Second annual MPU Fellowship class photo with SGM(R) Richard Rice, original member of Delta Force
The American story has always been written by everyday people stepping up to make their voices heard. Stories have the power to transform the way we see, empathize, interact and disagree with one another. They have the power to bring us together, but also pull us apart.
Today our airwaves are flooded with negative and demonizing stories that pit “us” versus “them.” This toxic narrative is impacting our families, friendships, schools, workplaces, faith communities, local communities, and legislative bodies at all levels. We need positive, powerful stories of hope that rise above the hostility and inspire unity over division.
Explore those stories shared by your fellow Americans, and contribute your own voice.
November 28, 2024
As the holiday season approaches, Americans face a new layer of unease in gathering with family: political divides are sharp, especially after a tumultuous election cycle. For many, the anxiety isn’t just about who will make the mashed potatoes but how to navigate dinner conversations without feeling like they’re compromising their morals. At Share Our America, an initiative to help communities rebuild trust and reduce polarization, we know a thing or two about gathering with grace, and this season, we offer a roadmap for bringing that spirit into your own homes.
November 27, 2024
Thanksgiving is often portrayed as a minefield of political debates, with an annual surge of guides offering tips to "survive" political conversations at the dinner table. But how useful are these guides?
November 27, 2024
No matter who they voted for on Election Day, it has become clear that most Americans agree on at least one thing: Our current form of democracy no longer works. Almost three-quarters of us agree that “the U.S. used to be a good example of democracy, but isn’t anymore.”The question before us now is whether we can build a better one.
November 21, 2024
Traveling home for the holidays after a political election can feel contentious. Here's how to make the experience more positive.
November 19, 2024
That effort is being made to renew trust in Minnesota communities ranging from Madison to Pelican Rapids.
November 18, 2024
As America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan came to a close, thousands of courageous men and women who risked their lives fighting for years to protect our country and our way of life began coming home and transitioning into civilian life. For so many of them, that transition left a gaping hole.
November 17, 2024
Plus: What the telegraph can teach us about present-day discernment, and a new members-only podcast.
November 17, 2024
Instead of white-knuckling our way through life in a pluralistic, rapidly changing society, Christians should learn from Augustine’s openhanded discipleship.
November 15, 2024
The results are in. Some find them shocking. Others find them liberating. Some mourn. Some celebrate. After the wave of personal emotions abates, we may find ourselves scratching our heads. What just happened, what have we missed, what is this telling us, what do we do now?
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November 14, 2024
Now that the election is over, we desperately need a dignity strategy that can ease our national crisis of contempt. We need a deescalation of contempt and an increase in dignity in how we treat each other.
November 14, 2024
Now that the election is over, we desperately need a dignity strategy that can ease our national crisis of contempt. Tim Shriver of UNITE describes how bipartisan, third-party tools such as the Dignity Index can help us hold our leaders accountable and ask our leaders to hold us accountable too.
November 13, 2024
Exhaustion from three divisive presidential elections plus curiosity about a broadened Trump coalition may be leading to a reset of attitudes on the left and right, leaders say.
One Small Step brings strangers with different political views together to record a 50-minute conversation—not to debate politics, but to learn who we are as people.
The Aspen Institute’s Weave Project showcases community-driven efforts across the U.S. to rebuild trust and strengthen social bonds through local actions, inspiring others to join in and foster meaningful connections.
If you have a story you'd like to share, please complete the form below. Our team will then be in touch to discuss next steps. We look forward to hearing your story of hope!
