We know a place where humans can disagree and still get along

Enter “The Connection Opportunity: Insights For Bringing Americans Together Across Difference.”This study was produced earlier this year by More In Common, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research group. Through deep research in every region across the U.S., the study revealed many insights on the current state of our divided nation, sources of our division and some practical recommendations on how we might move forward together.

The study identified many of the usual suspects behind the sources of our division and discontent: our lives are increasingly occupied by screens (five hours per day for the average adult), and our numerous daily tasks are online and “frictionless” (meaning we haven’t engaged with actual human beings). We are increasingly in silos amongst people that share our ethnic, socioeconomic and ideological backgrounds.

Despite these disappointing trends, More in Common researchers were astounded to find that the majority of Americans, regardless of background, expressed a desire to engage more regularly with others different from them. Rather than finding comfort in their silos, Americans are yearning for something different.

And yet, here’s an even more surprising (and encouraging) finding uncovered in the study: When asked what the biggest barrier was for engaging across differences, the most common answer from respondents was they lacked the opportunity and place to do so.