Building Bridges

It was the summer of 2016, and Joseph Touma and Clara Nevins were in the midst of a heated debate about politics. Touma, a 17-year-old Republican from West Virginia, held many differing views from Nevins, a 17-year-old Democrat from California—but the two had still bonded during a summer program at Yale University. So after a few minutes of arguing, they agreed to stop defending their own beliefs so they could each listen to what the other person was saying. Before long, they began to understand each other’s point of view, even if they didn’t agree with it. It was a moment that would change their lives.

“We looked around and realized that we had peers there from Russia, Syria, the U.S., Mexico—all these different countries whose leaders were at each other’s throats,” Touma, now 21, says. “And yet we were all able to study together and live harmoniously.”

That realization sparked an idea: What if they were to create an organization that encouraged productive political conversation among young people from all walks of life? Within a month, Touma, Nevins, and a handful of other teens had launched a website and were reaching out to students across the country. Bridge the Divide was born.

It was the summer of 2016, and Joseph Touma and Clara Nevins were in the midst of a heated debate about politics. Touma, a 17-year-old Republican from West Virginia, held many differing views from Nevins, a 17-year-old Democrat from California. Still, the two had bonded during a summer program at Yale University. So after a few minutes of arguing, they agreed to stop defending their own beliefs. That allowed both of them the chance to listen to what the other person was saying. Before long, they began to understand each other’s point of view, even if they didn’t agree with it. It was a moment that would change their lives.

“We looked around and realized that we had peers there from Russia, Syria, the U.S., Mexico—all these different countries whose leaders were at each other’s throats,” Touma, now 21, says. “And yet we were all able to study together and live harmoniously.”

That realization sparked an idea: What if they were to create an organization that encouraged productive political conversation among young people from all walks of life? Within a month, Touma, Nevins, and a handful of other teens had launched a website and were reaching out to students across the country. Bridge the Divide was born.

The organization began recruiting young ambassadors who were dedicated to starting constructive discussions around the world. Soon there were more than 100 ambassadors; those teens have since gone on to start Bridge the Divide chapters in schools, write op-eds, attend leadership summits, join in a global pen pal program, and, of course, participate in many political conversations, both in person and online. Small groups of ambassadors sometimes get together on Google Hangouts for hour-long discussions about various political topics, such as the Syrian refugee crisis, criminal justice, or health care. And the group recently helped launch Mismatch, an online platform that encourages these dialogues in schools.

The organization began recruiting young ambassadors who were dedicated to starting constructive discussions around the world. Soon there were more than 100 ambassadors. Those teens have since gone on to start Bridge the Divide chapters in schools. They write op-eds, attend leadership summits, and join in a global pen pal program. They also take part in many political conversations, both in person and online. Small groups of ambassadors sometimes get together on Google Hangouts for hour-long discussions about various political topics. They discuss things like the Syrian refugee crisis, criminal justice, and health care. And the group recently helped launch Mismatch, an online platform that encourages these dialogues in schools.

All of these conversations aren’t necessarily meant to change anyone’s mind. Rather, the group believes that teens who venture out beyond the echo chambers of their social media feeds to engage with those with other perspectives will be better able to reach compromises and discourage divisive rhetoric later. 

“We really want to listen to the other side,” says Crystal Foretia, an 18-year-old ambassador from Maryland. “We want to prevent polarization and retreating into our own ideologies.”

All of these conversations aren’t necessarily meant to change anyone’s mind. Rather, the group believes that teens who venture out beyond the echo chambers of their social media feeds to engage with those with other perspectives will be better able to reach compromises and discourage divisive rhetoric later.

“We really want to listen to the other side,” says Crystal Foretia, an 18-year-old ambassador from Maryland. “We want to prevent polarization and retreating
into our own ideologies.”

Although Bridge the Divide now has ambassadors in 30 countries, its members are particularly focused on changing the way American youth interact with each other. Since the 2016 presidential election, the anger between liberals and conservatives seems to have reached unsustainable levels, culminating in the fight over President Trump’s recent impeachment and acquittal; one 2018 poll found that more than 8 in 10 Americans feel the country is greatly divided about important issues, and 77 percent say they’re dissatisfied with the current state of politics in the country. And with the 2020 election looming, many don’t expect things to get better anytime soon.

“I think it’s awful that nowadays we don’t talk about politics at Thanksgiving,” says Levi Cannon, the group’s 16-year-old director of operations from Massachusetts. “As American teens, we’re the policymakers of the future. It’s important that we learn to work with people, even those we disagree with, so that we can work together to make change when it really matters.”

Bridge the Divide now has ambassadors in 30 countries. Its members are still focused on changing the way American youth interact with each other. Since the 2016 presidential election, the anger between liberals and conservatives seems to have reached unsustainable levels. The tension hit a high spot during the fight over President Trump’s recent impeachment and acquittal. One 2018 poll found that more than 8 in 10 Americans feel the country is greatly divided about important issues, and 77 percent say they’re dissatisfied with the current state of politics in the country. And with the 2020 election looming, many don’t expect things to get better anytime soon.

“I think it’s awful that nowadays we don’t talk about politics at Thanksgiving,” says Levi Cannon, the group’s 16-year-old director of operations from Massachusetts. “As American teens, we’re the policymakers of the future. It’s important that we learn to work with people, even those we disagree with, so that we can work together to make change when it really matters.”

To spread its message even further, Bridge the Divide teamed up with other organizations, including AllSides, a service that offers balanced news coverage, to launch Mismatch. The program pairs classrooms in politically divergent parts of the country and encourages them to learn from each other as they share their opinions on free speech, voting, technology, and other relevant topics.

Using Mismatch, Laura Sofen’s 12th-grade public school class in suburban New Jersey was paired with students from Ruel Haymond’s religious private school in Utah. They spent about an hour videochatting with their partners—and the results were impressive, both teachers say.

“My students . . . were primed with these expectations [about the Utah class]: They’re Mormons, they all have huge families,” Sofen says. And Haymond’s class was shocked that the suburban students could swear in school, a serious offense on their campus.

But despite their differences, the two classrooms were able to bond quickly. They talked about families, sports, hobbies, and more. Some of the teens in Utah brought their laptops outside so they could show their New Jersey partners the mountains. There was even some dancing in front of the camera.

Bridge the Divide was set on spreading its message even further. To do so, they teamed up with other organizations. Their new partners included AllSides, a service that offers balanced news coverage. The collaboration led to the launch of Mismatch. The program pairs classrooms in politically divergent parts of the country. The paired classrooms are encouraged to learn from each other. They share their opinions on free speech, voting, technology, and other relevant topics.

Using Mismatch, Laura Sofen’s 12th-grade public school class in suburban New Jersey was paired with students from Ruel Haymond’s religious private school in Utah. They spent about an hour videochatting with their partners. The results were impressive, both teachers say.

“My students . . . were primed with these expectations [about the Utah class]: They’re Mormons, they all have huge families,” Sofen says. And Haymond’s class was shocked that the suburban students could swear in school, a serious offense on their campus.

But despite their differences, the two classrooms were able to bond quickly. They talked about families, sports, hobbies, and more. Some of the teens in Utah brought their laptops outside so they could show their New Jersey partners the mountains. There was even some dancing in front of the camera.

“I think they learned that everyone’s pretty much the same,” Haymond says. “We want the same things. We want happiness, we want prosperity, we want to be successful, we want opportunities to use our talents.”

Many teachers agree that finding common ground with others is crucial.

“My students repeatedly commented that they are just like us,” says Jessica Minick, an 11th-grade teacher in Suffern, New York, whose class used Mismatch. “Small epiphanies like that—realizations that dispel assumptions and stereotypes and highlight what is shared among those who are perceived to be different—will help to change the tone of our national conversation.”

As Mismatch expands into more schools this year, Bridge the Divide is hoping teens will be the ones to help this message catch on.

“We’re looking for a trickle-up effect, where if young people start doing it, maybe our leaders can begin coming to the table and just listen to one another,” Touma says. “People would like to listen to us because they realize that we are coming at this with this unique perspective.”

“I think they learned that everyone’s pretty much the same,” Haymond says. “We want the same things. We want happiness, we want prosperity, we want to be successful, we want opportunities to use our talents.”

Many teachers agree that finding common ground with others is crucial.

“My students repeatedly commented that they are just like us,” says Jessica Minick, an 11th-grade teacher in Suffern, New York, whose class used Mismatch. “Small epiphanies like that—realizations that dispel assumptions and stereotypes and highlight what is shared among those who are perceived to be different—will help to change the tone of our national conversation.”

Mismatch will be expanding into more schools this year. Bridge the Divide is hoping teens will be the ones to help this message catch on.

“We’re looking for a trickle-up effect, where if young people start doing it, maybe our leaders can begin coming to the table and just listen to one another,” Touma says. “People would like to listen to us because they realize that we are coming at this with this unique perspective.”