Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

How One Military Veteran has Helped Unite Los Angeles in Times of Peace and Crisis

Opinion

How One Military Veteran has Helped Unite Los Angeles in Times of Peace and Crisis

An illustration of diverse people around a heart with the design of the American flag.

Getty Images, wildpixel

Jason Mayo always felt a calling to serve, but his journey was anything but predictable. Drawn to service in the Marine Corps, due to its high bar for excellence, he dreamed of standing guard at U.S. embassies in countries like France and Germany, where he could leverage his proficiency in foreign languages.

As so often happens, life had other plans for Mayo, and a serious car accident led him to leave the military far earlier than he would have planned. It also left him with an unfulfilled sense of duty.


"I felt like I hadn't completed at least a small obligation to serve my country in some way," he recalled.

They often say Marines are cut from a different cloth, and this proved true yet again. With the armed services in his rearview mirror, Mayo went on to pursue a political science degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago, followed by a Master’s in Business for Veterans from the University of Southern Connecticut. He took his talents to the world of advertising and media, working with marquee brands like Men’s Health, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal.

Still, he felt a draw to the veteran community. He was eager to engage with veterans and partner with others who served but was unsure of how his short time in service would be received.

That mindset changed once he discovered +More Perfect Union (MPU)—an organization dedicated to bridging the political and social divides—through his connections in the veteran community.

“I saw the divisiveness happening everywhere, and I felt compelled to do something about it,” Mayo explained.

Today, Mayo has risen to a different type of rank. He founded the Los Angeles Brickyard for +MPU and acts as a beacon for other veterans in his community who are drawn to a new kind of service. Through community-building events and one-on-one conversations alike, Mayo uses his experience as a creative leader to transcend ideological divides and connect with peers in a more meaningful way.

One of the most impactful efforts on Mayo’s lengthy resume was a community screening of “Join or Die , a documentary centered on the widespread decline of civic engagement. The event was a call to action for locals to join forces, not just in the case of a crisis but as an ongoing commitment to community-building and regional pride.

Tragically, a crisis did strike Los Angeles and its surrounding communities in the weeks that followed: a devastating series of wildfires destroyed thousands of homes, local businesses, and beloved community spaces.

When Mayo first surveyed the destruction, he faced an overwhelming question: where to begin? The community he cherished lay in ruins, with homes and buildings reduced to smoldering remains. It was during this moment of uncertainty that he discovered something remarkable.

As a member of The Ronald Reagan American Legion Post 283 (where President Reagan himself had once been a member), Mayo was astonished to find the building standing untouched amid widespread devastation—one of the few structures spared by the inferno. This preservation wasn't just fortunate; it was symbolic.

With former Post Commander Jim Cragg, Mayo designed a plan to turn Post 283 into a community hub—a central gathering place where residents could find both practical help and emotional support. With the help of the Post's leadership, Post 283 became more than a building, it became the heart of the community's recovery efforts—a place to gather, grieve, and gradually turn toward rebuilding. The building soon housed representatives from FEMA, insurance companies, the Red Cross, and faith organizations, creating a one-stop resource center for a community that was desperately seeking answers and direction.

In the coming weeks and months, this work will transition to long-term rebuilding efforts that help restore a sense of peace and togetherness to the area—ranging from flag plantings to community dinners and holiday celebrations.

“My goal is to help people engage with their communities in meaningful ways. It’s not just about talk. It’s about action,” he said.

Inspired by his volunteer work, Mayo launched Kymatholi, a public relations and marketing agency dedicated to bolstering connections within American communities. The firm primarily works with brands that embody the company’s mission to promote civic engagement and social cohesion.

“I only want to work with organizations that help make America stronger, whether through local economies, social fabric, or civic participation,” he said.

Mayo’s work in the military gave him a foundation—teaching him leadership, discipline, and most importantly, adaptability. It’s these skills that Mayo now leans on as he works to strengthen communities, connect with like-minded veterans, and rally people of different political backgrounds for a common purpose.

“The military teaches you how to work with people who don’t look like you, who don’t think like you, but who are all working toward the same goal,” he said. “That’s exactly the mindset we need to bring to our communities today.”

Whether he’s rebuilding communities after deadly wildfires or moderating a conversation in an ideologically polarized city, Mayo continues to serve his country—this time, without a uniform.

“I’m not in the military anymore, but I’m still serving,” he said. “I’m glad I get to put those skills to work.”

Jake Harriman is the CEO and co-founder of +More Perfect Union.

Read More

Communication concept with multi colored abstract people icons.

Research shows that emotional, cognitive, and social mechanisms drive both direct and indirect contact, offering scalable ways to reduce political polarization.

Getty Images, Eoneren

“Direct” and “Indirect” Contact Methods Likely Work in Similar Ways, so They Should Both Be Effective

In a previous article, we argued that efforts to improve the political environment should reach Americans as media consumers, in addition to seeking public participation. Reaching Americans as media consumers uses media like film, TV, and social media to change what Americans see and hear about fellow Americans across the political spectrum. Participant-based efforts include dialogues and community-based activities that require active involvement.

In this article, we show that the mechanisms underlying each type of approach are quite similar. The categories of mechanisms we cover are emotional, cognitive, relational, and repetitive. We use the terms from the academic literature, “direct” and “indirect” contact, which are fairly similar to participant and media consumer approaches, respectively.

Keep ReadingShow less
The American Experiment Requires Robust Debate, Not Government Crackdowns

As political violence threatens democracy, defending free speech, limiting government overreach, and embracing pluralism matters is critical right now.

Getty Images, Javier Zayas Photography

The American Experiment Requires Robust Debate, Not Government Crackdowns

The assassinations of conservative leader Charlie Kirk and Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota have triggered endorsements of violence and even calls for literal war on both the far right and far left. Fortunately, an overwhelming majority of Americans reject political violence, but all of us are in a fight to keep our diverse and boisterous brand of democracy alive. Doing so requires a renewed commitment to pluralism and a clear-headed recognition of the limits of government, especially when proposals entail using the criminal justice system to punish speech.

Pluralism has been called the lifeblood of a democracy like ours, in which being an American is not defined by race or religion. It requires learning about and accepting our differences, and embracing the principle that, regardless of them, every person is entitled to be protected by our Constitution and have a voice in how we’re governed. In contrast, many perpetrators of political violence rationalize their acts by denying the basic humanity of those with whom they disagree. They are willing to face the death penalty or life in prison in an attempt to force everyone to conform to their views.

Keep ReadingShow less
A woman sitting down and speaking with a group of people.

The SVL (Stories, Values, Listen) framework—which aims to bridge political divides with simple, memorable steps for productive cross-partisan conversations—is an easy-to-use tool for making an impact at scale.

Getty Images, Luis Alvarez

Make Talking Politics Easier and More Scalable: Be SVL (Stories, Values, Listen)

How can one have a productive conversation across the political spectrum?

We offer simple, memorable guidance: Be SVL (pronounced like “civil”). SVL stands for sharing Stories, relating to a conversation partner’s Values, and closely Listening.

Keep ReadingShow less
St. Patrick’s Cathedral’s Mural: Art, Immigration, and the American Spirit

People attend a mass and ceremony for a new mural dedicated to New York City’s immigrant communities and honoring the city’s first responders at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on September 21, 2025 in New York City.

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

St. Patrick’s Cathedral’s Mural: Art, Immigration, and the American Spirit

In a bold fusion of sacred tradition and contemporary relevance, artist Adam Cvijanovic has unveiled a sweeping new mural at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City—one that reimagines the historic narthex as a vibrant ode to peace, migration, and spiritual continuity.

In an age of polarization and performative politics, it’s rare to find a work of art that speaks with both spiritual clarity and civic urgency. Yet that’s exactly what “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding” accomplishes. The piece is more than a visual upgrade to a “dreary” entranceway—it’s a theological and cultural intervention, one that invites every visitor to confront the moral stakes of our immigration discourse.

Keep ReadingShow less