Stories of Local Activism #16

Unify America

Replacing Political Fighting with Collaborative Problem-Solving

Chicago and Nationwide

Unify America is a civic nonprofit focused on reducing polarization and strengthening democratic life through guided experiences that help people engage across differences. The organization frames its work around the belief that Americans are more capable of cooperation than the country’s division often suggests, and it builds programs that turn that belief into repeatable civic practice.

Its work spans higher education and community engagement. Through its Civic Gym platform, Unify America connects college students from different schools, regions, and viewpoints for structured one-on-one conversations about pressing public issues. Through its community-facing work, including Citizens’ Assemblies, it helps residents deliberate on local challenges and develop solutions together.

Unify America presents itself as a cross-partisan organization built to scale, with staff and advisors spanning different political perspectives and a mission centered on building civic muscles such as cooperation, curiosity, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving.

Mission

Unify America’s mission is to replace political divide with collaborative problem-solving.

What They Do

Reducing polarization and bridging divides by creating opportunities for people to engage across political, ideological, and geographic differences in respectful, productive ways
Equipping institutions to support civic learning by giving campuses, educators, and civic partners the tools to embed dialogue and deliberation into their programs
Supporting collaborative public problem-solving by helping communities deliberate on shared challenges and develop actionable, community-informed responses

How They Do It

1. The Civic Gym

Through this intercollegiate dialogue platform college students practice engaging across ideological and geographic differences in guided conversations.

2. The Unify Challenge

Unify America's flagship one-on-one dialogue experience encourages students to discuss issues such as mental health, gun laws, immigration, and free speech while practicing disagreement without contempt.

3. Deep Dive

The Deep Dive follow-on program allows students to explore one issue in greater depth through active listening, reflection, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving.

4. Citizens’ Assemblies

In these community deliberation processes, representative groups of residents examine local issues, weigh tradeoffs, and develop actionable recommendations.

5. Tools And Partnerships for Educators and Civic Institutions

Unify America provides a range of resources and support for campuses, educators, and civic partners to expand dialogue-based learning and civic preparedness.

Theory of Change

Structured Dialogue + Civic Skill-Building + Viewpoint Diversity + Deliberation + Repeated Practice → Stronger Democratic Participation Through Collaborative Problem-Solving

Unify America’s theory of change is that Americans become better citizens when they have meaningful opportunities to engage across difference, reflect on their own assumptions, and practice solving problems with others. By building civic muscles in students and communities alike, the organization works to reduce polarization and strengthen a more engaged, cooperative democratic culture.

IMPACT

More than 35,000 college students from 270-plus higher education institutions across 46 states have participated in the Civic Gym program since Fall 2021.

Take Action

Share this story with your network.
Take the Unify Challenge: Individuals can join the public-facing Unify Challenge experience and participate in a structured conversation across differences.
Support community deliberation: Communities interested in deliberative public problem-solving can learn about Citizens’ Assemblies and related engagement models.
Donate: Support Unify America’s work to expand civic skill-building and collaborative problem-solving.
Connect with the team: Prospective partners, educators, and supporters can reach out through the organization’s contact page or general email.
Social channels: X (Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn
Visit Their Website: https://www.unifyamerica.org