The Include Project was created to challenge the us-versus-them narrative that dominates American politics. Narratives that demonize political opponents are often used to justify oppressive policies. By presenting a counternarrative that emphasizes inclusiveness, we hope to plant the seeds for policies that treat all people with basic human dignity.
The us-versus-them narrative is most deeply entrenched at the national and state levels, so we focus on local governments as catalysts for culture change. Many local governments already operate inclusively, and our goal is to highlight achievements at this often overlooked level in our democracy.
We don't ask people to compromise or even to act with civility. Disagreements on important policy issues can't always be solved by meeting in the middle, and incivility may sometimes be appropriate in the face of injustice. All we ask is that people see those with whom they disagree as human beings, not as enemies who must be defeated at any cost.
Our Team
Joseph Crupi
Joseph is a legal scholar passionate about designing a more inclusive democracy. His research and advocacy build on his experience working for state and local government legislatures and advising stakeholders in peace negotiations and transitional governments. He previously served as a scholar-in-residence at the Law Library of Congress. Joseph holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Cedarville University.
Josué Rivera Rivera, Advisor
Josué is a consultant with over 15 years of experience building partnerships among governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. He has previously worked as a non-profit executive, policy advisor in the Mexican Congress, and diplomat in the foreign service of Honduras. He holds master's degrees from the George Washington University and the Universidad Anáhuac and a bachelor's degree from the Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana.