How we started …
In August 2021, five Menifee residents met through the NextDoor app and discussed how tough it had become for neighbors to relax around people they didn’t know — all because of politics. We agreed to work together to try to bridge that divide in own hometown. We began meeting monthly for civil discussions of controversial political issues, and have hardly missed a meeting in all that time. Only one of the original five moderators is still on board, and we’re grateful to have the help of several terrific new folks. We are still holding meetings and pursuing unity and understanding in our community.
What we do …
We call ourselves “The Core” — but we’re just your average neighbors. We are leaders from an organizational standpoint only. We’re not here as experts or authorities on anything. We decide on a topic for the meeting and prepare an introduction, and then we let you all talk to one another. Our sole focus is to encourage genuine, respectful discussion so we are all comfortable participating, sharing, and learning with and from one another.
WE HONOR …
Sad news: We of Menifee Bridging the Divide are grieved to report that in the past eight months we have lost three of our beloved members: first Pim Fantes in October 2024 and then Frank Demeo in January. This past May 13th, one of our original five core moderators, Scott Taylor, passed. We are still shocked and miss him terribly. His family says that our group meant a great deal to Scott, and that he believed we were making a real difference. His obituary includes this note: “Scott was always very involved in politics. He described himself as a Libertarian, and slightly right of center. He always loved political discussions, and he was incredibly intelligent, and quick witted. He was involved in a political group in Menifee, California, where he was truly enjoying the possibilities of bringing both sides of the political spectrum together on common ground.” We are honoring Scott at our June 2025 meeting, and will never forget him for his extraordinary intelligence, generosity of spirit, and willingness to listen to opposing opinions.
