Two-day event unites people to discuss challenging and divisive issues
USA TODAY, part of Gannett Co., Inc.(NYSE: GCI) today announced the second installment of America Talks, a thought-provoking event that connects people of different backgrounds and beliefs in small groups and one-on-one for face-to-face impactful conversations on video. The highly anticipated return of America Talks takes place April 21stand April 23rd, 2022. All Americans 18 years and older are invited to register and engage in open dialogue among individuals with differing perspectives.
America Talks is co-created with several dedicated partners who share a passion to help bridge America’s divides. As the headline event kicking off the annual National Week of Conversation(NWOC), this program provides additional opportunities for Americans to engage in meaningful conversation despite their differences.The Concordia Lexington Summit joins the event this year as a promotional partner. “As an intrinsic part of diverse communities across the country, Gannett and USA TODAY are honored to unite citizens across party lines and bring people together,” said Mizell Stewart III, Vice President of News Performance, Talent, and Partnerships for Gannett and the USA TODAY Network. “When people share life experiences, we discover we are more alike than different and can live harmoniously and happily with one another.”
Participants must respond to a short survey published in USA TODAY and Gannett’s local news sites to be matched with a partner and engage in conversation.
In the spirit of the event, America Talks Co-Directors Pearce Godwin and Brandyn Keating come from opposite sides of the ideological spectrum having worked on Republican and Democratic campaigns respectively. Godwin, CEO ofListen First Project, said, “The vast majority of Americans don’t want to be divided. As the personal pain and national fear caused by this toxic polarization increases, people of good will are looking for a way out. America Talks is a first step we can all take. Thanks to Gannett, thousands of Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs will be invited to take that step together.” Keating, CEO of YOUnify, added, “We are thrilled to invite all Americans to an experience in which differences are greeted with respect and curiosity. Americans’ capacity to solve problems has no bounds when we honor one another’s humanity.”
America Talks is an extension of USA TODAY’s work with Public Agenda on “Hidden Common Ground,” an effort to identify areas of authentic agreement on major issues facing Americans. National opinion research conducted as part of that project found overwhelming consensus across affiliations to move beyond the destructive divisiveness that plagues our politics. The research further concluded that a majority of Americans believe creating more opportunities for people to discuss opposing philosophies would reduce intolerance.
To register and learn more about America Talks, please visit https://americatalks.us/
