We are a team committed to strengthening America’s social fabric
About usTideline was founded with the vision of a more cohesive American society that embraces passionate debate across diverse viewpoints.
America is the strongest and most diverse country in the world, so why aren’t we able to solve society’s most significant problems?
We were founded in 2022 after realizing the reason we aren’t solving these problems is that we are missing the institutions, norms, and narratives that gave all citizens a sense of being part of one America. We could disagree but understand that we were still working towards the same common goal.
With growing toxic polarization, more and more Americans are viewing those who think differently as not just wrong or misguided, but evil. The problem with viewing the opposition as evil is that it allows any action, including violence, norm-breaking, and cheating, to defeat them as acceptable.
While many are seeking to identify what may be causing toxic polarization (e.g., social media, disinformation, heated political rhetoric), Tideline’s view is that it’s not what’s new that’s causing the toxic polarization, but what we might have lost that held it at bay.
What we’re missing is the social glue that keeps us together.
Our solution is to seed institutions, norms, and narratives that strengthen the social fabric by bringing the disparate threads of American society together and unify us as proud Americans.
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Tideline's innovative focus on increasing social cohesion has the potential to revolutionize how we understand and combat political polarization.
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-David Broockman, Professor at UC Berkley and director of the Berkley Center on American Democracy
Meet the Tideline team
ABOUT
Ron Epstein
FOUNDERRon has made combating toxic political polarization his mission, because he knows if we don't solve this problem, we won’t be able to solve anything else.
Cindy Hoang
OperationsCindy brings decades of experience in operations and is the glue that makes Tideline possible.
Jun Ham
Program associateJun is focused on translating research into field-ready programs in civic education and depolarization, as well as on the ethical incorporation of AI into the field of advocacy.
Petra Silton
CONSULTANTPetra is an energetic connector and leader passionate about bringing people together to turn ideas into action to create a better and more just world.
We are proud to be undertaking this work in partnership with the Berkeley Center for American Democracy.
Learn more about our work
About us