Our social ties have become fragmented—especially across political lines. Despite this, there are powerful ways in which we’ve always gathered and connected. It turns out that a strong democracy requires strong connections, and even more specifically, strong friendships.

Gathering in Support of Democracy is a recurring column by Venu Gupta exploring the essential connections between gathering, community, and democracy building. Gupta has been organizing and gathering people for civic engagement for over four decades and brought people together to support direct services, democratic political processes, racial and economic justice, and candidates, in official and unofficial capacities. While there is so much division and contention, people want to be together to build deeper connections, friendships, and engage in social justice. All of this is civic practice.

This column is an opportunity to reflect on how we got here and will explore shifts in philanthropy, gathering as a radical act, and what it means to gather in support of democracy.

Let’s be in space together. Gather. Build.