Strengthening our communities through conversation

The Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, and WGVU Public Media are thrilled to reconvene for a second year of Talking Together: Strengthening Our Communities Through Conversation - a dialogue initiative aimed at interrupting polarization and creating instead a culture of conversation on campus and in surrounding communities.

Our Talking Together collaboration began in 2022-2023 as a year-long Grand Valley Presidential Initiative with a number of opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members to engage in conversation with one other across differences in perspective, identity, and life experiences.

This year, we are returning to build upon those foundational strategies and techniques from Year One by intentionally leaning into spaces of deep listening and story-telling from a multiplicity of perspectives.

People laughing together at a table

2024-2025 Series Schedule


Seeking Participants to take One Small Step

with WGVU and StoryCorps

Created by StoryCorps, One Small Step is an effort to remind the country of the humanity in all of us, even those with whom we disagree. The initiative brings strangers with different political beliefs together for a 50-minute conversation—not to debate politics—but to get to know each other as people.

WGVU and their valued partners: Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse; Kaufman Interfaith Institute; Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies; Seeds of Promise; and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation as well as StoryCorps invite you to take part in One Small Step, an effort to bring communities together, one conversation at a time.

WGVU is one of just seven stations selected nationally to host One Small Step in 2024.With participant permission, these conversations will be preserved for future generations at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

We’re teaming up with civic organizations, churches, and other community groups and leaders to spread the word and connect West Michigan residents from all backgrounds who are ready to take One Small Step.  Do you want to get your group or organization involved in the effort? Contact Phil Lane at [email protected] or (616) 331-6791 for more details.

We invite you to meet someone new:

Apply Here

Learn even more about the initiative!





Page last modified August 19, 2024