Organization: A WIDER BRIDGE
Mission: The mission of the organization is to educate the North American public concerning Israel and its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) society, to foster a deeper connection to Israel among LGBT people.
Activities: Israel Missions - Each year, we lead LGTBQ leaders (the grass tops the majority of whom are not Jewish) in elected office, media, business, non-profit management and faith leadership on 8-day Missions to Israel to experience the countrys history, politics, conflict, and values as a Jewish and democratic state, and to understand the LGBTQ communitys ongoing progress and struggles for equality through arranged meetings with Israeli LGBTQ organizations, which provide an opportunity for LGBTQ Americans and Israelis to find shared experience with each other.
Community Engagement - A Wider Bridge stands up for our values by creating and defending inclusive spaces for our full authentic selves where all of our identities are welcomed. We lead proactive mobilizations that activate our diverse coalition of engaged alumni, stakeholders and community partners, advancing LGBTQ rights and support for Israel, and defending our communities against hatred in the forms of anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, homophobia, transphobia, and beyond. Our local programming and communications strategies provide us with two additional outlets to reach the communitys grassroots. Our events engage thousands of LGBTQ people in the US and Canada each year with Israel, and our social media, website, and PR campaigns spread stories from Israels LGBTQ community and pro-Israel LGBTQ thought leaders to reach tens of thousands of readers.
Impact Grant - A Wider Bridges Impact Grant program provides much needed resources to NGOs in Israel that amplify activist voices on the ground, advancing LGBTQ life across Israel. From metropolitan Tel Aviv to the more traditional periphery, and through the diverse Arab, Ethiopian, Mizrahi and Orthodox communities, A Wider Bridge serves as the diasporas organized effort to advance LGTBQ rights and community in Israel.
NTEE category: International, Foreign Affairs & National Security
Secondary category: Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy