Practicing Diplomacy of the Heart & Mind

How We Practice Trust-Building Diplomacy

At FRD, we believe that lasting trust isn’t built by avoiding conflict—it’s built by facing it with honesty and respect. Our current initiatives help people engage in Heart & Mind Conversations™ using The Way of Mutual Openness©, tailored for different groups and settings.

Here’s how we’re doing that:

1. Spreading the Word: Religious, Political & Domestic Diplomacy

We use online media, writing, and public speaking to promote a bold idea:
Real trust can exist between people who fundamentally disagree.

• We help people shift their mindset—from avoidance or attack, to trustworthy openness with those they disagree with.

• We share tools like Heart & Mind Conversations™ to create experiences that build trust through honest engagement, not forced agreement.

• We equip religious, political, and civic leaders to bring this approach into their communities.

2. Facilitating Private Heart & Mind Conversations™

We bring people together—quietly and carefully—where it matters most:

• Hosting small, private conversations in communities facing real conflict.

• Helping families, individuals, and groups navigate painful disagreements over religion, politics, and values.

• Experimenting with new ways to connect people across divides—without always needing a mediator or in-person meeting.

3. Innovating for Faster, Deeper Trust

The world needs trust-building tools that match the speed of today’s crises.

• We’re developing new methods—including AI-assisted models—that can help people build trust across divides more quickly and wisely.

• These tools won’t replace human conversations—but they’ll help more people prepare for them.

• We’re partnering with universities, researchers, and technologists to test new frontiers in ethical persuasion and relational integrity.

• See our [Commitment to Ethical Persuasion] for how we approach this work.

4. Building Local FRD Chapters

We support grassroots leadership in trust-building:

• FRD Chapters connect leaders from different religions and worldviews to pursue ongoing conversations and projects.

• Each Chapter operates independently while using FRD’s proven methods.

• We’re currently helping new Chapters form across a wide range of traditions—Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic, Sikh, Jewish, and more.

• Want to start a Chapter or join one? [Link to Chapter Guide]