, 2024
David L. Nevins
David L. Nevins serves as co-publisher of The Fulcrum. Additionally, Nevins serves as co-founder and Board Chairman of the Bridge Alliance. Nevins brings business acumen, vision and a tireless this-must-and-can-be-done zeal to the burgeoning movement to bridge divides to transform the political process. As a business leader, Nevins excels at building bridges between people and organizations from the right, left and center for civilized conversation and then action. He co-founded the Bridge Alliance because, as he says, “No matter how well managed and how well funded anyone organization is, significant political reform will not happen without an alliance to further collaborative interactions. Together we can and will raise the collective impact of all.” He is a member of the Aspen Institute Society of Fellows, with a focus on the Aspen Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership, he established and continues to work with The Nevins Democracy Leaders program at Penn State University. Nevins graduated with honors in economics from Penn State in 1969 and received an M.B.A. in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1971.
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Nevins is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.

Emma Petty Addams is the executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, whose mission is to inspire women of faith to be ambassadors of peace who transcend partisanship and courageously advocate for ethical government.

“One of the missions of [Mormon Women for Ethical Government] is to empower everyday women of our faith to proactively use our voices in the public sphere as we improve our communities,” Addams said. “We are grateful for this opportunity to join in prayer across a diversity of faiths to remember those who are suffering and to bless our nation at this time.”

MWEG’s follows a series of foundational principles and practices to ensure continuity of its mission and vision:

  • The Six Principles of Peacemaking
  • The Four Core Attributes (Faithful. Nonpartisan. Peaceful. Proactive).
    • Faithful: MWEG will never oppose any stance taken by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nor criticize the church or its leadership. “We also recognize God’s hand in the formation of MWEG and continue to seek God’s guidance in all we do,” the group writes. “We believe in, exercise faith in, and seek to reflect in our own lives the example of Jesus Christ.”
    • Nonpartisan: MWEG is open to members of all political parties who agree to abide by the group’s principles and guidelines. MWEG does not endorse candidates or take partisan positions.
    • Peaceful: In addition to following the Six Principles of Peacemaking, MWEG is committed to civil discourse, healing the partisan divide, and “genuine honor and respect for every other human being that emerges from an acknowledgement that we are all children of the same God and, hence, sisters and brothers.”
    • Proactive: MWEG is a watchdog for ethical government and wil act “after appropriate and prayerful discussion, research, and strategizing.”
  • Focusing on ethics, including the use of “for Ethical Government” in the group’s name.
  • Closing in observance of the Sabbath.
  • Commitment to a “cooperative, synergistic organizational model.”
  • Being “a space for the schooling, growth, and development of God’s daughters” by having only women members.

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Emma for the CityBiz “Meet the Change Leaders” series. Watch to learn the full extent of her remarkable work and perhaps you’ll become more civically engaged as well.

David L Nevins interviews Emma Addamswww.youtube.com

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