Meet "The Skeptics," a DIY lay version of God Squad — they're a group of politically and spiritually diverse group of people who've been meeting once a week for years (in some private location that for some reason they're not letting on to). Lucky us — we'll meet four of the Skeptics (a Catholic, a Protestant, a Mormon, and an atheist) who have forged deep friendships by gathering regularly to discuss spiritual topics in a respectful manner where disagreement is both welcomed and appreciated. They'll let us in on an hour of their private conversation and even lend a little support to new Skeptic groups that might be inspired to launch. Facilitated by Village Square Founder Liz Joyner and featuring The Village Square's Bill Mattox — both a veteran of more God Squad programs than he'd imagine and a member of "The Skeptics." Also a Skeptic, former NACo President Bryan Desloge.
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Movies that show us at our weaving best
Dec 17, 2024
The Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project tackles the problem of broken trust that has left Americans divided, lonely and in social gridlock. Weave connects and invests in grassroots leaders stepping up to weave a new, inclusive social fabric where they live. This is part of an ongoing series telling the stories of community weavers from across the country.
With the weather getting colder across the northern hemisphere and some holiday time with family and friends coming up, you might want to kick back with a movie. We’ve got you. Here are some movies that will give you hope, leave you smiling and maybe inspire you to get out and rebuild social trust in your community in 2025.
Join or Die
It’s an ominous title, but this documentary delivers a powerful, positive message that we can heal society’s isolation and divides by just showing up. It explains decades of research by Robert Putnam, the political scientist who wrote “Bowling Alone” about the decline in social capital in America. Putnam, who is featured throughout the film, shows with data that communities and governments thrive when people join things in person — whether churches, bowling teams, social clubs, political parties or civic groups. Many in the Weave community recommend the film highly — and you are likely to be telling friends about what you learned. It’s newly available on Netflix.
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Two films about Mister Rogers
“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” ran for nearly 30 years as a children’s program on public television. Fred Rogers, the host, taught a generation of children to acknowledge their feelings, care for each other, recognize that everyone has something to offer and welcome others as neighbors. The first film is a documentary called “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” (Netflix). The second is based on a true story of a magazine writer assigned to profile Mister Rogers and whose life was changed because of their relationship. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” (Hulu and others) stars Tom Hanks. Weaver warning: It seems silly and slow at the start, but rapidly gains emotional speed.
A Case for Love
In this documentary, a film crew travels across America interviewing everyday people, politicians, religious leaders and weavers of all types. It explores whether or not love, specifically unselfish love, can heal the extreme social and political divides facing the world. Bishop Michael Curry, who gave a passionate sermon about “The Power of Love” at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, is featured. You can rent “A Case for Love” on many streaming channels.
Barber of Little Rock
This documentary film by The New Yorker follows Arlo Washington, a barber who decided to tackle the racial wealth gap in Little Rock, Arkansas, by teaching young adults to be barbers. No commercial banks had branches in his neighborhood to make loans to start businesses or buy homes, so he started his own rooted in relationships, mutual support and community building. The 35-minute film is free on Youtube or you can read the New Yorker article it is based on.
The Antidote
This documentary “weaves together stories of kindness, decency, and the power of community in America. It's about everyday people who make the intentional choice to lift others up, despite fundamentally unkind realities in our society.” The film shows communities across the United States where neighbors are getting together to do everything from helping unhoused folks find connection and support to integrating refugees into their communities. “It's about who we are and maybe, who we can be.” You can rent “The Antidote” on several streaming channels.
Hollywood tends to give us films about our challenges and divisions, often with bigger-than-life heroes who have to save us from ourselves. If you have favorite movies showing everyday people working together to heal loneliness, isolation and division, add them to this post in our Weave Community.
To see more stories like this, subscribe to Weave’s weekly newsletter.
Plata is communications manager for Weave: The Social Fabric Project.
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The role of theater in fostering constructive political dialogue
Dec 11, 2024
While it may seem like our country is more politically divided than ever, political division has been a recurring theme throughout American history.
The Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the struggle for civil rights, the protests surrounding the Vietnam War and similar events highlight how deeply divided opinions can become. Each of these periods had its own complex set of issues and emotions, and they shaped the nation in significant ways.
Professor Tim Dale, whose academic background is in political science and political theory, believes we should temper our media consumption with a conversation to have a broader view of the issue. During a TEDxUWLaCrosse presentation, Dale explained why it is essential for people to take the individual responsibility of getting news from multiple sources. When that happens, we are more informed of how the story is communicated differently.
I practice Complicating the Narratives, a solutions journalism strategy that helps journalists find new ways to report on controversial issues and polarizing politics. It draws on the experience of experts in conflict mediation.
In"This Thanksgiving, it's not only OK but necessary to talk politics," I presented why we need to connect with and not avoid one another after a grueling election season. Now, I am exploring how theater and the arts can help effectively introduce opposing viewpoints and communicate through those differences.
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The Totality of All Things
Theater has a unique ability to engage audiences through its characters and their experiences, prompting discussions and encouraging reflection on various issues. Presenting relatable stories and diverse perspectives allows viewers to contemplate important themes and societal challenges. This reflective quality can lead to meaningful conversations both during and after performances.
The ongoing debates surrounding reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ issues and immigration (to name a few) have indeed contributed to growing polarization in the United States. These topics often evoke strong emotions and differing viewpoints, leading to intense arguments among individuals and communities. Many people feel passionately about their beliefs, which can create divisions, but it also highlights the importance of dialogue and understanding to bridge these gaps.
In the play "The Totality of All Things," art imitates life. Judith Benson is a liberal-leaning educator well-known for running the award-winning student newspaper at her small-town high school in Indiana. The paper emphasizes the values of truth and integrity in journalism. However, when an anti-gay hate crime occurs in her classroom, it challenges her beliefs about mentoring the next generation of reporters and raises questions about the very nature of truth.
In 2023, playwright Erik Gernand wanted to write about nationwide polarization but knew he couldn't write about current hot topics. "I needed a story with more distance. As a gay man who benefited from the 2015 Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage, that felt like the right jumping-off point, "he said.
"I think drama in any form can help an audience process their feelings about a topic. When I go see a show, it often gives me an outlet to work through my own thoughts and experiences," said Gernand.
He said the show's narrative is about messy characters struggling through a messy situation. "No one in the play is exactly right or wrong, good or bad. As hard as that is to admit, that's very much the real world, if we like it or not," he said.
“The biggest thing in my mind after I first read ‘Totality’ was how Erik wrote his characters to be flawed and heroic in equal measure,” said director Enrico Spada. “It’s incredibly compelling to watch them grapple with the situation they’re in and argue with each other, because I can just as easily agree with either side. It’s challenging for me as an audience member and really satisfying to work on with actors.”
In one of the pivotal scenes, Judith argues with Micah, the student she assigned to write an article about the incident. "We are journalists. We report the truth. That's how we make this world a better place,” she said in lobbying to name the person who spray-painted a swastika on her classroom bulletin board about same-sex marriage.
Micah opposes outing the classmate, vying that Judith is just as intolerant as the people who oppose same-sex marriage, and urges in part: "Maybe we should look at the whole person, like the totality, before we judge."
Is there a definitive right or wrong position over such topics in a country as clearly divided as ours, as the popular vote demonstrated in this year's presidential election?
For Gernand, it's a losing battle because he believes both Judith and Micah are right in ways, and they're both wrong in ways. “And that's what I love in a climactic scene, a showdown where there's not an easy or obvious way out, maybe even no way out,” he said. “That's great for drama but sadly not for the state of polarization in the country.”
An artistic platform, like theater, can be a productive channel for helping people engage with each other about subjects that can sometimes be uncomfortable to address. (Disclosure: I am the understudy for Principal Benson in the Chicago production of "Totality.")
“Theatre can definitely provide a kind of healing and education by transporting people out of their lives and into someone else’s, so they can practice empathy and broaden their horizons by pondering situations and people they may not normally consider,” said Spada. “I think this play is better than most because it doesn’t tell you what to think or feel, instead presenting a challenge and letting you process it in your own way.”
Theater Impacting Social Change
Throughout history, theater has been a fundamental aspect of human society, serving as a medium for expressing opinions and influencing public perception. It is deeply intertwined with cultural life, reflected not only in the performances but also in the rhetorical techniques employed by politicians. When utilized effectively, theater can be a significant instrument for social change.
Through its year-round programming, Collaboraction Theatre Company, a Chicago nonprofit, explores theater's role in social change.
The group invites its crew and audience members to listen and learn from one another, bringing their disagreements and questions.
In "How theatre can lead to constructive political conversations," Collaboraction's artistic director, Anthony Moseley, and former executive director Marcus Robinson discuss how theater can open people up to more constructive political conversations.
Theater and politics share a profound relationship that dates back to ancient Greece, where theatrical performances were grand for their time, and orators resembled the earliest politicians.
In today's landscape, the spectacle of politics remains similar. It is characterized by bold campaigns and persuasive tactics, with sharp rhetoric and promises prominently featured in mainstream media.
Theater has consistently reflected society, often challenging prevailing norms. Contemporary theater continues to encourage audiences to engage with a variety of ideas while reminding them of significant messages from the past.
This platform offers a unique opportunity to connect with audiences through live, communal experiences, making it a valuable avenue for exploring political concepts and promoting civic engagement.
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The Totality of All Things runs through January 19, 2025, at Redtwist Theatre.
Balta is director of solutions journalism and DEI initiatives for The Fulcrum and a board member of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, the parent organization of The Fulcrum. He is the publisher of the Latino News Network and a trainer with the Solutions Journalism Network.
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Do Charli XCX’s and Kid Rock’s endorsements make a difference? 19% of young people admit they might.
Sep 04, 2024
Longoria is an associate professor of political science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
British pop star Charli XCX sent many young people’s group text chats and social media feeds wild when she endorsed Kamala Harris by playing off a term she coined in a song, and posted on X, that “kamala IS brat.”
While this endorsement, which happened in July 2024, likely means very little to most adults who don’t follow the singer’s music, it is considered high praise among young people. Harris’ campaign astutely embraced Charli XCX’s support – temporarily changing the background of its X profile to the same shade of lime green that Charlie XCX favors.
Celebrities, including singer John Legend and actors Octavia Spencer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, are all making appearances at the Democratic National Convention, which runs Aug. 19-24.
Several celebrities, including wrestler Hulk Hogan and singer Jason Aldean, appeared at the Republican National Convention in July.
So far, a range of other celebrities, including actor Jeff Bridges, the singer Cher, movie director Spike Lee and comedian Amy Schumer, among others, have endorsed Harris.
Meanwhile, comedian Roseanne Barr, as well as singer Kid Rock, model Amber Rose and actor Jon Voight have endorsed Trump.
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Some researchers have estimated that Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of Barack Obama in 2008 gave him an additional 1 million votes.
But overall, research shows that celebrity political endorsements don’t matter enough to determine an election’s results.
If celebrity endorsements don’t shift an election, then why do political campaigns seek them out?
The answer is that they still do matter and for many different reasons. Celebrities can easily get media attention, act as campaign surrogates, expand the voter base and make campaign contributions. All these things can help a candidate win.
What guides voters and celeb endorsements
Not many people will admit that they voted for a candidate because Oprah Winfrey or another celebrity told them to – so survey research will rarely find that celebrity endorsements are meaningful.
About 89% of adults also said in February 2020 that they wouldn’t switch their vote because of a celebrity endorsement.
However, this leaves 11% of American adults who said that they might change their preferred candidate based on what a celebrity said. Another 19% of younger voters also said in this same poll that a celebrity could help change their vote.
In a close election, these voters at the margins could change a candidate’s fortunes.
Celebrities can help keep a politician in the news cycle – and a celebrity endorsement gives candidates an extra opportunity to distribute their message to a public audience.
Whether it is Jeff Bridges – who played “The Dude” in the 1998 movie “The Big Lebowski” – speaking at a “White dudes for Harris” Zoom meeting, or the pro-Trump singer Kid Rock hosting a series of “Rock the Country” concerts, celebrity endorsements can also help candidates target specific demographic groups.
Celebrities also benefit when they get involved in politics because they, too, depend on staying relevant.
By weighing in on political issues, celebrities can keep themselves in the limelight and promote their personal brand. There is a risk, however, that a celebrity might alienate fans and business partners who don’t share their political views.
A strong online presence
Celebrities can also get a lot of media attention when they disagree with a politician or are offended by what they say.
For example, Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, has said that “the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children.”
His 2021 comments about the country being run by “childless cat ladies” also resurfaced in July 2024.
Actress Jennifer Aniston and talk-show host Whoopi Goldberg went on the counteroffensive, stating that there are many reasons some women don’t have children, including fertility challenges.
“I truly can’t believe that this is coming from a potential VP of the United States,” Aniston wrote on Instagram.
“All I can say is … Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day.”
Expanding the electorate base
Celebrities can also effectively encourage people to register to vote or to actually vote. In September 2023, singer Taylor Swift encouraged her fans to register to vote with a link to vote.org.
The site saw a 1,226% increase in traffic, and over 35,000 new voters registered within an hour of her post.
There is speculation this election that Swift will formally back Harris, as she did President Joe Biden during the 2020 election. Some Swift fans have looked for clues of a possible endorsement, including that a Swift dancer – who wore a pantsuit during a recent concert – appeared to resemble Harris.
Trump falsely claimed on Aug. 18 that Swift endorsed him, posting an AI-generated image on Truth Social that showed an image of Swift and said, “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.”
While Swift has not issued any endorsement one way or another, Swift’s fans have organized a “Swifties4Kamala” movement that has more than 180,000 followers across social media.
Celebrities still have political influence
Celebrity political endorsements are unlikely to change a voter’s core values or sway voters who are already closely following politics and are familiar with the different candidates and what they stand for.
But celebrities still have cultural influence and could encourage people who are not closely engaged in politics or an election to vote for or support a candidate in other ways, such as with donations.
And research also shows that celebrities are especially likely to shape the political opinions of younger voters.
Even if a celebrity endorsement is not the primary reason any voter would select a particular candidate, the celebrity endorsement might have value for some people. And in a close election, it can be just a few thousand votes that matter.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Ariana Grande for Harris. Kanye West for Trump. Does it matter?
Aug 22, 2024
Nevins is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.
It didn’t take long after Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and Kamala Harris became the odds-on favorite to be the Democratic Party's nominee for the celebrity endorsements to follow. Within a few days, Ariana Grande, Cardi B and John Legend all publicly announced their support for Harris.
Of course, not all celebrities are Democrats and Donald Trump has his share of celebrity support as well — people like Ye (Kanye West), Jason Aldean and Kid Rock, who endorsed Trump in the past and are likely to endorse him once again.
And while some celebrities choose not to support candidates for office, they do at times voice their objection when their music is used at political events without their permission.
Singer Celine Dion was not happy when former President Trump used her Oscar- and Grammy-winning hit "My Heart Will Go On" at multiple campaign rallies throughout 2023 and 2024. She team issued this statement:
"In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use. ... And really, THAT song?"
The jab at the end about “really, THAT song?” — a reminder that her romantic ballad served as the theme song for a movie about a sinking ship — received considerable social media attention.
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Whether any of this actually impacts the election is certainly debatable.
Movie and music stars have always had an enormous influence on politics, including Edward G. Robinson, Ronald Reagan, Harry Belafonte, Jane Fonda, Charlton Heston, Warren Beatty, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barbra Streisand, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. They entered the political fray from both the left and the right.
In more recent times, Ye joined the fray when he entered the White House wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, and Billie Eilish, at the age of only 18, debuted the first live performance of her single “My Future” at the Democratic National Convention in 2020.
Athletes have been involved too. After the shooting of Jacob Blake in 2020, NBA stars LeBron James and Jamal Murray, as well as many other NBA players, expressed their support for social justice by sitting out a playoff game against the Orlando Magic. Their path was influenced by Colin Kaepernick, who knelt to protest police violence against Black people and became an NFL pariah.
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez joined a June 2020 demonstration in Los Angeles against racism and police brutality. In 2021, Streisand, a lifelong activist, criticized Republican efforts to introduce new voting restrictions as GOP legislators throughout the country proposed bills to tighten election regulations.
Whether celebrity political activism does more harm than good is a subject of much debate, yet in this age of social media the ease of harnessing one’s stardom has increased dramatically. Where in past eras the stars needed movie studios and record labels, many artists own their music and have direct access to their fans.
We’ll watch closely between now and Election Day to see whether more celebrities will use their status and endorse Harris or Trump.
Many eyes are focused on Taylor Swift, one of the biggest superstars of them all. The extent of her influence was evident in September 2023 when Swift posted a short message on Instagram encouraging her 272 million followers to register to vote. Afterward, the website she directed her fans to — the nonpartisan Vote.org — announced it recorded more than 35,000 registrations as a result.
Whether Taylor Swift and other superstars choose to dive deeper into the political fray before November remains to be seen. Some of Swift’s fans believe she has a duty to speak out and some think she should just stick to music and dance.
We’ll keep you posted.
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