An Evening of Ideas & Influence in partnership with Builders Movement and CAA Foundation
Last week, Bridge Entertainment Labs gathered in partnership with the Builders Movement and the CAA Foundation. We convened a remarkable community of leaders from education, city government, creative agencies, publishing, entertainment studios, alongside digital influencers, film and TV makers, and cultural change organizations who are committed to a “builders mindset” to create a better future.
We asked a powerful question:
How can we show up with our time, intention, and collaborations to heal the divisions we are currently facing as a society?
It means choosing curiosity over certainty. Practicing flexible thinking. Committing to solutions that honor the dignity of all people — not just those who agree with us.
Because the truth is: Bridgers make the best builders.
And wherever you stand — behind the camera, at the podium, in the classroom, or on the page — you have a platform. You can use it to bring people closer together, not drive us further apart.
The night was filled with warmth, courage, and purpose. Together, we shared challenges, dreams, and strategies — and a belief that culture change begins with real connection.
💬 Here are some powerful moments from the evening from Builders Movement partners and guests:
🗣️ “Even the idea of listening to perspectives that are different than your own is hard — and can even be seen as controversial. But when leaders signal that being a bridge builder is a good thing, it creates a permission structure for others to follow.”
— Steven Olikara, CEO of Bridge Entertainment Labs
🌟 “We are exhausted — but the choice before us is clear: do we keep digging into the problem, or do we start digging out of it? That is the spirit of this movement.”
— Deborah Marcus, Executive Director, CAA Foundation
💖 “Discourse doesn’t just live in institutions — it lives in us. I still wrestle with beliefs I used to hold and questions I haven’t answered. That’s where it starts.” — Misty Ruffing, Program Manager at Builders Movement
📚 “Even in a pilot program, young people embraced the Builders mindset and started teaching it themselves — without being asked. That’s the power of this work.”
— Mariette Hummel, Sr. Partnerships and Activation Manager at Builders Movement
🧠 “The persuasive power of storytelling can literally rewire empathy. And our job is to model healthy disagreement — not avoid conflict, but shape it productively.”
— Dave Kaplan, psychologist, television writer/producer & BEL Advisor
🌍 “The cost of division isn’t just cultural — it’s economic, and even a national security risk. That’s why this movement matters.”
— Kara Revel Jarzynski, Executive Director at Resolutionaries
🎷 “In jazz, like democracy, you build by listening, responding, and riffing together in real time. Bridge building is hard — but it’s an art form worth practicing.”
— Steven Olikara, reflecting on his musical roots
🎤 “Let’s figure out how we can take our experiences and our own industries, hold hands, exchange ideas, compare notes. Let’s not fight. Let’s get along and just build. Because every single body in this room, every single person in this room, is a builder.
— Chris Anokute, music executive, Executive Director at LAAMP.
To everyone who showed up, spoke up, and offered their presence with open hearts: thank you. This is how we build — together.
Thank you to the Viceroy Santa Monica (and Michelle Edgar) for hosting us.
