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Manu Meel
Empowering Young People - CEO, BridgeUSA - Forbes 30 Under 30
Manu Meel is the CEO of BridgeUSA, a national organization dedicated to investing in the future of democracy and bridging political divides.13 He is passionate about empowering young people and currently leads the largest and fastest-growing student movement aimed at changing how we discuss politics and bridging differences.24
Meel's professional background includes:
- CEO of BridgeUSA since January 20185
- Former associate at the venture capital firm Amplo13
- Former political analyst in counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State13
In addition to his role at BridgeUSA, Meel:
- Contributes to several news outlets1
- Works on pro-democracy efforts nationally3
- Advises political leaders on reducing polarization3
- Hosts a weekly podcast called "The Hopeful Majority"4
Meel's work has been featured in prominent media outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post.13 In 2022, he was recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree for his leadership of BridgeUSA.35
Manu Meel holds a degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated in 2020.5
Highlights
We have to bring our country back together. This must be priority #1.
Right. Left. Independent. It doesn’t matter. Political violence has no place in our country. The shooting at former President Trump’s rally must be roundly condemned.
Our toxic polarization has real world consequences. It’s time to chart a new path.
My response to yesterday's presidential debate?
Check out this NY Times story on some great people and organizations working hard to bridge the partisan divide. I'm especially proud of our student leaders featured in the piece!
I think the important question to ask is "How did we get here?" Yesterday night, I was at the largest debate watch party I've been too with an even split of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. The universal sentiment was disappointment in the choices we face and "we deserve better".
If we really believe that, it's time to do the hard work of restitching our civic fabric, helping people of different beliefs better understand each other, and recognizing that our presidential choices are a result of a bitterly divided America where we'd rather score points than actually solve problems.
Here's what The New York Times wrote "...bridge-building has become the hot new concept in a country looking for hope." And what's the secret? You can help!
I'm sincerely grateful and proud of the hard work of all the hardworking people featured in this piece 🙌 and if you got this far, you can join their efforts!
Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Rural Urban Exchange, BridgeUSA, Braver Angels, and others 👏
