The widening gap and increasingly contentious discourse between people who hold different political views does not have to be the new normal, according to organizations that sprang into action after the 2016 presidential election to pull us all back from an irreconcilable "civic divorce." This collection highlights the insights and lessons learned from initiatives that combat further polarization and strive to unite people across political divides.

Healthy communication skills are necessary to bridge divides. Active listening, “I” statements, and acknowledging what others are saying before jumping in to share one’s own point are all skills that are taught in marriage counseling to heal relationships. According to Karen Peterson in Valley Journal, some organizations, such as Mission Valley Rises, Democracy Engaged! in Montana, and the national non-profit Better Angels, use these principles from marriage counseling to facilitate respectful discussions among people from different political persuasions. Community workshops across the country have produced impressive results bringing people together to dispel stereotypes and foster productive conversations.

Participating in civic discourse reduces polarization. Fareed Zakaria of CNN shares the notable results from experiments in “deliberative polling,” where registered voters across all political persuasions come together to discuss the top issues facing the country. Participants in "America in One Room" held respectful and informed discussions over three days and, at the end of the event, polls showed that participants were much less polarized. Participants across the political spectrum reported changes in their opinions that converged toward the center.

Building personal relationships fosters understanding and helps get things done. Chris Winters in Yes! Magazine also highlights Better Angels, which began in 2017 with the premise that if people with opposing political ideologies had a chance to talk with each other they would be able to humanize “the other side” and see that the differences in their beliefs are not that extreme. A similar reasoning led to the “Ask A…” initiative, run by KUOW-FM in Seattle. Events such as “Ask a Muslim,” “Ask a police officer,” and “Ask a Trump supporter” share conversations aimed at increasing understanding and dispelling stereotypes. Scott Shigeoka in Grist reports on how an unlikely partnership between Republican and Democratic state politicians in Iowa increased their ability to find solutions to climate change. The relationship has brought together a broad coalition of advocates who focus on areas of agreement to make actual changes.