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As the Omicron variant spreads across the globe, we are reminded again that a pandemic is a disease of populations, not of individuals, and population-level problems require collective solutions. This is why societies with high levels of social capital—bonds of affection and networks of trust among people—have better weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and suffered lower […]

On December 31st, as I uncorked champagne with my family, my stomach suddenly clutched with dread. For the first time, I feared the turning of the new year. Other new years I’ve anticipated with joy or at least curiosity. But 2022 loomed darkly. 2022 brings midterms, and elections can be triggers for serious conflict. Given

Chris Collins had only been attending Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco for a few months when, after the 2016 presidential election, he asked the congregation if anyone would be interested in attending discussions with those who hold different political views. “I wanted to make meaningful connections with people outside of our bubbles — not

Brialle Ringer is a racial equity partner of Living Room Conversations, an organization that facilitates community conversations to help people bridge their differences and understand each other. She has seen the power of conversations as people who disagree on controversial issues listen to understand each other’s experiences rather than debate to win one another over to their point

Like many progressives, I cringe when I hear the word “unity.” In his Inaugural Address, President Joe Biden told Americans: “This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward.” Like many progressives, I cringe when I hear the word “unity,” but not for the reasons you might think. We

Now is our best chance to scale up the efforts of organizations working to bridge divides because so many people are feeling the pain of bad outcomes. The insurrection on Capitol Hill has been a tremendous wake-up call. Anybody who has paid attention to politics in recent years has worried about the straining of “our bonds of

ORIGINAL PUBLICATION: USA TODAY Author: Joan Blades Now is our best chance to scale up the efforts of organizations working to bridge divides because so many people are feeling the pain of bad outcomes. The insurrection on Capitol Hill has been a tremendous wake-up call. Anybody who has paid attention to politics in recent years

It has become normal to disrespect and even dismiss the humanity of people we don’t agree with. This is dangerous and at odds with our ideals. I first became involved in politics in 1998 when my husband and I shared a one-sentence petition with less than 100 of our friends and family asking Congress to “censure the