Red, blue and purple: Brave conversations on Mercer Island

At a moment when division pervades America, a group of Mercer Islanders gathers each month to listen, learn, and heal — one conversation at a time.

We live in a time when political divisions stretch from the White House to family gatherings, from workplaces to neighborhood events. Families and friends have stopped talking about political events or sensitive topics, treating them almost like religion, afraid of ruining personal relationships.

The result? We’ve stopped listening, learning, and disagreeing. We’ve surrounded ourselves with people who think just like us, or we’ve turned to the virtual world, seeking validation from strangers who share similar opinions. We’ve stopped those conversations, especially in person, with friends, families, and neighbors.

How do we move forward with