Preaching to polarized congregations: A responsibility and a challenge, clergy say

The Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse, or Yiavha, brings together Nigerians from ethnic groups with a history of conflict and violence to help them find common ground through community storytelling. The organization has held more than 60 storytelling sessions in Nigeria’s Plateau state and has trained more than 300 youth to become peace ambassadors tasked with organizing their own storytelling events.

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 Interfaith Mediation Centre trains residents in regions stricken by religious conflict between Christians and Muslims to become Community Peace Observers who promote a culture of non-violence and intervene in potential conflict using targeted communication techniques. The effort has led communities to form their own task forces, committees, and forums around peacekeeping, and Christians and Muslims there now commingle through community events and institutions after years of strict separation.

To address deep divisions and mistrust between the community and police, Newark launched Trauma to Trust, a conflict resolution program that brings officers and residents together for mediation and discussion. Participants receive two days of training around trauma, critical race theory, and implicit bias, and more than 500 people have taken part since the initiative began.

“Meet Palestinians and Israelis” is an online chat room on the Clubhouse app that encourages honest and vulnerable conversations that aim to humanize one another. Eighteen moderators, mostly young Israelis and Palestinians, ensure that the audio-only conversations don’t relitigate history or compare suffering, but instead share personal stories and ask questions to understand different perspectives. The moderators work in shifts to maintain the discussions and answer questions, with the non-Palestinian and non-Israeli moderators acting as third-party neutrals, settling down conversations when needed.

In an attempt to bring peace to a region post-genocide, Rwanda has implemented "Reconciliation Villages" where survivors and perpetrators live side-by-side. This state-mandated reconciliation has lead to community service events that bring the two populations even closer together as they work to better the community they all live in.

Le Collège de Dialogue et de Médiation réunit des représentants de différentes confessions pour aider à médier des différends susceptibles de dégénérer en conflits violents. Dans une commune, le processus a aidé à négocier un accord sur des terres partagées contestées, et le conseil a documenté environ 10 médiations au total.

In an effort to eliminate suspensions that disproportionately affect Black and brown students, Dallas Independent School District created on-campus reset centers where staff mediate conflicts between students and help them reflect on their behavior. Disciplinary action has declined since the centers were implemented, and the percentage of students being repeatedly disciplined fell from 28 percent to 13 percent.

Through peer support, street mediation, and assistance with underlying needs like groceries and help with schoolwork, Peace During War works to help people in Kalamazoo, Mich. leave gun violence behind. The organization's efforts alongside other prevention initiatives are thought to have helped the city record zero gun deaths in the first five months of 2022 after two years of record gun deaths.