Rear: Chris Bricker & Siobhan Canty. Front: Sol Riou, Zhaleh Almaee, Mary Irwin

Every month KPTZ’s Chris Bricker joins hi Co-host Siobhan Canty, President and CEO of Jefferson Community Foundation to explore new developments and paradigms with our vibrant communities of creative and innovative citizens who do good work. As our country contemplates its 250 years of a democratic experiment, we’re invited to ask what kind of country we want to be, and think about where we have been. What does “polarization” look like in our day to day lives in rural communities?  What strengths do we already have that could help reduce polarization and create civic belonging, resilience and strength?  What does “depolarization” mean?  Will we figure this out generationally over the next hundred years?
Here’s an honest and stimulating conversation with our three special guests: Zhaleh Almaee. who serves as the Assistant Director of OWL 360, an organization providing drop-in spaces, advocacy, and resources for local youth and young adults; Mary Irwin.Executive Director of the Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center, offering an array of mediation services and programs; and Sol Riou, a key local leader and workshop facilitator forBraver Angels of Washington State, a nonprofit dedicated to depolarizing politics and fostering cross-partisan dialogue.