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This is
Mindbridge. To Change Hearts and Minds, We First Must Learn How to
Where science meets human rights.
Connection and “bridging” between psychological and neurobiological
Access Them.
knowledge is essential to creating long-lasting, effective change. For human rights defenders to find ways to eliminate racist rhetoric and extremist ideology, methods historically steeped in policy and reporting must take an integrated approach. Research indicates that up to 95% of our behaviors are unconscious. For decades the fields of psychology and neuroscience have investigated the deep-seated drivers of human rights abuses such as bias, racism,
Mindbridge is a nonprofit organization dedicated
discrimination and dehumanization of social groups as well as the mechanisms
to transforming the impact of local, national and
underlying empathy, healing and empowerment.
international human rights work by integrating psychological and neurobiological applied science.
It is ultimately through our understanding of how the brain gives rise to the mind that we no longer work to simply combat human rights abuses in an
The time is now. The last few years have seen
endless cycle of violence, but guide the psyche towards the strengthening
an unprecedented rise in human rights abuses
of society built upon the tenets of human rights itself.
worldwide powered by autocratic systems, climate
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change and the most recent pandemic. The
Today, Mindbridge translates and applies the latest in psychological and
same period has seen remarkable advances in
neurobiological research to encourage and leverage rights-based, inclusive
psychological and neurobiological research, where
public narratives; counter hate speech and race-based violence and design
investigators unlock the unconscious and often
preventative measures to impede human rights abuses before they begin –
implicit drivers underlying bias, hate and…possibility.
all becoming effective parts of the tool kits of human rights advocates.
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A MULTILAYERED APPROACH
The Layers of Progress
Mindbridge activities work towards: • The elimination of racism, discrimination and othering • The establishment of human rights doctrine • The healing and centering of marginalized voices
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Strategies
Engagement
1
Domains of
Directives
Goals &
The heart of the Mindbridge practice consists of a 3-dimensional design.
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Directives and goals are tailored to their
In order to be considered for development,
region of engagement: local, national or
Mindbridge projects must fall into one (or
international areas of implementation.
more) of five strategies for implementation:
Dimensions 1 and 2 are layered to inform programming moving forward.
• Application • Assessment • Education • Research • Mobilization Each represents a unique approach to fulfilling the Mindbridge directives and goals.
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GOALS & DIRECTIVES
Eliminating Racism & Discrimination
OV E RV I E W
To achieve basic human rights – including the right to life, liberty, free
Eleanor Roosevelt was head of the US delegation and chair of the
speech, health and education – we have to address both the historic
drafting committee, and while she personally supported White,
as well as contemporary way in which bias, racism and discrimination
the committee rejected the proposal. A historic moment for human
is used to undermine them. Mindbridge applies the vast realm of
rights was lost and from that point forward the U.S. relationship with
psychology and neurobiological research to these ends.
human rights would take an international orientation, failing decade
The concept of human rights as a common standard and goal gained urgency in the wake of World War II and the Holocaust. The United
after decade to address its own human rights abuses in the past as well as in the current day.
Nations spearheaded the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a
In order to promote human rights within the Unites States, we
historic document adopted and co-signed in 1948 by nations around
must reckon with our past and address the way in which racism
the globe. However, there is an asterisk to the story.
and discrimination has impacted millions, both at home as well
In 1947 Mr. Walter White, then president of the NAACP, submitted a brief to the human rights committee entitled, “An Appeal to the World: A Statement of Denial of Human Rights to Minorities in the Case of Citizens of Negro Descent in the United States of America
as abroad. As a result, much of Mindbridge’s programming is oriented around leveraging the latest in psychological and neurobiological science towards addressing and mitigating bias, racism and discrimination.
and an Appeal to the United Nations for Redress.” Former First Lady
HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM
The Implicit Bias Project The Implicit Bias Project (IBP) is a comprehensive training program customized for organizations public sector groups (such
HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM
Addressing Hate: Assessing Attitudes and Awareness of Hate Crimes, Hate Speech and Discrimination.
as schools and communities) and government offices seeking to create more just and equitable environments. Short to long-term
This study aims at providing an understanding of public
trainings capitalize on our neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to
attitudes and awareness of: (a) the rights of minorities and
change over time) to mitigate bias and discriminatory behavior.
vulnerable groups within the United States, (b) the occurrence
Whenever possible Mindbridge works to sync with community-
and experience of discrimination, hate speech and race-based
led efforts currently underway to dismantle structures of
violence as well as (c) state legislation against discrimination,
oppression and othering.
hate speech and hate crimes. Further this research aims at linking public attitudes and awareness to existing redress mechanisms and their effectiveness.
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GOALS & DIRECTIVES
We cannot make decisions and take action on something we have no experience with. So, if we want people to support and promote human rights, we need to start telling them what that looks like. If we only tell them what abuse of human rights looks like, that’s all they will know.”
HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM
Recognizing Human Rights
Laura Ligouri, E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r, Mindbridge in an interview for Oxfam, N a r r a t i v e Po w e r & Collective Action, Vo l . 1
HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM
Maine Human Rights Summit
JustLabs
Maine joined the world in celebrating Human Rights Day on
JustLabs is a nonprofit organization that seeks to catalyze
December 10, 2019 though the launch of the Maine Human Rights
collaboration across the human rights field. Recognizing that
Summit, which provided an opportunity for members of Maine’s
this moment in human rights history is not necessarily an “end
diverse human rights communities to come together, learn how to
time” or “crisis” within the field, but a moment of profound
better advocate for one another, to stand for our collective civil,
transition, JustLabs seeks to support this transition through
economic, political and cultural rights, and to support each other’s
radical collaboration and reinvention of the human rights
efforts. Mindbridge founded the summit and organized the
narrative. Mindbridge supports JustLabs sessions around
planning committee comprised of Catholic Charities – Maine
the globe working with organizations in Armenia, Australia,
Refugee Immigration services, Cross Cultural Community
Kazakhstan, Mexico, Russia and Ukraine.
Services, Preble Street – Anti-Trafficking Services, EqualityMaine, Restorative Justice Institute of Maine, the Maine Human Rights Commission, the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine as well as UnifyMaine.
In these sessions, 3-4 clients (nonprofit human rights organizations centrally positioned within their respective countries) are selected for the work and paired with JustLabs representatives and support team members (such as Mindbridge) to engage I activities that reinvent the organization’s
OV E RV I E W
narrative and path forward. When necessary, Mindbridge follows human rights is understood and actively constructed within society.
necessarily sought to bring human rights abuses to light. However
Research from psychology and neuroscience have shown why this
the simultaneously rise of populist governments throughout the
change is imperative highlighting (1) how repeated exposure to
world has led to a suppression of human rights actors, delegitimizing
accounts of human rights abuses may inadvertently prime individuals
the value of human rights as a concept in their societies and
to engage in the very acts we hope to eliminate while (2) the brain’s
hindering the effectiveness of traditional monitoring and reporting
ability to imagine or simulate new experiences is fundamentally
practices. Some had called this the “end times” for the human
based on our ability to remember. Without a way to envision what is
rights experiment as mounting pressure exposed the fault lines
human rights is, we cannot build it.
Neuropsych HRD Lab –
Mindbridge is dedicated to harnessing psychological and
Psychology & Neuroscience for Human Rights Defenders in Online Course
and blind spots of contemporary practice. Others saw this as an opportunity: an opportunity to retool the human rights playbook by moving beyond conventional audiences and building bridges while, importantly, crafting a new narrative that moves away from traditional methods of naming and shaming to one that actively crafts a vision of human rights in today’s society. Today’s human rights must do more than documenting and monitoring human rights violations but work to craft the way in which
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the nonprofit organization, contributing support for the project as
Throughout the last few decades, much human rights work has
it continues outside of the JustLabs arena.
HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM
neurobiological science where a new model of human rights is made manifest in the world. In-house research emphasizes the need to
The Neuropsych HRD Lab is an intensive, hands-on online learning event that makes accessible fundamental psychological and
devise messaging and programming that actively promotes what
neurobiological processes for human-rights defenders. Grounded in research and filled with interactive activities built to critically engage
human rights is as a means for producing it. Mindbridge programming
with and apply psychological and neurobiological insight to human rights programming, media and intervention design, this course
in this arena capitalizes on the latest research to help support human
fosters the knowledge and skills necessary to bridge science to application. The HRD Lab is a collaborative effort built in partnership with
rights messaging, campaign development and programming.
Thomas Coombes (former Head of Brand & Deputy Director of Communications at Amnesty International and founder of Hope-Based Communications) and Gabe Twose, Senior International Affairs Officer at the American Psychological Association.
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GOALS & DIRECTIVES
Healing & Centering of Marginalized Voices
HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM
HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM
Emotional Resiliency
Addressing Hate:
in the Time of COVID-19
Assessing Attitudes and Awareness of Hate Crimes, Hate Speech and Discrimination.
Mindbridge responded to the crisis with Managing Stress & Cultivating Emotional Resiliency in the Time of COVID-19, an
This project aims to develop a way for human rights groups to
interactive online seminar designed to address the neuropsychology
counter online hate speech by marketing social media content
of the moment. The session including an exploration of emotion,
that nurtures tolerance, empathy and solidarity. Social media
anxiety, loneliness, the impact of social media consumption during
offers an unprecedented platform for disseminating hate speech
a pandemic among other topics. The seminar was designed in
that can expose entire groups of people to overwhelming levels
partnership with Arabella Perez, LCSW, within the University of
of dehumanizing rhetoric that lays the groundwork for atrocities
Because healing is too often an afterthought to harm, Mindbridge has recently added this third
New England’s Social Work & Trauma Certificate program. Ms.
and other human rights abuses.
directive and goal to its corpus of work in order to provide a means by which neuroscience and
Perez facilitated conversations around coping mechanisms and
psychology can support healing.
incorporated activities for participants to help develop emotional
OV E R V I E W
In evaluating trauma, how are we considering the ways in which individuals and communities persevere under difficult circumstances? What are the means by which we restore mental, physical and spiritual health following decades of discrimination and bias?
resiliency throughout this time. Sessions were capped at 100 participants each and filled within 48 hours, with individuals throughout the United States participating.
It can also be used to “rehumanize” those people in the eyes of target audiences. Using psychology, neuroscience and the latest research in communication design, this project will test whether rights groups can adapt to this digital landscape and nurture tolerance and respect by using social media to promote pro-social behavior with positive, unifying stories delivered to the social media feeds of specific audience segments. The project will start with psychologically-tested focus groups to identify what stories most effectively instill tolerance, unity and connections that can withstand divisive “us vs them” rhetoric and build support and trust between communities that others seek to divide. This project will pilot in Myanmar working to mitigate fears, prejudices and other societal factors contributing to the Rohingya genocide while centering the production of rehumanizing content in an effort to promote safe repatriation of Rohingya refugees back to their home country.
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DOMAINS & ENGAGEMENT
STRATEGIES
R EG I O N
R EG I O N
Local
National
Mindbridge works with a range of organizations within the state
The United States is a study in contrasts: the home of the
of Maine, including municipalities, schools, nonprofit organizations,
Declaration of Independence and white supremacy, the land of
police department and beyond. Topics are often oriented around
genocide and opportunity, a beacon of equality, safety and asylum,
considerations related to bias, racism and discrimination as
and a bastion of sink-or-swim capitalism. Our contradictions and
well as methods of improving equitable practices within schools
strengths make the U.S. a unique environment for human rights
and communities.
work, where divergent views and opinions have real-world impact
Educate
Research
The latest science is made accessible through workshops,
Interdisciplinary methods and procedures are used to design,
seminars and publications.
collect and analyze data answering questions of central importance to human rights organizations and civil society spaces
Mobilize Setting in motion new concepts, understanding and
Apply
partnerships that catalyze movements forward.
Research and methodology is tested, adapted and practiced in real-world scenarios to affect change
in people’s lives. Mindbridge links the understandings of the deep
Assess
psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that help to drive
Psychological and neurobiological tools are used to
social conflict and violence to the societal and historical roots of
help evaluate program performance and impact.
American society to transform human rights in our own backyard.
R EG I O N
International Human rights work has a rich palette of international expression. What is less common and desperately needed is the application of psychology and neuroscience within the international landscape. Mindbridge international work often partners with large government organizations, such as the European Union – Fundamental Rights Agency, or large nongovernmental organizations, such as Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International, to work with a diverse array of human rights defenders from all over the globe.
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Will you join us? Today, science advocacy in both public policy as well as civil society is not simply important, it is crucial. Numerous public articles detail the myriad ways in which populist administrations world-wide have worked to discredit, and at times, remove scientists from scientific panels and from engaging directly with the public themselves. The advent of fake news means conspiracy theories, increased polarization, the discreditation of sources, trolling and emotionally provocative content have effectively drawn attention and support away from science and further towards populist leaders and their movements. It is therefore critically important that science and science advocacy enter the public sphere to accomplish three key roles: (1) to translate scientific findings to the public and human rights-based organizations in ways that make the information accessible and impactful, (2) to use science as [X] where facts are not only supported in the face of “fake news” and opinion but promoted and (3) to use the most recent findings in psychology and neuroscience in support and advancement of human rights world-wide. Mindbridge provides that connection, bridging science to application in service of human rights defenders across the globe.
• We are committed to centering marginalized communities and the voices of those most impacted by human rights abuses • We foster collaborative partnerships with community-led organizations and science-based laboratories whenever possible • We identify and mitigate the root causes underlying human rights abuses • We encourage and support building human rights awareness and capacity in all levels of society • We uphold the highest level of academic integrity and scientific rigor
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