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Veterans Are Defending the Constitution against a New Enemy: The Secretary of War

Veterans Are Defending the Constitution against a New Enemy: The Secretary of War

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

Close up of people holding hands
Maki Nakamura/Getty Images
By Kristina Becvar,
Kristina Becvar

In her role as co-publisher of The Fulcrum and Executive Director of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, 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 operations and change management, coupled with her M.S. in data analytics and research methods, equips her with a powerful skill set. Kristina 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 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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Barbershops Are Helping Black Boys See Themselves as Readers

One of the barbershops participating in the Barbershop Books program.

Photo courtesy of Alvin Irby

Barbershops Are Helping Black Boys See Themselves as Readers

Barbershop Books, an organization whose award‑winning literacy programs celebrate, amplify, and affirm the interests of Black boys while inspiring kids to read for fun, has spent more than a decade transforming everyday community spaces into joyful reading hubs. That mission was on full display this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when the organization partnered with a neighborhood barbershop in the Bronx—Flava In Ya Hair—to offer free haircuts and free children’s books to local families.

As families examined stacks of Dog Man, Fly Guy, Captain Underpants, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, barbershop owner Patrick shared that growing up, reading was associated with negative school experiences and used as a punishment at home. “Go in your room and read!” he said.

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We Can’t Let Hegseth Win His War on Women

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When Hegseth ordered all top brass to assemble in Quantico in September, he declared women could either meet male standards for combat roles or get cut. Strong message, except the military was already doing that, so Hegseth was either oblivious or ignoring decades of history. Confusion aside, it reaffirmed a goal Hegseth has made clear since his Fox News days, when he said, “I'm straight up saying we should not have women in combat roles.” Now, as of January 6th, the Pentagon is planning a six-month review of women in ground combat jobs. It may come as no surprise, but this thinly veiled anti-woman agenda has no tactical security advantage.

When integrating women into combat roles was brought to Congress in 1993, a summary of findings submitted that, “although logical, such a policy would [erode] the civilizing notion that men should protect . . . women.” Archaic notions of the patriarchy almost outweighed logic; instead, luckily, as combat roles have become available to them, more and more women are now serving, increasing military readiness. As it turns out, women are highly effective in combat. Khris Fuhr, a West Point graduate who worked on gender integration at Army Forces Command, calls this new review "a solution for a problem that doesn't exist." She says an Army study between 2018 to 2023 showed women didn’t just perform well in ground combat units but sometimes scored even better than their male counterparts.

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Women holding signs to defend diversity at Havard

Harvard students joined in a rally protesting the Supreme Courts ruling against affirmative action in 2023.

Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Diversity Has Become a Dirty Word. It Doesn’t Have to Be.

I have an identical twin sister. Although our faces can unlock each other’s iPhones, even the two of us are not exactly the same. If identical twins can differ, wouldn’t most people be different too? Why is diversity considered a bad word?

Like me, my twin sister is in computing, yet we are unique in many ways. She works in industry, while I am in academia. She’s allergic to guinea pigs, while I had pet guinea pigs (yep, that’s how she found out). Even our voices aren’t the same. As a kid, I was definitely the chattier one, while she loved taking walks together in silence (which, of course, drove me crazy).

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DEI Dilemma? Start Building Community within Your Organization

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DEI Dilemma? Start Building Community within Your Organization

Amid the pushback to DEI, an essential truth often gets lost: You have agency over how you approach building diversity, equity, and inclusion into your organization.

No executive order or unhinged rant can change that.

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