2017 was a year of tension, mistrust and people feeling divided. As we head into a new year, The California Report Magazine gathered some favorite stories about people coming together, despite their differences.
When You're a Journalist and Your Grandfather Doesn't Trust the Media
After the 2016 election, a lot of people were struggling to understand opinions different from their own. Some were wondering how to break out of their echo chamber and talk to people who come from really different backgrounds. Last year, we ran a series called Start the Conversation.
The idea was to bring people together, people who sit on different sides of a political or cultural divide, to talk about the issues that are important to them. One of our favorite conversations was between reporter Lacy Jane Roberts, who lives in the Bay Area, and her grandfather, Tom Tyler, who lives in Bozeman, Montana. Lacy, of course, works in journalism. Her grandpa doesn’t believe the media can be trusted.
A Dinner Party That Tries to Bridge Political Divides
A lot of us are told not to talk politics at the dinner table. Especially if your guests fall on different sides of the political spectrum. But as Bianca Taylor tells us, a new movement called Make America Dinner Again breaks this rule, in a big way.
A Mother and Son Reunite Over Music
For more than 40 years, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus has used its music to help create community and bridge divides. Last fall, it toured five Southern states.
