Holiday Conversation Starters

Spark meaningful discussions that honor your values this holiday season. Whether you're hosting a Dinner for Democracy or sitting down with family members who hold different views, these prompts help you connect with intention.

Together for Democracy Resource Hub

Build community, find courage, and advance democracy by hosting a Dinner for Democracy or Coffee for Change. Get everything you need to gather friends, neighbors, and colleagues for meaningful conversations and collective action.

What Is Systems Thinking?

Systems thinking is a way of looking at problems that helps you see the whole picture, not just one piece. Instead of asking "What happened?" it asks "Why did this happen?" and "What patterns am I seeing?"

Think about it this way: When you see a traffic jam, you could just be frustrated about the cars in front of you. Or you could ask deeper questions. Why is there always a traffic jam here at 5pm? What about the road design causes this? What beliefs about how people should get to work led to this road being built this way?

Systems thinking helps us move from quick fixes that don't last to real solutions that change things for good.

One Small Step

Let's Talk For A Change

Have a real conversation with someone who sees the world differently than you do. No debates. No arguing. Just two people getting to know each other as human beings.

A StoryCorps initiative bringing together people with different political views for 50-minute conversations that remind us of our shared humanity.

"I've experienced a number of times where I found myself thinking, 'Oh I never thought of it that way' or I recognized that someone else's experience opened me up to a new way of seeing that topic. I found myself seeing something for the first time."

— Conversation Participant

The Beacon Project launches its first podcast with Eric Liu, CEO of Citizen University. This conversation explores why citizenship matters now, what civic culture really means, and how communities can rebuild connection in times of division.

"Avoiding difficult conversations won't bring us any closer, but treating others with respect will. Learning to discuss and disagree without being mean is the only way to rebuild our communities."

— Disagree Better Initiative

Peer-Learning Cohort for Fundraising Professionals in the US Democracy Space

Connect with fundraising peers at democracy organizations. Share ideas, build community, and grow together through monthly sessions with expert facilitation.

A 9-month program for mid-level development professionals working to strengthen democracy.

"We can disagree and stand firm for our beliefs and principles, but we should never forget the dignity of the other human being. I'm proud to join Governors across the nation in demonstrating that civility is not a weakness."

— Governor Bill Lee, Tennessee

Core Principles:

• Strictly Nonpartisan: Tools and opportunities for all women regardless of party affiliation

• Inclusive: Special focus on underserved women, women of color, and young women

• Collaborative: "All in together" means partnering across sectors and organizations

• Action-Oriented: Moving beyond awareness to tangible civic participation

• Sustainable: Building lifelong commitment to democracy beyond election cycles

What makes AIT different:

• Only national nonpartisan organization focused exclusively on women's civic engagement

• Combines education, training, research, and media to create systemic change

• Reaches millions through media while training thousands on the ground

• Addresses gender-based violence survivors and marginalized communities

• Led by women with deep expertise in both civic life and business leadership

"This book gives you clear, simple ways to understand how we became so divided. The authors share their own stories about changing their minds and learning from others. Then they give you exercises to try yourself. Use this book with family, friends, neighbors, or anyone you want to understand better."

— Susan Clark, coauthor of Slow Democracy

Dialogue and Bridging Workshops

Learn proven, science-based skills to navigate differences, build trust across divides, and solve problems together. From self-paced online courses to intensive facilitation training, these programs equip you with tools to bridge political, cultural, and ideological divides.

Three leading organizations offer workshops and training at every level—from 5-minute practices to multi-month fellowships.

Two-Day Interactive Workshop

Join us for our signature workshop in a safe, respectful, and loving atmosphere where individuals will learn new information, share their experiences, dispel fear and guilt, and get to know each other.

A German thinker named Friedrich Nietzsche had a word for this feeling: "nihilism" (say: NYE-ill-ism). It means believing nothing really matters. But this feeling is now so common among young Americans that experts call it "cultural nihilism."

Warning Signs

• Fewer young people trust democracy than ever before

• Young people don't trust big institutions like government

• Entire online groups are built around being super negative

• Young people have stopped believing things can get better