Finding Openings in a Time of Paralysis

As we recently shared with Roll Call, building cross-party relationships isn’t just challenging—it’s risky. That’s why Care Lab has always moved with intention and care, keeping our public profile modest as we focus on the quiet, steady work of bridge-building.

But in this paralyzing moment, we feel compelled to share a few signs of hope.

This fall, we launched our seventh cohort of Three Dinners for senior Senate staff—one of our largest yet. When it concludes, we’ll have brought 91 participants through the program with 59 current Senate offices represented. The ongoing enthusiasm for this program is a hopeful signal that even now, influential leaders in Congress are seeking a better way forward. At our most recent dinner, participants reflected on the rewards and risks of reaching across divides, while our guest speaker explored how to embrace dialogue that may not be comfortable, but can be “safe enough.” 

Outside of our formal programming, our advisory group continues to meet monthly to exchange ideas, strategies, and best practices for building trust and collaboration in this challenging time.

One initiative we’ve had to pause due to the shutdown is our planned delegation to New Mexico. Preparing for this trip introduced us to a remarkable network of values-driven leaders—from ranches and pueblos to schools, foundations, and national labs—who are advancing bridge-building in their own communities. The trip will be rescheduled soon, and we’ll be building on the insights we gained from these partners in the meantime.

While much remains uncertain, we remain committed to seeking out openings—especially those that moments of crisis sometimes reveal—for connection, understanding, and dialogue.