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Who Is Really Running the Federal Government? Hint, It’s Not Donald Trump

Who Is Really Running the Federal Government? Hint, It’s Not Donald Trump

Just the Facts: Trump’s 35% Canadian Tariff and Canada’s Response

Just the Facts: Trump’s 35% Canadian Tariff and Canada’s Response

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Is the U.S. Heading to a Police State? Trump Executive Orders and Project 2025 Raise Alarms

Is the U.S. Heading to a Police State? Trump Executive Orders and Project 2025 Raise Alarms

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One community at a time: A pledge for hope and unity

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Maki Nakamura/Getty Images
By Kristina Becvar,
Kristina Becvar

In her role as co-publisher of The Fulcrum, Executive Director of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, and project manager for the Citizen Connect initiative, she is a driving force behind collaborative efforts to transform our democracy. Recognizing that no single idea or organization can address our complex challenges in isolation, Kristina excels in blending intuitive leadership with data-driven insights. Her extensive background in legal operations and change management, coupled with her M.S. in data analytics and research methods, equips her with a powerful skill set. Kristina’s expertise in research is rivaled only by her passion for nonviolence advocacy, amplified by her experiences as the spouse of a disabled combat veteran. Her practical knowledge of business and project management, combined with her connection to a vibrant community of changemakers, brings a focused approach to the essential work required for a thriving democratic republic.

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David L. Nevins
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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May 15, 2024

Becvar and Nevins are co-publishers of The Fulcrum. Becvar is executive director of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, and Nevins is the the organization’s co-founder and board chairman.

In this time of division, the rise of hatred based on race, religion and ethnicity casts long shadows across our communities. Inspiring movements like the Central Florida Pledge highlight the paths we can take toward unity and acceptance.

Central Florida is renowned for its spirit of inclusivity, welcoming people from diverse backgrounds. The pledge is a community-led initiative that looks to uphold and strengthen this tradition by creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who calls Central Florida home.

It is crafting a future filled with hope and unity by asking residents to sign the pledge and become involved in creating a community where respect and shared goals are at the forefront.

It envisions a community where everyone, without exception, feels safe and respected, regardless of faith, race, gender, ethnicity, culture, beliefs or identity. They believe that our diversity is not just a buzzword but a true strength, and they are committed to creating a community where everyone can thrive.

The pledge’s values can be an inspiration to us all.

Inclusion: We believe that everyone belongs in Central Florida, and we are committed to creating a community where everyone feels welcome.
Respect: We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background.
Education: We believe that education is essential to combating hate and discrimination. We are committed to educating ourselves and others about the dangers of prejudice and bigotry.
Action: We believe that words are not enough. We are committed to taking action to create a more just and equitable community.

How wonderful would it be if citizens from across the country asked residents from their town, city or region to step forward and join this transformative movement by signing a pledge advocating for a community that values understanding and mutual respect.

Check out the video to learn more about how they are doing this in Central Florida. It’s time to build a harmonious future together!

Tired of Toxic Dialogue? Ready to Be Part of Something Bigger? Join Central Florida’s Call to Unity!www.youtube.com

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Fulcrum Roundtable: June Rewind
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Photo by Miko Guziuk on Unsplash

Fulcrum Roundtable: June Rewind

Welcome to the Fulcrum Roundtable, formerly known as Democracy in Action, where you will find insights and discussions with Fulcrum's collaborators on some of the most talked-about topics.

Consistent with the Fulcrum's mission, this program aims to share diverse perspectives to broaden our readers' viewpoints.

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A Promise in the Making: Thirty-Five Years of the ADA

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One July morning in 1990, a crowd gathered on the White House lawn, some in wheelchairs, others holding signs, many with tears in their eyes. President George H.W. Bush lifted his pen and signed his name to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—the most sweeping civil rights law for people with disabilities in the nation's history. It was a moment three decades in the making: a rare convergence of activism, outrage, and legislative will. The ADA's promise was simple—no longer would disability mean exclusion from public life—but its implications were anything but.

Thirty-five years later, the ADA remains a landmark, a legal bulwark against discrimination, and a symbol of hard-won visibility for a community that has been too often relegated to the margins. Yet, like every civil rights law, the ADA's story is more complex than a single signature or a morning in Washington. Its passage and its legacy have always been about more than ramps and regulations.

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Illinois Camp Gives Underrepresented Kids an Opportunity To Explore New Pathways

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Credit: ethswildkits instagram

Illinois Camp Gives Underrepresented Kids an Opportunity To Explore New Pathways

Summer camps in Evanston, Illinois — a quiet suburb just north of Chicago — usually consist of an array of different sports, educational programs, and even learning how to sail. But one thing is obviously apparent throughout the city’s camps: they’re almost all white.

Despite Black or African American families making up nearly 16% of Evanston’s population, Black kids are massively underrepresented throughout the city's summer camps.

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Today, Hispanic-Serving Institutions enroll 64 percent of all Latino college students.

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The Tennessee Attorney General has partnered with a conservative legal nonprofit to sue the U.S. Department of Education over programming that supports Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), colleges, and universities where at least 25% of the undergraduate full-time equivalent student enrollment is Hispanic. On its face, this action claims to oppose “discriminatory” federal funding. In reality, it is part of a broader and deeply troubling trend: a coordinated effort to dismantle educational opportunity for communities of color under the guise of anti-DEI rhetoric.

As a scholar of educational policy and leadership in higher education, I believe we must confront policies that narrow access and undermine equity in education for those who have been historically underserved. What is happening in Tennessee is not just a misguided action—it’s a self-inflicted wound that will harm the state's economic future and deepen historical inequality.

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