Transparency is a Core Value of our organization. If you have questions or would like more information please reach out and let us know.
While enrolled in a top tier graduate program in public affairs, our founder and policy guide Jennifer Pharr Davis became unsettled with the polarization, bias, and lack of transparency in modern American politics and policy making. Rising out of Jennifer’s capstone project, "Crossing Our Divide" is here to explore our cultural and congressional polarization and "think out loud" on creative policy solutions by:
1) sharing policy analysis
2) with the general public
3) in real time.
Crossing Our Divide defines "Policy Journey" as "a guided analysis of effective problem solving that is open to the public." Most Policy analysis happens behind closed doors, includes language and data that is difficult to understand, and results in a 50-page document that the general public – and many decision makers - will never read. Our Policy Journey strives to increase transparency and reduce barriers that keep the people separated from public decision making.
A policy guide is a facilitator and storyteller who is able to define a problem of public importance and take people on a journey of the problem causes and potential solutions (based on data, public input, decision-making criteria and constraints) with the ultimate goal of arriving at a policy recommendation.
We don’t know. A true and transparent policy journey does not start with the end recommendation in mind. It starts with a well-defined problem and an open-mind towards the best solution. We plan to navigate issues of money, media, and misinformation that create divides within our culture and congress and ultimately generate a policy recommendation to cross our divide.
The policy recommendation will be submitted to the Policy's Guide elected representatives in the U.S. House and Senate for consideration and review.
NO. We are not here to sway votes. Nor are we here to pile on fear, shame, or promote cancel culture. We are here to support an informed electorate that can recognize the influence of money, media, and misinformation in elections. We are here to advocate for policy and leadership that results in a less divided country and a more effective government.
Crossing Our Divide is for EVERYONE. You can be an extreme Republican or Democrat and be a part of this journey. We are not here to advocate for the correctness of any part of the political spectrum but rather to find ways to work collectively across it.
Donations are being used to cover overhead associated with starting a 501c4, administrative costs, and production and promotion of the policy journey. The policy guide Jennifer Pharr Davis and Board are working on a volunteer basis and are not paid employees.
A 501c4 and a 501c3 are both nonprofit organizations, however, a 501c3s is not able to engage or advocate within the political sphere the way that a 501c4 is permitted. And because we are committed to finding policy solutions to explore and overcome our cultural and congressional divide, we fall into the category of a 501c4 Social Welfare Organization.
The Board is currently composed of 3 members: Jennifer Pharr Davis, Mariah Gunther, and David Schnitzer, with the option to expand. The board is currently overseeing and supporting the Policy Journey. Once we arrive at a policy recommendation, the board will then create a strategic plan to advocate for our policy recommendation.(Please reach out if you are interested in joining the board.)
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