One Small Step

Two voices, two perspectives. One shared value: respect. April and Jonathan sat down for a One Small Step conversation with a shared willingness to listen. They explored the experiences behind their differences—offering a glimpse of how we might move forward, together.

On the streets of Brooklyn, Jonathan asks a simple question: Who is the first great American that comes to mind? Passersby share the names and personal beliefs that shape how they think about the country and the people who represent it. Who would you have picked?

One Small Step conversations bring together individuals who see the world and themselves differently. Through conversation, they explore the experiences behind their opinions and reflect on the challenge of listening across disagreement while keeping an open mind.

How would you finish the sentence: Most Americans are…? Jonathan asked folks what it means to be American and how we may be more patriotic in our daily actions than we think. The responses we got offer various perspectives shaped by personal experience and the times we live in.

Two strangers sat down for a One Small Step conversation about the issues that matter most to them. What follows is a discussion shaped by personal history, questions, and the effort to understand someone with a different perspective. Check out their full story!

We believe most Americans are still hopeful that we can find ways to talk to each other respectfully. One Small Step is a place to offer just that. A place where disagreement doesn’t always end the dialogue. Start the new year with your first small step!

When it comes to America’s future we are all one team. This season, @InspireChange—an initiative of the @NFL—along with players like @KelvinBeachumJr of the @AZCardinals, stands with One Small Step to bring people together for respectful dialogue across differences.

As the year comes to a close, we are reflecting on the traditions that shape us and that we love to tap into around this time of year. Thank you for bringing your stories, perspectives, and care into this space. Wishing you and your loved ones a thoughtful holiday season.

Kaye & Alex want to reject political labels and the fear that comes with them. Since it can sometimes be used to drive a wedge further between us, and instead create space to talk honestly about what would improve life for everyone, not just people who think the same way they do.

Before a word is even spoken, assumptions and bias are often already in place or being formed. In this conversation, we hear why conversations across the political spectrum may be harder than most and some ideas on where we can shift our thinking towards being open.

It’s easy to assume we already know everything about what someone believes or why. But when we slow down and actually just listen, we often find the space between us isn’t as wide as we thought.

How do you form relationships with people who don’t share your politics? Turns out, relationships can survive and thrive even through disagreement—if we’re willing to listen, be open and respectful.

How do you form relationships with people who don’t share your politics? Turns out, relationships can survive and thrive even through disagreement—if we’re willing to listen, be open and respectful.

Simon and Dale discuss how our country used to feel and find connection by discovering common ground over old shows like "I Love Lucy." It’s a reminder that joy and humor connected us long before our differences felt so pointed—and that they’re something we can tap back into.

We all have those moments that shift how we see things, sometimes from the most unexpected people. A good conversation can also change how we see everything. Who helped you see something differently? Tell us about the conversation that changed your perspective.

When people sit down for a One Small Step conversation, something starts to shift. Not because they change their minds, but because they start to see each other as people again. That’s the power of conversation = connection.

Talking with someone who disagrees with you isn’t always easy. But when we approach with curiosity and an open mind, it can bring us closer to new connections. Because when the goal isn’t to agree on everything, we can create a space to keep showing up for each other anyway.

Deborah and Larry walked into their conversation from across the political divide. They found a connection over a shared belief that people are more than red vs. blue or Democrat vs. Republican, and a hope that, despite our differences, we can actually find common ground.

You may have heard it or thought it before: “People don’t change.” And maybe they don’t — at least not overnight. But change isn’t the point of One Small Step. The point is progress through small collective steps.

Listening to someone you disagree with doesn’t mean you’re giving in or sacrificing your values, it means you’re choosing curiosity over contempt. That kind of practice keeps us connected, even when it’s hard.