January 2025

Introduction

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As we step into 2025, I find myself navigating a deep mix of emotions—both urgency and resolve. On one hand, I am inspired by the collective mobilization we see around us: communities rallying to defend immigrant rights, protect reproductive freedom, and push back against extremism. I am heartened by the growing chorus of voices speaking out against human rights abuses and calling attention to the erosion of democracy.
Yet, there’s no denying the sobering reality. Half our nation has endorsed authoritarian leadership, and extremist ideologies are no longer confined to the fringes. This stark divide—and the human suffering it fuels—feels staggering in its scope. Psychology and neuroscience provide us with critical insights not only into how we arrived here but also into how we can make a meaningful difference. At Mindbridge, we strive to couple this science with practical application, bringing these tools and knowledge to those who need them most.

The challenge before us is immense, but so is the opportunity.

Each of us has a role to play in protecting rights, amplifying marginalized voices, and creating spaces where humanity can truly flourish. This year, Mindbridge is committed to turning challenge into opportunity—through advocacy, education, the healing of racial trauma and initiatives like the Countering Extremism Directive and programs that foster belonging and inclusion.

Let’s move forward together, not just as witnesses to the fight for justice but as active participants. Our collective action matters. It can shape a future where dignity, equity, belonging, and human rights are not aspirations but realities.

Thank you for standing with us.

In solidarity,

Laura
Executive Director, Mindbridge

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January Program Recap

At the Mindbridge Institute, we are dedicated to translating insights from neuroscience and psychology into actionable tools for Human Rights Defenders and Social Justice Advocates worldwide. As we begin 2025, we are excited to share a shift in our programming: the reimagining of our well-known Implicit Bias Project (IBP) into the **Inclusion and Belonging Project** (conveniently still IBP).
This evolution reflects a core insight from psychology—language shapes perception. Research demonstrates that the words we use influence how people feel, think, and engage. By fostering psychological safety and belonging, inclusive language reduces resistance and creates space for open, collaborative dialogue. This adjustment allows us to ensure our programs are both impactful and accessible to a broader audience.
This shift is just one way the Mindbridge Institute incorporates evidence-based practices into our work. As part of our ongoing commitment to accessibility, we are also continuing our free course offerings to better equip defenders and advocates with the tools needed to navigate today’s complex landscape—whether within organizations, interpersonal settings, or broader awareness-raising efforts.

With topics ranging from de-escalation tactics and understanding extremism to navigating difficult conversations with loved ones, these free courses—launched this past fall and continuing throughout 2025—reflect our shared belief that fostering belonging and connection is foundational to building a more just and equitable future. Hope to see you in 2025!

It’s 2025, and the RED team has been working hard to prepare for all that a fresh year brings while at the same time remembering all of the achievements, continuing collaborations, and lessons we learned in 2024. Last year, the RED team welcomed two new interns amid ongoing initiatives to enhance our branding, seek new research funding, and expand our research capabilities.
In January 2025, the RED team also completed multiple internal and external collaborations that will help open new avenues and directions in research. Together with the Mindbridge Institute, RED aided in data collection and finalized research reports for both the Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network and the World Wildlife Fund. These efforts were extremely successful, and have resulted in new connections within and outside of Mindbridge; we will seek out new academic collaborators to support and extend the findings of our past research in the soft launch of our Affiliate Program this winter.

This is where our future conference attendance will be essential. After completing the primary aims of an internal research initiative designed to understand women’s values, the RED team applied to present research data at the upcoming **American Psychological Association 2025 Meeting** in Denver, Colorado alongside other Mindbridge staff members. This presentation, and the publication that the RED team is preparing alongside it, are major accomplishments that have taken months of in-house preparation and extensive collaboration between Mindbridge Departments. We are proud of the work that the team has done to not only share these novel findings but to open a dialogue regarding the experience of women in the United States on a national scale as well. Our hope is that through careful research and active discourse with experts in prevention and intervention science, our work can promote initiatives that address social and political issues faced by women in the U.S.
2025 is sure to bring new changes, unexpected challenges, and allies in our continuing goal to bridge psychology, neuroscience, and human rights to better our world. Looking beyond January, there are tasks still left for the Mindbridge RED team to accomplish, but we have already begun making many big leaps in preparation.

Did You Know?

Did You Know? Self-Compassion is an Unexpected
and Important Factor in Building Resilience

Article: Positive Psychology, Published 2 June 2029
The future is unpredictable. For many, world-wide and sweeping changes such as the emergence of the COVID, increases in climate-related disasters, and threats upon our civil rights are uncertain menaces that have emerged within the last few years. Our world is connected to these changes and uncertainties more than ever; media headlines have a vested interest in provoking emotional reactions to drive engagement versus proposing solutions or providing reasonable courses of action (for additional information, see our September 2024 newsletter).

***Now is always the time to build resilience and practice mindfulness. But how? It’s not always as easy as a long bath or treating yourself to a delicious food you haven’t had in a while.***

Science tells us that one of the ways we can build resilience as well as improve upon our mental health is through an understudied avenue: the practice of self-compassion. ‘Self-compassion’ here is defined as taking the time to practice mindfulness and forgiveness towards oneself, with an emphasis on reflecting internally. It has been shown that increasing self-compassion can not only improve one’s own mental health, but improve the compassion we have for others who may have poorer mental health (García-Campayo et al., 2024). Here are some ways that you can foster self-compassion and grow your resilience.

Try The Use Of ‘Releasing’ Statements

If you’re not practiced in trying for exclusively positive affirmations (“I’m always kind” or “I’m the best”), try to release what may not be in your control when you find yourself in the middle of a negative thought pattern. Saying to yourself, “It’s alright that I misspoke”, rather than “I’m so bad at explaining!” can go a long way to shifting your mindset in the long-term.

Take Time For Yourself, As If You’re Meeting With A Friend

In a world that can be profit and productivity-driven, rest can truly be resistance. Taking time to allow yourself a self-care break can go a long way to providing a space for oneself, but it can also go a long way to understanding your own pattern of thinking. Rather than isolating for long periods, take the time you would meet with a friend or work colleague and allow yourself the room to connect internally.

Gain Perspective

Especially in challenging times, having help putting your feelings in context can be crucial to self-compassion. It may sound counter-intuitive to the tip above, but realizing that you are not alone in your feelings or that you are supported by strong, rational thinking can help bolster self-compassion and confidence (Kosterlitz et al., 2015; Stephenson et al., 2018).

Even better and luckily for us, we can also apply self-compassion in this way while online. An older study found that, during the challenges of the pandemic, online students were best supported by meeting with friends on the Internet (Asghar et al., 2021). Similarly to how scientists may peer-review, having objective facts, rationale, and being given a voice by others can be key.

So, Where Do We Go From Here? What Else Can I Do?

Here at Mindbridge, we recognize the emerging challenges that come with being human rights defenders and, honestly, being human beings. We acknowledge, and encourage, our readers to be mindful of their mental health, but we also advocate for building resilience in a time where a strong, clear mind may be needed for future resistance to misinformation and intimidation. The practice of self-compassion may help. For additional tips, please check out the original post on Positive Psychology.

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Asghar, M. Z., Arif, S., Barbera, E., Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, P., & Kocayoruk, E. (2021). Support through social media and online class participation to enhance psychological resilience. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 11962.

García-Campayo, J., Barcelo-Soler, A., Martínez-Rubio, D., Navarrete, J., Perez-Aranda, A., Feliu-Soler, A., Luciano, J.V., Baer, R., Kuyken, W. and Montero-Marin, J., 2024. Exploring the relationship between self-compassion and compassion for others: The role of psychological distress and wellbeing. Assessment, 31(5), 1038-1051.

Kosterlitz, A. (2015). The four traits of confidence: Growth mindset, courage, grit, and self-compassion. Woman Advocate, 21(1), 12-17.

Moore, C.P. (2024). How to practice self-compassion: 8 techniques and tips. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/how-to-practice-self-compassion/#8-tips-and-techniques-for-practicing-self-compassion. Accessed on 12 November, 2024.

Stephenson, E., Watson, P. J., Chen, Z. J., & Morris, R. J. (2018). Self-compassion, self-esteem, and irrational beliefs. Current Psychology, 37, 809-815.

*Every month, a member of the Mindbridge team will highlight a piece of media (book, podcast, movie, etc) that connects to our central mission and values.*
This month’s book recommendation is **Stories Are Weapons: Psychological Warfare and the American Mind** by Annalee Newitz. This book explores how disinformation, propaganda, and violent threats have evolved into weapons used in domestic culture wars, tracing roots as far back as the Revolutionary War. In Stories Are Weapons, Newitz reveals how psychological warfare is now wielded in conflicts ranging from LGBTQ+ student rights to feminist issues.

“When we immerse ourselves in the silence of the library, we learn the most fundamental defense against psyops.
Our minds belong to us.”

Happenings & Events

Upcoming Days of Observance:

1/15: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorates the enduring impact of Dr. King's vision for racial equality, celebrated on what would have been his 96th birthday this year.

1/24: International Day of Education

January 24th marks the UN’s International Day of Education, whose recent theme is “learning for lasting peace”. This day emphasizes the critical need to advance education for all in the face of global challenges, spotlighting efforts to achieve inclusive, accessible, and quality education worldwide.

1/27: International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

This day marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, reflecting on the horrors of the Holocaust and the importance of preserving history to prevent future atrocities.

1/29: Lunar New Year

On January 29th, celebrations across Asia and beyond recognize 2025 as the Year of the Snake. Lunar New Year celebrates the arrival of spring and is a time marked with good fortune, family unity, and renewal.

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