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About One Small Step
One Small Step was created in 2018 by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit dedicated to recording American oral history. The program originated as a reaction to increased political and social division in America, and StoryCorps was looking for a way to bridge some of those divides. Over the past 3 years, over 1000 people across America have participated in conversations across 40 states. In early 2021, the Democracy Initiative partnered with StoryCorps to launch One Small Step for our local community. Charlottesville and the surrounding area have been at the center of national discussions about social, political, and cultural upheaval. But no one knows the community better than the people who live here. Over the course of the coming year, we will be empowering hundreds of people from the area to engage with one another in meaningful dialogues about sharing humanity.
How does it work?
One Small Step pairs together people, most often strangers, across political lines to have a conversation about their lives, what has shaped their perspectives, and what they hope for in the future. We know not every problem can be solved through conversation, but with open minds and open hearts, we can get closer to a united America. Our team at the Democracy Initiative will be recruiting people from all across the Charlottesville metropolitan area to record conversations with fellow community members. If you consider yourself liberal, conservative, or anything in between or outside of those labels, we encourage you to sign up so your voice can be heard.
StoryCorps' One Small Step is made possible by the generous support of the Fetzer Institute, The Hearthland Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the Charles Koch Institute.