A Look Inside Community Groups Working to Build Trust to Bridge Divides
Ask students: Why might it be difficult for people with different political or cultural views to trust each other?
Americans are increasingly divided, and many now see a breakdown in social trust as a key factor. In North Carolina, Judy Woodruff visited a project aimed at restoring that trust, part of a broader national effort to strengthen civic engagement. It's part of her series, America at a Crossroads.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- What are the issues among young men that the Journeymen project is working to address?
- Who are some of the people featured in the story, and what motivates them to do this kind of work?
- How do programs like Weave and Journeymen help rebuild trust in communities and bridge political divides?
- Why might it be difficult for people with different political or cultural views to trust each other?
- Why is listening so important when trying to solve problems in divided communities?
Focus Question
- Do you think that people can still work together to solve problems even if they don’t agree on everything? Why or why not?
- Do you think schools and communities should do more to teach young people how to talk with others who have different opinions? What might that look like?
- Media literacy: Do you think this story presents a balanced view of the issue? Why or why not? What perspectives might be missing or underrepresented?
Extension Activity
Watch the video below to learn how an activist and former educator is working to restore dignity to political disagreements. Next, complete this Daily News Lesson on the video and explore the Dignity Index. How might you use these resources to address divisive issues in your community or school?
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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