In 2023, I worked as a facilitator/producer for StoryCorps’ One Small Step initiative through WERU Community Radio, 89.9 FM, alongside co-facilitator/producer, Chris Battaglia.
It changed me.
Back in June 2023, we put out a call. We were looking for people in Wabanaki territory/Maine who were willing to come together for an hour-long facilitated conversation with a stranger with different viewpoints, during which they would be invited to get to know each other as people, through listening to each other’s stories. As you can imagine, the response was mixed (“Mainers don’t talk about politics,” is a refrain we heard more than once). But by the end of 2023, over a hundred people had signed up to participate.
For this project, we recorded 25 One Small Step conversations with 50 participants from 37 towns in 15 different locations/venues (as well as two virtual conversations)—all the way from Falmouth to Presque Isle. Participants laughed, cried, disagreed, found common ground, and sometimes, exchanged contact information.
Photo: Jack Sullivan
Listen to a live broadcast with StoryCorps’ One Small Step Facilitators Chris Battaglia and Michele Christle and WERU Station Manager Matt Murphy (engineered by Pepin Mittelhauser).
What is One Small Step?
Created by StoryCorps, One Small Step is an effort to remind the country of the humanity in all of us, even those with whom we disagree. The initiative brings strangers with different political beliefs together for a conversation—not to debate politics—but to get to know each other as people for a simple, personal, 50-minute conversation. One Small Step brings communities together, one conversation at a time.
One Small Step is based on contact theory, which states that a meaningful interaction between people with opposing views can help turn “thems” into “us-es.” Its scientific and systematic approach is supported by a group of advisors that include scientists, researchers, and psychologists. Since its launch in 2021, over 2,528 people across 40 states have participated in a One Small Step conversation, including 50 people in Wabanaki territory/Maine.
WERU was one of just five stations selected nationally to host One Small Step in 2023. With participant permission, these conversations are preserved for future generations at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
We put together a landing page, showcasing some of the conversations we recorded, a map of our impact, some reflections, and more. Visit www.weru.org/onesmallstep or click the button below.
WERU, Chris, and I are committed to continuing this work, partnering with organizations, companies, and people who share the belief that talking to neighbors and strangers alike will make us all stronger, safer, healthier, and less isolated.
Want to help us keep One Small Step going?
Drop us a line at onesmallstep@weru.org.
Every One Small Step conversation was unique and surprising.
Visit the StoryCorps archive to hear all the conversations we recorded.
A few favorites are below.
Alivia + Sally
-
One Small Step conversation partners Alivia Moore (36) and Sally Kirkpatrick (63) talk about religion, parenting, sexuality, faith, white supremacy, settler colonialism, indigeneity, food sovereignty, and rematriation.
John + Karla
-
One Small Step conversation partners John Floyd (51) and Karla Doremus-Tranfield (61) discuss the military, the Constitution, Conservatism and Liberalism, rugged individualism, living rurally, political campaigning, family, and dogs.
Sue + Phil
-
One Small Step conversation partners Phil Bailey (71) and Susan Sheremeta (55) talk about heritage, time in jail, the role of the government, and family.
