“I had previously heard my interview partner share out in another session, but in a million years I wouldn’t have been able to guess the unique childhood he had. The experience left me with a feeling of wonder and thoughts about how every single person has a unique story that no one else but them will ever fully understand.”

The highlight of my experience was the College Debates and Discourse Alliance Symposium, which offered invaluable insights into creating thriving, dialogic communities of practice on college campuses. Something that stuck with me was Virginia Military Institute’s learnings from their fellowship program. They underscored the importance of empowering students and supporting them as leaders and experts in their own communities. It was an exciting and reassuring reminder that, amidst the AI revolution, this work of connecting humans will always be done by people, for people. Moreover, relationship-building and empowering people to work toward change in their own communities is what will lead us to a more cooperative, kind, and thoughtful democracy.

Our presence at the convention, both through structured sessions and informal interactions, highlighted the connections between the work of OSS and Braver Angels. I was reminded that we are a part of a broader movement toward civic renewal and bridging divides. By participating in events like the Braver Angels Convention, we are joining a coalition of like-minded changemakers. We do not agree on all the details, but, most importantly, we agree on where we’re going together. Above all, the convention felt like it was pointing us toward StoryCorps’ larger north star: helping us believe in each other by illuminating the humanity and possibility in us all — one story at a time.

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The PSA campaign, by creative agency I.D/W, features the work of famed illustrator Noma Bar and leads with the tagline “let’s talk…for a change.”

We sat down with Leigh Okies, Creative Director and Principal at I/D.W, to discuss the creative development for this campaign. “StoryCorps approached us to design the campaign after deciding that it was a good time to begin scaling the OSS effort, given the contentious election year and the momentum achieved in the Model Communities — among other factors,” Leigh said.

“For this campaign, we knew we needed to create imagery and a message that would resonate beyond political ads. ‘Let’s talk…for a change’ is inviting and sends a message of hope. It also underscores the fact that the vast majority of Americans are exhausted by toxic polarization and looking for a way out. Now more than ever, we need to work together to mend the divisions in our country.”

The campaign, which will roll out into markets nationwide this summer, directs people to TakeOneSmallStep.org, where they can see conversations across the political divide modeled by OSS participants, sign up to record their own One Small Step conversation, or simply find more information about the initiative.

She added, “We used the image of red and blue arms coming together, with the hands clasped around a talk bubble because — for the billboards in particular — we have only about three seconds to convey that this effort is about bringing people with opposing political views together in conversation.”

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On  May 4, one such gathering was held in the OSS Model Community of Richmond, VA at the Library of Virginia. With over thirty-five people in attendance, the event began with an opening presentation that included a video greeting from StoryCorps Founder and President Dave Isay and remarks by Library of Virginia State Librarian Dennis T. Clark, and OSS Facilitator Claire LeBlond. 

Attendees were then given instructions to find three other people in the room with matching colored lanyards. Once everyone found each other and were seated with their groups, they were given prompts for conducting a Second Step conversation, including suggested conversation guidelines, as well as a truncated version of the OSS questions to ask their tablemates. 

Following these Second Step conversations, which lasted about half an hour, attendees were invited to stay for a personal tour of the library’s Indigenous Perspectives exhibit. 

OSS Richmond Field Coordinator Jim Morgan remarked, “We often hear from OSS participants that they want to stay engaged with the program and while we have many ways to do that, these Second Step events allow them to continue to connect in person, across differences, and help bring the community together.”

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In development since 2017, OSS pairs strangers with opposing political beliefs for conversations, not to debate politics, but to get to know each other as fellow Americans. The initiative is based on social psychology’s contact theory and to date, more than 5,400 people in over 40 states have participated in OSS.

Dave Isay, Founder and President of StoryCorps, said, “We are not as divided or as different as we think. In fact, 9 out 10 Americans are tired of division, scared of where it’s leading the country, and looking for a way out. As we scale One Small Step nationally, we want people to know that they are part of the ‘exhausted majority.’ One Small Step offers hope, sanity, and a simple step for Americans to take to help close the divides tearing at the very fabric of our nation. We believe we are uniquely positioned to make an impact, and will fight with everything we’ve got—because if the culture of contempt wins, we all lose.”

Research by accomplished scientists and pollsters shows that One Small Step is singularly effective in helping people with opposing political views see the humanity in their fellow Americans, and in seeding hope for meaningful communication once again.

The PSA campaign, designed by creative agency I.D/W and featuring the designs of famed illustrator Noma Bar, will lead with the message “Let’s Talk…for a Change.” It will direct people to TakeOneSmallStep.org, where they can see conversations across the political divide modeled by OSS participants, sign up to record their own One Small Step conversation, or simply find more information about the initiative. Click here to learn more.

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Wane Hailes and Alton Russell

For the past 20 years, StoryCorps has been traveling the country gathering the stories and wisdom of ordinary Americans and archiving them at the Library of Congress. Those stories are usually between two people who know and love each other. 

This is not one of those stories. 

Alton Russell was the long-time Chair of the Republican party in Columbus, Georgia. Wane Hailes was the head of the local NAACP. Although they knew of each other, they had never actually spoken — until they sat down for a One Small Step conversation.  

One Small Step pairs strangers with opposing political beliefs to have one-on-one conversations, not to debate politics, but to find out who each other are as people. The goal is to help reduce toxic polarization in the US — one conversation at a time. StoryCorps began piloting One Small Step in 2017 and since then, more than 5,400 people in over 40 states have participated.

One Small Step conversation partners, Wane and Alton, in Columbus, GA.

This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Originally aired July 5th, 2024, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

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April and Jonathan’s Conversation

Participants April and Jonathan recorded a One Small Step conversation in Richmond, Virginia.

THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR FUNDERS

One Small Step is made possible by the generous support of The Hearthland Foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, The Marcus Foundation, the Walmart Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Fetzer Institute, Stand Together Trust, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Robins Foundation, New Pluralists, and Schwab Charitable Fund made possible by the generosity of Present Progressive Fund.

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Radio Station Hubs Program

Each year, StoryCorps partners with a select number of public radio and community stations across the country to help them bridge political divisions in their communities, one conversation at a time. 

With guidance and support from StoryCorps, each station offers its own One Small Step program for a year — facilitating, recording, and sharing conversations between community residents. To date, radio stations in 29 states have participated in our partnership program. We are deeply grateful to the stations and their communities for their dedication to this work.

2024 Hubs Stations

To learn more about each station and their One Small Step programs visit their websites. If you live in or near one of these communities, be sure to sign up and participate! 

Central Florida Public Media: Orlando, Florida
KUNR: Reno, Nevada
Vermont Public Radio: Colchester, Vermont
WERU: Blue Hill, Maine
WGVU: Grand Rapids, Michigan
WJFF: Northeast Pennsylvania/New York
WTIP: Grand Marais, Minnesota

Watch Our 2023 Annual Listening Event Highlight Reel

Each station hosts a Listening Event at the end of their year of partnership where the community celebrates their accomplishments, watches clips from One Small Step conversations, and hears directly from participants about their experiences.

Read More About our Hubs Program on our Blog

How the Radio Station Hubs Program Demonstrates the Potential of One Small Step
Spotlight on the One Small Step Radio Station Hubs Program
Spotlight on One Small Step Hubs Station: WERU-FM
Spotlight on One Small Step Hubs Station: KRCB

Radio Station Hubs in the News

• KHOL, November 7, 2023, “One Small Step: A Conversation between Former Mayor Pete Muldoon and Council Member Jim Rooks” 
• WVPE, December 8, 2023, “One Small Step: South Bend Duo: Conservative Business Owner and Liberal Pastor Bridge Divides, Advocate Unity”
• WERU, December 2023, “Maine Takes One Small Step.”

THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR FUNDERS

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StoryCorps partners with a wide range of organizations to extend the reach and impact of One Small Step.

Radio Station Hubs

Public and community radio stations across America collaborate with StoryCorps to deliver One Small Step in their communities. Read more about our Radio Station Hubs Program.

Model Community Partnerships

We work with a wide range of organizations in our Model Communities (Columbus, GA; Richmond, VA; or Wichita, KS) to help us spread the word and recruit participants. These are some of our partners:

Kansas Leadership Center (Wichita, KS)
Kansas Health Foundation (Wichita, KS)
Wichita State University (Wichita, KS)
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (Richmond, VA)
Virginia Tech Richmond Center (Richmond, VA)
Library of Virginia (Richmond, VA)
University of Mary Washington (Richmond, VA)
Maggie Walker Governor’s School (Richmond, VA)
University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
Columbus State University (Columbus, GA)
National Infantry Museum (Columbus, GA)
St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Columbus, GA)

The Next Step Network

We are partnering with other national organizations who have similar goals, to provide folks with the opportunity to take a “next step” with activities, additional tools, training, and resources. Check back later in 2024 to find out more.

THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR FUNDERS

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