Building Civic Bridges Act

The "Building Civic Bridges Act" proposes to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 by establishing an Office of Civic Bridgebuilding (OCB) within the Corporation for National and Community Service, led by an Officer of Civic Bridgebuilding. This office is tasked with fostering national unity and addressing societal divisions by supporting initiatives that promote understanding and cooperation across diverse communities. The OCB's duties include administering a pilot grant program to fund projects focused on reducing conflict, improving social cohesion, and tackling public concerns like unmet human or environmental needs. It will also provide training in civic bridgebuilding skills for participants and organizations involved in national service programs. Furthermore, the Office is responsible for supporting research and evaluations on civic bridgebuilding, disseminating information, and collaborating with other federal agencies such as the Community Relations Service of the Department of Justice. A crucial aspect of the OCB's work involves a comprehensive consultation process with a diverse range of stakeholders from the civic bridgebuilding field. This consultation will inform strategic priorities, grant criteria, research development, and best practices. The bill specifies that the pilot grant program will operate for a three-year period, with grants awarded competitively to eligible entities that must report outcomes to track effectiveness. Funding for these activities will come exclusively from donated amounts, rather than new federal appropriations.