Other Group

TRUST Network

Project of:

Mediators Beyond Borders International

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TRUST Network is a left-of-center organization focused on conflict resolution and mediation with the goal of reducing radicalization and domestic violence in the United States, particularly related to elections. The organization is a project of Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI), a left-leaning anti-war conflict resolution and mediation organization that seeks to mediate social and political disputes in 134 countries. TRUST Network has engaged in conflict resolution attempts targeting protests regarding the 2020 presidential election and has partnered with several state, local, and national mediation organizations including the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM). The group is also supported by left-leaning organizations including the Black Women for Positive Change, the American Friends Service Committee, Election SOS, and The Carter Center. 1 2

Background

TRUST Network is a project of Mediators Beyond Borders International. The organization works to prevent violence related to U.S. elections and most of the organization’s activity has focused on protests relating to the 2020 presidential election. The organization states that it was founded before the 2020 presidential election, but most of its activity has been related to the 2020 election. The group uses language and tactics around “peacebuilding” protocols employed by MBBI in other countries that have experienced violent political conflict. The group is focused on “countering radicalization,” “unarmed civilian protection,” violence prevention, countering radicalization, mediation, and “environmental and health justice.” 3

TRUST Network relies on activity from several “convening centers” across the United States, private or public agencies that are often mediation firms or dispute resolution centers. Convening centers within the TRUST Network include Our Family Services of Tucson, Arkansas Community Dispute Resolution Centers, the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center, Restorative Justice Community Action, the City of Charlotte, the Cleveland Mediation Center, and Resolution Virginia. The TRUST Network’s convening centers are coordinated by the National Association for Community Mediation. 4

2020 Election Activity

TRUST Network opposed protests by supporters of then-President Donald Trump regarding the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. The organization promotes activities of several counter-protest and anti-protest group that countered pro-Trump protestors following the 2020 election, such as the DC Peace Team, a group of counter-protestors active during the January 6th protests in Washington, D.C. The TRUST Network has frequently compared the 2020 election protests to “conflict zones” in other parts of the world and to political violence in countries such as Kenya and Syria. 5

Partners

TRUST Network partners include the Alliance for Peacebuilding, Bridge Alliance, Bridging Divides Initiative, Cure Violence Global, DC Peace Team, Institute for Economics and Peace, International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism, National Center for Dialogue and Deliberation, Nonviolent Peaceforce, Parallel Networks, Peace Direct, and Police2Peace. 6

Other partner organizations cited by the TRUST Network include The Atlantic, Beyond Conflict, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Centre for Humanitarian Dialog, Oslo Forum, Citizen Data, The Conversation, Council on Foreign Relations, Essential Partners, FairVote, Humanity United, Just Security, Medium, Metta Center for NonViolence, National Task Force on Election Crises, One America Movement, PassBlue, Independent UN Coverage, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Political Violence at a Glance, Protect Democracy, Greenpeace, and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security. 7

References

  1. “Convening Centers.” TRUST Network. Accessed October 21, 2022. https://www.thetrustnetwork.net/list-of-centers
  2. “FAQS.” TRUST Network. Accessed October 21, 2022. https://www.thetrustnetwork.net/faqs-and-stories
  3. “About Us.” TRUST Network. Accessed October 21, 2022. https://www.thetrustnetwork.net/about-us
  4. “Convening Centers.” TRUST Network. Accessed October 21, 2022. https://www.thetrustnetwork.net/list-of-centers
  5. Bock, Joseph “To defuse political violence across US, conflict mediators apply lessons from gang disputes and foreign elections.” The Conversation. February 3, 2021. Accessed October 21, 2022. https://theconversation.com/to-defuse-political-violence-across-us-conflict-mediators-apply-lessons-from-gang-disputes-and-foreign-elections-151179
  6. [1] “The TRUST Network Resource Library.” TRUST Network. Accessed October 21, 2022. https://www.thetrustnetwork.net/resource-library#violence-interruption-de-escalation-policing-and-alternatives
  7. “The TRUST Network Resource Library.” TRUST Network. Accessed October 21, 2022. https://www.thetrustnetwork.net/resource-library#violence-interruption-de-escalation-policing-and-alternatives
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