The Mindbridge Center

Mindbridge is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the impact of local, national, and international human rights efforts. Research indicates that up to 95% of our behaviors are unconscious, and that connecting psychological and neurobiological knowledge is essential to creating long-lasting and effective change. By “bridging” human rights work with psychological and neurobiological applied science, Mindbridge programming works to effectively access and engage hearts and minds before inviting them to change. Connection and “bridging” between psychological and neurobiological knowledge is essential to creating long-lasting and effective change. For human rights defenders to find ways to eliminate racist rhetoric and extremist ideology, methods historically steeped in policy and reporting must take a different and far more integrated approach. It is through the integration of science with human rights that we build more effective interventions. Much of what undermines the ability to uphold human rights — rights inherent to all human beings — lies in the establishment, production, and diffusion of difference, bias, racism, discrimination, and dehumanization of social groups. These, as well as other related forms of intolerance, have been studied for decades within the realms of psychology and neuroscience; so too have mechanisms underlying empathy, healing, and empowerment. In all, our understanding of the way in which our cognition gives rise to behavior has come a long way. At Mindbridge, we harness that knowledge in service of human rights worldwide.