Black and Jewish people were allies once. Can they be again?

Braver Angels brings together people across the political spectrum to find common ground on polarizing political issues. Participants in Ohio, where the group started, said the practice of listening to other perspectives is a stepping stone to solving some of the country’s most divisive concerns.

The Philos Action League dispatches Christian volunteers to offer support and solidarity to Jewish communities when antisemitic attacks occur. The organization has more than 2,000 volunteers who have responded to 128 incidents since 2021.

To spark civil discussions about divisive topics, Dinner and a Fight gatherings use the five-chair method, in which participants choose a chair that represents how much they agree with a statement made on a particular issue. The occupants of the chairs then give short "opening statements" on their opinion to kick off the dialogue. Attendees say the process has helped them better understand the perspectives of those they disagree with.

Drawing on family social science around marriage, relationships, and connection-building across divides, Braver Angels' Red/Blue workshops bring Republicans and Democrats together for nuanced, candid conversations aimed at reducing political polarization. The discussions ask participants to speak not only about the reasons for their views, but also the potential negative aspects of their own "side," which helps create a foundation of openness to disagreement.

The République des Hyper Voisins, or the Republic of Super Neighbors, is an experiment organized by residents of Paris's 14th arrondissement to encourage community engagement, combat social isolation, and improve how the neighborhood functions. The group has organized mutual aid efforts, installed compost collection points, facilitated the launch of a new health clinic, and given residents opportunities to weigh in on local development projects.

In the People's Peace Talks, ordinary people from Israel and Palestine come together for five hours in a room to reach a peace agreement, without the presence of politicians. With no communication between the two governments, one academic is trying a new tactic by engaging the public in the negotiation process. Despite some shortcomings of a simulation, the ideas generated may be part of a real solution in the future.

The Institute of Desirable Futures runs workshops designed to promote “the art of disagreement,” such as the Night of Controversies, a series of sessions in Paris that drew more than 600 people. Participants debate topics ranging from border security and climate change to AI and biometrics, with the goal of finding common ground and learning to communicate through disagreement.

Civity brings people together for trust-building workshops that are built around storytelling, with the goal of helping people from different backgrounds find common ground with others in their communities. One study found the organization’s approach to be more effective than other strategies designed to build trust and address political discord.

The Minnesota Council of Churches’ Respectful Conversations initiative brings together members of different congregations to find empathy and common ground around divisive issues such as policing, guns, and the upcoming election. Since 2012, the program has hosted more than 300 conversations attended by over 8,000 people, the majority of whom reported a stronger sense of empathy for people with different viewpoints after participating.

Ahead of a ballot measure to guarantee access to abortion and reproductive health care in Ohio, the Black-led Ohio Women’s Alliance spoke with more than 1.3 million young female BIPOC voters, framing the campaign as a fight for a wide range of reproductive services. Residents approved the constitutional amendment with 60 percent of female voters and 83 percent of Black voters voting in favor.