One Small Step is mending the fraying fabric of our nation–one conversation at a time.
StoryCorps partnered with IDW to develop an integrated campaign in four politically-polarized cities across the United States.
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.
One Small Step is currently working intensively in four anchor communities across the U.S. to bring strangers with different political views together to record a 50-minute conversation—not to debate politics, but to talk about their lives.
1 / 4 RICHMOND, VA
From Fresno, California to Richmond, VA., IDW traveled alongside One Small Step in their mission to bring people together, meeting our participants in their communities.
2 / 4 OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
Authenticity was paramount to the campaign. We localized the photo shoots in each of the four One Small Step cities, with real participants.
Over the course of a week, our photo team captured on-location photography of individual participants and interview pairs in each home town.
3 / 4 WICHITA, KANSAS
Authenticity was also important in casting. Our participants were as diverse as the cities they live in and often subverted expectations of what we assume a conservative or liberal “looks like”.
4 / 4 FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
The resulting shoot (dubbed 4 cities in 4 days) was a moving experience for our crew.
We witnessed the power of the project firsthand, bringing One Small Step participants back together in person. Participants spoke to passers-by about their experience with the project, sharing personal stories, their own experiences of toxic polarization, and the desire to reconnect.
Set against the backdrop of a tumultuous political climate, the results of this campaign were profound. Sign-up rates more than doubled following our campaign, allowing more participants all over the country to open their hearts and minds to people with different beliefs.
Many expressed surprise at how much they have in common, and remain in contact with their One Small Step partners— helping to mend the fraying fabric of our nation, one conversation at a time.