Botswana's Radical Experiment in National Unity

Guide Invisibili is an audio storytelling initiative by Laboratorio 53 that increases understanding of Rome’s refugee and immigrant communities. 40 young people, who left their home countries due to conflicts and instability, record their perceptions of the city and point out similarities between life in their home cities and Rome. The free audio tours include moderated discussions with the storytellers and are opportunities to break down barriers, especially with anti-immigrant sentiments and racially motivated attacks increasing. Despite not being well known, 2,500 people have participated.

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.

Recognizing the Stranger is a faith-based program that provides support and mentorship to immigrant leaders with the goal of building bridges between immigrant and nonimmigrant communities. The initiative has helped immigrants in the church organize "know your rights" events, advocate for expanded tax credits for undocumented workers, and roll out parish ID cards amid a rise in deportations.

Meet A Jew is a volunteer organization in Germany helping combat anti-semitism and bigotry by educating students in elementary and secondary schools about Jewish culture and traditions of those living in Germany. The organization has about three hundred volunteers from a variety of different backgrounds, who then hold 90-minute sessions where students are welcomed to ask anything.

The First Nation–Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative is a nationwide initiative to foster positive relationships, empowering First Nation and municipal leaders to talk as equals. There have been hundreds of requests and 15 pairs completed the program. The goal is to foster joint economic development, but it also initiated discussions about the impact of colonization and ensures First Nations are represented in decision-making. Pairs have cooperated on infrastructure projects, such as highway expansions and solar farms, and have a renewed sense of being connected.

German news site Zeit Online helped 600 pairs of people with opposing political views meet to discuss the issues in person. The "My Country Talks" initiative was so well-reviewed that Zeit Online is now partnering with a dozen other German media organizations to grow the project, as well as a variety of groups outside the country.

In Detroit, Michigan, residents reduce the effects of gentrification through physical activity and shared storytelling. The non-profit Pedal to Porch encourages residents to bike to their neighbors’ homes and record their memories. The effort helps retain some of the identity in Detroit’s changing communities and establishes new connections for the city to grow. Founder Cornetta Lane notes, “communities are more likely to bounce back from social and natural disasters when they know each other.”

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.

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 U.S. Board of Geographic Names and the Oregon Geographic Names Board are changing offensive and racist geographic place names in the state. When looking to change a name, the boards reach out to community members and experts for recommendations. They also review new name proposals that locals submit for both unnamed and named locations.