Local Teen Launches National Movement to Bridge America's Divide

When Carter Green, a high school senior from Ladera Ranch, sat down at the kitchen table one night, he didn’t expect to start a national movement. But after a conversation with his mom about the growing divide in our country, he asked a powerful question:

“What if I tried to fix the one problem no one thinks can be solved—division?”

That question sparked the creation of BRIDGE—Build Respect, Initiate Dialogue, Grow Empathy—a nonprofit led by and for teens to foster civil conversation, mutual understanding, and real connection in schools across the country.

Carter launched BRIDGE in July 2025 with a mission to help students lead with empathy and build community across differences. What started in one Southern California high school is now active in over a dozen schools nationwide—and growing fast.

“At BRIDGE, we believe empathy is the most powerful tool students have to make change,” Carter said. “We’re not here to agree on everything—we’re here to learn how to talk to each other, listen, and lead with compassion.”

Each BRIDGE chapter is student-run, with local leaders organizing empathy-building activities, dialogue events, and awareness campaigns around the silent struggles teens are facing today—from mental health to bullying to identity.

BRIDGE is currently looking for new high school chapter presidents to carry the mission forward. Students interested in bringing BRIDGE to their campus can apply at https://sites.google.com/view/bridgeinitiative?usp=sharing.

In a time when headlines are filled with division, BRIDGE is a reminder that real change starts with a conversation—and sometimes, that conversation starts at the dinner table.