Polarization.
Let’s talk about it.
Let’s Talk Unite is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to combatting affective polarization through stimulating constructive dialogue across the political spectrum. We aspire to promote a culture of accountability and awareness in which members confront their biases and welcome divergent perspectives.
Our Mission
Let’s Talk Unite inspires bipartisan discourse by offering free digital resources, local workshops, and a podcast. We exclusively appoint high school and college students to our executive and teaching roles to foster leadership and communication skills in the next generation. We are fortunate to have a strong board of advisors aiding the expansion of Let’s Talk Unite across the United States.
Let’s Talk Polarization
The “Let’s Talk Polarization” podcast hosts global scholars in monthly episodes on polarization and race, economics, media, gender, and religion to make the topic of polarization accessible to young people. Select episodes feature diverse groups of partisans seeking common ground on contentious issues to inspire young people to engage across partisan divides. In episode 25, Dr. Rune Stubager (Professor of Political Science, Aarhus University, Denmark) contrasts the electoral effects of working-class identification across European countries. Episode 11 engages five religious leaders across Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian faith in dialogue about their unique political worldviews. Since its inception in 2020, the podcast has amassed 10,000 listens across 23 countries.
Articles
Let’s Talk Unite organizes an annual editorial contest to encourage youth to research, ponder, and express their opinions on pressing issues. In 2025, the contest awarded $500 in prizes and published 15 outstanding student-written articles.
The Future of Environmental Justice
Burnt orange skies, suffocating air, dying trees—I used to think that climate change was a far-off issue that was distant from my community, but all that changed after the fall wildfire season of 2020. Having heard that these wildfires were made so much worse by...
The Future of Math Education
During the pandemic, many students fell behind in their learning as they had to grapple with the loss of their school community and social life, COVID deaths and its other effects, and family hardships (Doan-Nguyen, 2023). Test scores universally declined and the...
The Future of Immigration in Schools
As a girl who"s lived in Mexico, Texas, and California, I’ve experienced many sides of the political spectrum. Although I was too young to remember much of this, I still feel a strong connection to the two locations I’ve lived in my past. Growing up in border states...
The Future of American Secondary Education
American education is in crisis. Approximately a third of U.S. high school students are behind grade level in reading, writing, and math. A majority of Americans are pessimistic about the quality and direction of education. Even as our nation seeks to pioneer...
Media Moments
Perspectives on Polarization
America is not beyond fixing, but we must care enough to meet the task. If we view our current system as unchangeable, then our future becomes inevitable.
Jack Brady
Opinion Columnist
“We became more consistent in the party we vote for not because we came to like our party more, but because we came to dislike the opposing party more. Even as hope and change sputter, fear and loathing proceed.”
Ezra Klein
Author of Why We’re Polarized
“One reason we rush so quickly to the vulgar satisfactions of judgment, and love to revel in our righteous outrage, is that it spares us from the impotent pain of empathy, and the harder, messier work of understanding.”
Tim Kreider
Author of We Learn Nothing
“Polarizing people is a good way to win an election, and also a good way to wreck a country. Many a time freedom has been rolled back, and always for the same sorry reason: fear.”
Mary Ivins
Newspaper Columnist
Resources
Follow us on Instagram @letstalkunite to access timely information about our events and opportunities and global news concerning polarization.
Explore our selection of resources regarding political polarization, affective polarization, and related fields (including social media misinformation and election strategy). We encourage you to browse the games, books, journal articles, courses, videos, and documentaries available on the “Resources” page.
Our Team
We are a coalition of students, scholars, educators, and organizations united by a shared dedication to fight affective polarization within our respective fields.
Olivia Chiang
Founder, President
Olivia Chiang is a student at The Nueva School and a passionate advocate for bridging partisan divides. Struck by the severe polarization plaguing our political system, she founded the nonprofit Let’s Talk Unite in 2021 to raise awareness about polarization’s ramifications and transform the way we approach political discourse. She leads local workshops on identifying bias and manipulation, designs open-source conversation guides, and hosts a podcast featuring interviews with leading researchers concerning the intersection between polarization and corporate interests, vaccine hesitancy, and religious identity. Long term, Olivia aspires to conduct transformative research that disrupts our echo chambers and revitalizes our political discourse.
Charlotte Kofman
Co-President
Charlotte Kofman is a student at The Kehillah School highly interested in bridging political divides and fostering civil discourse. Drawn to Let’s Talk Unite’s mission in 2024, she quickly became involved in its efforts. She leads local workshops and events focused on reducing polarization and identifying biases, manages social media outreach, and oversees LTU’s Public Relations and Event Divisions. Charlotte hopes to expand the LTU network, leading projects that challenge entrenched viewpoints and contributing to a more collaborative political environment.
Events Division
Mathilde Huynh
Mathilde Huynh is a high school sophomore at Henry M. Gunn High School. She is interested in educating people on political matters, encouraging them to understand diverse perspectives and move beyond simplistic black and white thinking. Mathilde is the Community Outreach officer for Youth and Government as well as a member of the Gunn Dance Team. In her free time she loves to bake, read, and hang out with her friends.
Maya Mazin
Maya Mazin is a high school freshman at The Kehillah School. Maya is also a member of the Palo Alto Youth Climate Advisory Board and volunteers weekly at DreamCatchers. She enjoys baking, reading, and playing tennis in her free time.
Jenna Mu
Jenna Mu is a high school sophomore at The Kehillah School. She is passionate about how political polarization changes the nature of civil discourse on topics such as human rights and climate change. Jenna is also a member of the Palo Alto Youth Climate Advisory Board and the Palo Alto Student Climate Coalition. In her free time, she enjoys reading, dancing, discovering new coffee shops, and understanding more about the world around her..
Public Relations Division
Kensie Pao
Kensie Pao is a high school junior at Palo Alto High School. She is thrilled to join Let’s Talk Unite to develop her knowledge of political and affective polarization. Kensie is also the President of the Paly Book Club and Paly Young Sheldon Club.
Neel Gupta
Neel Gupta is a high school sophomore at The Nueva School. Through his roles as a member of Let’s Talk Unite, a reporter for the Nueva Current, and the President of the Nueva Promise (a club combatting gun violence), Gupta hopes to increase productive dialogue. Gupta also enjoys dancing, true crime, and reading.
Nathan Yoon
Nathan Yoon is a high school sophomore at Henry Gunn High School. He joined Let’s Talk Unite to combat the ostracization of minority political groups. Nathan is also the Secretary of the Palo Alto Teen Advisory Board. He enjoys playing volleyball, skiing, and spending time with his friends.
Academic Advisors
Shakir Stephen
Doctoral Student, University of California, Santa Barbara
Vyacheslav Fos
Associate Professor, Boston College
James Adams
Professor, University of California, Davis
Contributers
Joanna Bryson
Professor, Hertie School
Ilya Somin
Professor, George Mason University
Andrea Baronchelli
Professor, City University of London
Maddalena Torricelli
Postdoctoral Scholar, City University of London
Kaitlin Senk
Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Exeter
Marc Hetherington
Professor, The University of North Carolina
Rune Strubager
Professor, Aarhus University
Matthew Levendusky
Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Elisabeth Nadin
Associate Professor, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Thomas Hirschl
Professor, Cornell University
Jon Roozenbeek
Postdoctoral Scholar, Cambridge University
Seth Radwell
Author, American Schism
Hui Bai
Postdoctoral Scholar, Stanford University
Jan Voelkel
Doctoral Student, Stanford University
Emily Kubin
Doctoral Student, University of Koblenz and Landau
Community Partners
The City of Palo Alto
Listen First Project
The Nueva School
The Oshman Family JCC
Citizen Connect
The City of East Palo Alto
NeuroPsych(ED)
