3 ways Americans are trying to overcome polarization

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Since early this year, so much of the news focus has been on Washington. In that time, the “America at a Crossroads” team and I have been on the road, reporting from a dozen different communities and speaking to people who are working to bridge today’s deep political divides.

This builds on the two years of reporting we’ve done on divisions in this country, while trying to understand the root causes.

Three specific stories come to mind that show how Americans are seeking to overcome our nation’s polarization.

As social trust erodes, this project seeks to repair it

Watch the segment in the player above.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, Jordan Bowman was inspired by his own experiences growing up and formed the organization “Journeymen” to reach out to young men. The nonprofit focuses on those who are experiencing isolation, a lack of direction and motivation, and who are susceptible to emotional and mental health problems, often turning to alcohol or drugs. (Research shows there’s an epidemic of social isolation among young men across the country.)

This loneliness, in turn, contributes to society’s divides. Journeymen finds mentors for these young men, in their teens and 20s, and meets with them regularly to encourage them to share feelings that men are so often taught to suppress.

High school junior Axel Cuba Arroyo was initially reluctant to join, and did so only at his mother’s urging. But the gatherings, including around backyard firepits, led him to change direction. The program, he said, allows him to share problems and feel safe, thanks to the “tone and the setting of all of us being able to be there, ‘I want you to trust me so I can help you.’”

Using AI to find common ground

Watch the segment in the player above.

At a time when artificial intelligence raises alarms for its effects on employment, education and a lot more, we traveled to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to discover how it’s been used to promote civic engagement.

Leaders in this fast-growing city and surrounding county face classic challenges like a lack of affordable housing and transportation, along with urban-rural tensions. So Kentucky’s third largest city teamed up with one of Google’s tech incubators, Jigsaw, to survey as many people as possible about what they want their community to look like in 2050.

Using AI tools, they were able to reach one-tenth of residents and found 80 percent agreement over what the community wanted — valuable insights for a place planning its future.

A way to restore dignity to political disagreements

Watch the segment in the player above.

I also sat down with Tim Shriver, former head of the Special Olympics, which was founded by his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. He’s also the son of the Peace Corps’ founding leader, Sarge Shriver. Tim, as a member of a famous political family, is working outside politics to try to improve the way Americans treat each other.

Deploring the state of American political discourse today, Tim and others came up with “The Dignity Index,” a way to measure speech by our political leaders (and even by ordinary citizens). The eight-point index gives high grades for respectful discourse that affirms the value of the other person, but low grades for showing contempt. Looking around at so much of the political commentary right now, Shriver acknowledged it’ll be tough to make change, but insisted we must try.

“My uncle President Kennedy famously said ‘We’re going to go to the moon not because it’s easy, because it’s hard.’”

“What’s the alternative?” he asked. “Let’s just say, ‘I love my country and I just hate everybody in it?’”

More stories from the Crossroads team:

• Robert Putnam reflects on how America became so polarized and what can unify the nation.
• “Tell me more”: Activist Loretta Ross explores a new way to face disagreements.
• Michael Lewis highlights the crucial work of public servants in “Who is Government?”
• Program helps bridge political divides by connecting people through personal stories.