Gracism is a positive approach aimed at helping unite people through respect and kindness, regardless of racial, cultural, and social differences. It offers a way to address divisions and cultural conflicts in a manner that promotes understanding and collaboration. This concept originated in the United States, where it was developed by Dr. David Anderson, and has since reached many countries and cultures, bringing opportunities to build bridges between different people around the world. Gracism helps build trust, respect, and unity, especially in regions where divisions are deep.
What is Gracism?
Gracism is a framework for bridging deep divides of color, class, and culture. It equips a person to have a positive response to the negative problem of racism and cultural division in this world. Gracism helps builds a person’s confidence to address issues of cultural conflict and division in their personal life and in their professional leadership. It brings hope, affirms dignity, and connects communities.
How did this movement start?
Dr David Anderson developed this bridgebuilding approach as a way to counter the division, damage, and disparity caused by the painful presence of racism in the United States. He after founded and grew a multicultural church, which now includes 5000 people weekly from over 60 different nations in its congregation, he began helping other leaders develop the skills and strategies to lead in multicultural contexts. The principles of Gracism were developed from lessons learned in the Christian scriptures, but have now been applied across many faith based and secular organizations, in academic institutions, in businesses, across diverse political landscapes, and with leaders around the world.
Where has Gracism spread so far, and where do you aim for it to expand next?
Gracism has truly gone global. Gracism has spoken to racial division in the cities of Ferguson, Baltimore, Nashville, and many more during times of civil unrest in the United States.
Around the world, the Gracism team has brought this bridgebuilding presence to cultural divides and conflicts in Lebanon, Ukraine, Kenya, Israel/Gaza, the UK and more.
Gracism Global is honored to have now established its newest global work in the Western Balkans and looks forward to expanding its friendships to all of the Western Balkans Countries.
How is designed to reach a broad audience?
Within the Gracism approach, the Gracism Global team is invited into situations around the world to convene transformative conversations. The goal is that wherever there is a divide, Gracism sets up a table and invites people from all sides to sit and have a conversation. Distance demonizes but compression begins with conversation. It is often at these tables of diverse thought, experience, and perspective that unique solutions are found. It is this type of dialogue facilitation that gives the Gracism team a unique ability to bridge divides all over the world
What are the core pillars of Gracism?
As for a definition, Gracism is the positive extension of favor to other people regardless of, and sometimes because of, their color, class, and culture. The Gracism framework is made up of eight principles that are action steps that a person can implement in their life and leadership. They can integrate these principles throughout their whole organization, business, university, political strategy, and even their family. The principles are designed to replace specific negative impact areas of racial and cultural division with positive bridge building movement.
The eight principles, known as “The Eight Sayings of a Gracist”, are as follows:
I will lift you up – ensuring those that are pushed down, and crushed are offered opportunities and assistance to rise toward success
I will cover you – ensuring that the vulnerable are not exposed to harm or exploited for other’s gain
I will share with you – generously opening up networks and resources to those that lack societal advantages and opportunities
I will honor you – taking those that are often overlooked and disregarded and bringing attention to their valuable contributions and uniqueness
I will stand with you – offering personal support and physical presence to those experiencing a struggle and fighting for the rights of themselves and people like them
I will consider you – intentionally listening to the perspectives and needs of those that are often ignored or silenced
I will celebrate with you – taking time to truly communicate a congratulations to those people and people groups who are experiencing a positive moment as a way to communicate human value even across division and difference.
I will heal with you – moving with empathetic presence and compassionate action toward people as they and their communities experience personal and collective pain.
The Balkans is a community of small states that need a stable climate and interaction. What would you suggest the Balkans should “embrace” from Gracism in order to have a positive impact?
Gracism can be an incredible tool to help the Balkans move toward greater stability. One significant aspect of stability is trust. Trust between leaders and those through society. Trust between those from each of the Balkans Countries with those from the others. This trust filled stability will help to truly build a foundation for a healthy region where all people have the opportunity to flourish together.
There are two ways that Gracism can help to build trust among the people of the Balkans.
1. Trust filled stability is achieved through the consistent demonstration of actions that show honor. Gracism lays out a roadmap of action that the leaders and people of the Balkans can follow to communicate this message of honor to build the stability they are looking for. When the eight sayings of a Gracist are applied, historical division is addressed and future unity is built. This is not just about introducing new philosophical ideas but it is building trust based on actions that can be lived out together by all people at all levels of government and society.
2. Trust filled stability is achieved through the pursuit of greater understanding across lines of difference. Gracism teaches that compression begins with conversation. As those in the Balkans use difference as a doorway to dialogue there will be significant gains in mutual understanding and the building of trust filled relationships. All of this counteracts the demonization of the “other” and replaces it with seeing the value of and developing true connection with those from different colors, classes, and cultures.
Can you give a message to the people in the Balkans? What should they do to be a “bridge” in the society?
I would simply say, “become a Gracist.” The two best sayings of a Gracist to begin to implement right now are the last two. I will celebrate with you and I will heal with you. This is about intentionally reaching out to those that believe and live differently than you, both on their best days and on their worst days. Whether it is to call to celebrate with a simple congratulations, or meeting them in their time of need to express empathy and compassion. There is power in showing up for another person especially when you are crossing deep divides. There is always an opportunity to build a transformational bridge of Grace.
