Messages In Media: Navigating Media in a Polarized World Conference

Let’s Talk Unite’s inaugural annual conference explored how traditional and social media contribute to political polarization. Community members of all ages were brought together to discuss, learn about, and debate the implications of media on our current politics. Highlights included a keynote address from California State Senator Josh Becker, lectures by Stanford political science professors, a dynamic journalism panel, and interactive workshops led by Let’s Talk Unite’s teen board. We are grateful to the Palo Alto ThinkFund for generously sponsoring this conference.

Power of Youth: How to Share Your Voice Workshop

The Let’s Talk Unite team, in collaboration with Palo Alto’s Youth and Government delegation, orchestrated a civil discourse workshop for teens. Participants engaged in respectful debate over everything from voting age to pressing school board issues. The event also featured talks from State Senator Josh Becker and former East Palo Alto Mayor Antonio López, who emphasized the importance and urgency of youth voices in politics.

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration III

In partnership with the cities of Palo Alto and East Palo Alto, Let’s Talk Unite hosted a workshop honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Attended by hundreds of community members, the workshop invited participants to anonymously reflect on and share their racial identities, experiences with discrimination, and internal biases. Let’s Talk Unite also ran a rock painting station, where children drew inspiration from Dr. King’s quotes to express their vision of unity.

Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School Fundraiser

Let’s Talk Unite raised hundreds of dollars through a bake sale at a local day school. To promote our mission of civil discourse, each treat featured an age-appropriate conversation starter such as “Should schools have a dress code?” or “Should kids be allowed to vote?” 

The Kehillah School Workshop

On Election Day, the Let’s Talk Unite team partnered with The Kehillah School to lead “Red Flag: Engaging in Dialogue Across Divides,” a workshop exploring the history and impact of polarization. The session discussed how elections can intensify affective polarization and emphasized the importance of engaging with others who hold different political beliefs. We ended with a high-stakes simulation—negotiating how the group would distribute a limited number of donuts—where students had to apply civil discourse skills, identify logical fallacies in their peers’ arguments, and collaborate to find a solution.

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration II

Hundreds of mid-peninsula families gathered for a community-wide day of service to honor the life and legacy of Dr. MLK, Jr. In partnership with the Palo Alto Youth Council, Let’s Talk Unite organized a workshop in which participants reflected on and anonymously shared their racial identities, prejudices, and discriminatory experiences.

The Nueva School Workshop Series pt. 2

The Let’s Talk Unite team, in partnership with faculty and the Neuropsychology Club at The Nueva School, organized a Wednesday of Wonder series titled “Pondering Polarization.” In this era of unprecedented tribalism, it is crucial to cultivate educational opportunities that deepen our comprehension of the world. The WoW series aims to investigate two aspects of polarization: economics and neuropsychology.

The second workshop, “The Neuropsychology of Polarization,” explores how harmful rhetoric, closely linked to our political convictions and emotions, can reinforce existing schemas and amplify affective polarization. This workshop analyzes the psychological impact of social media and cultural norms on our political arena. Participants will engage in critical questions, such as the boundary between stereotypes and facts, and explore methods to reprogram their thinking patterns to promote greater acceptance and compassion.

The Nueva School Workshop Series pt. 1

The Let’s Talk Unite team, in partnership with faculty and the Neuropsychology Club at The Nueva School, has organized a Wednesday of Wonder series titled “Pondering Polarization.” In this era of unprecedented tribalism, it is crucial to cultivate educational opportunities that deepen our comprehension of the world. The WoW series aims to investigate two aspects of polarization: economics and neuropsychology.

The first workshop of the series, entitled “The Polarization of Corporate America,” delves into how affective polarization can significantly impact economic policies, market stability, and investor confidence, leading to economic instability. This workshop examines the role of polarization in shaping economic expectations and behaviors and encourages participants to contemplate changes to our political and economic system.

Young Minds Celebrated

Accompanied by other esteemed youth, Let’s Talk Unite’s President drew a crowd at Palo Alto Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims’ Young Minds Celebrated event, as she explored the complexities of affective polarization within the community and encouraged attendees to strive towards a more civil public dialogue. Co-sponsored by Coupa Café, Youth Community Service, Allcove, Creatrix, and the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, the event provided a platform for community members to engage in political discourse and empower the next generation.

The Nueva School Humanities Fair

Nueva students from 6th to 12th grade and their families participated in a hands-on workshop encouraging a culture of political engagement and empathy at The Nueva School and beyond. Led by LTU’s President, Olivia Chiang, “Red Flag” explored affective polarization and techniques to engage respectfully in political dialogue. Through a role-play simulation, participants learned how to identify logical fallacies, speak persuasively, and compromise.

TEDx “Politics of the People” Conference

The divide between Democrats and Republicans extends far beyond the political sphere. Our animosity, distrust, and hostility towards one another infect sociopolitical life. For one, Thanksgiving got 50 minutes shorter after the 2016 election. Partisans also shop separately—Republicans prefer Granger and Pottery Barn while Democrats favor Forever 21 and Sephora. But within politics, distressingly, our hostility is causing policy paralysis. This inability to legislate or reform is a sign, demanding a change in our political discourse. LTU’s Co-President Olivia Chiang spoke at the TEDxYouth@TheNuevaSchool Conference regarding affective polarization within the United States in an effort to bring some clarity to this complex world and turn us toward a brighter future. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

On MLK Jr. Day, over 1,200 community members joined Let’s Talk Unite in reflecting on our racial identities, prejudices, and discriminatory experiences. Participants responded to prompts concerning racism within Palo Alto institutions and their personal struggles with their racial identity. Thank you to Grace Doerfler for covering our story and our partners, The City of East Palo Alto, The City of Palo Alto, and The Oshman Family JCC.