StoryCorps has 20 years of experience in bringing people together for life-changing conversations, and now, we’re using the StoryCorps model to remind the country of the humanity in all of us, even those with whom we disagree.
Our country is less divided than we think. While the noise of division and mistrust has been loud, 87% of Americans are tired of division and eager for change. The “Hopeful Majority” are looking to reconnect with what unites us, to see beyond our differences and rediscover our shared humanity. Harnessing the Hopeful Majority’s desire for connectedness, StoryCorps’ One Small Step gives everyday Americans a way to help bridge the divisions in our country, one conversation at a time, and become part of a powerful solution.
One Small Step (OSS) pairs strangers with different political beliefs for a meaningful 50-minute conversation to get to know each other as people and remind us of our shared humanity. Since the initiative officially launched in 2021, 5,000 Americans across 40 states have taken part in OSS interviews. One Small Step is rooted in contact theory, which states that meaningful interactions with those of different backgrounds and/or beliefs can turn “thems” into “us-es.”
OSS works in collaboration with communities—partnering with bridging and civic organizations—to create additional pathways for cross-partisan experiences, uniting efforts to reconnect us with our shared humanity. We are currently focused in four Model Communities nationwide: Columbus, GA; Fresno/Central Valley, CA; Richmond, VA; and Wichita, KS. These cities model for the rest of the country what it looks like to overcome polarization.
Outside of our Model Communities, StoryCorps is building partnerships with local radio stations and universities to adopt OSS for their communities as well as developing digital platforms and tools to create opportunities for anyone, anywhere to participate in OSS and conduct bridging conversations. Excerpts from One Small Step conversations are also shared with the public, amplifying stories of hope and connection that elevate shared values and experiences.
One Small Step is effective: over the last few years, accomplished scientists and pollsters have evaluated various aspects of OSS and they found that exposure to OSS shifts Americans’ beliefs and behaviors, putting us on a path to normalizing cross-partisan conversation. Research from Yale University shows that the OSS conversation experience leads to greater feelings of empathy for those on the other side, and research from More in Common found that exposure to OSS content makes people believe that civil cross-partisan conversation is possible and increases Americans’ willingness to participate in an OSS conversation by 50%. People who are aware of OSS are more hopeful, report less division, and are more likely to respect, and feel respected by, people who have different political beliefs.
In the coming years, One Small Step plans to scale nationwide with the hope to convince America that it is our patriotic duty to listen to people with whom we disagree and to have the courage to take one small step toward each other. Together, we can take one small step toward a more hopeful tomorrow and create a society guided by empathy and understanding.
