Colorado Mountain College's "Rediscovering Common Grounds" and Common Reader program seek to help local communities overcome national division

The United States has witnessed periods of political discord throughout its history, and the current level of polarization has reached new heights, leading more than half of Americans to think there is a possibility of a civil war in the U.S. within the next few years.

Societal division is influenced by a combination of political, social, economic, and cultural factors. Election years can catalyze expressing existing divisions rather than necessarily causing them. Factors such as media coverage, social media dynamics, and the behavior of political leaders can also play significant roles in shaping public opinion and contributing to polarization.

Division in society has various negative impacts, both on individuals and the community. Division erodes the sense of unity and social cohesion within a society and impacts our ability to function together. When people are divided along lines of race, religion, ethnicity, or other factors, it becomes challenging to foster a strong sense of community.

This often leads to increased conflict and tension. Differences in opinions, values, or identities can result in hostility, prejudice, discrimination, and even violence. When society is divided, collaboration and cooperation become more challenging. This can impede progress in areas such as education, healthcare, and community development, as resources and efforts are not optimally utilized.

Not only that, but this can lead to economic repercussions. When certain groups are marginalized or discriminated against, it may limit their access to resources, opportunities, and employment, hindering overall economic development. This limits collaboration and results in impaired problem-solving, as it is difficult to solve complex problems without cooperation and collaboration.

These impacts can reinforce each other in a vicious cycle, creating a challenging environment for fostering a healthy and thriving community. Addressing division requires efforts at multiple levels, including policies, education, and fostering inclusive social attitudes.

We can all relate to feelings of division, hostility, and polarization within society. Overcoming society's division sounds hard, and it certainly is. Fortunately, we have organizations like Colorado Mountain College (CMC), which is launching Rediscovering Common Ground, a non-partisan series of community conversations about civic engagement and civil discourse inspired by CMC’s Common Reader book for 2024 The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens by American diplomat and former president of the Council on Foreign Relations Richard Haass.

CMC has partnered with Aspen Public Radio and Colorado’s PBS12 to produce the series and invite the public to join for a free “lunch & learn” kickoff event on Monday, January 29 from noon – 1 pm on Zoom (registration required) featuring a conversation between Richard Haass and Walter Isaacson, historian, author and former CNN CEO. Mary Louise Kelly, co-host of the newsmagazine All Things Considered on National Public Radio will facilitate the session.

CMC will offer a free seminar series this spring open to anyone featuring conversations with the local community and thought leaders. This fall, seminar attendees will be invited to meet Richard Haass as he visits several CMC campuses around the region and discusses the principles behind his book. These author visits will be open to the public.

We should never accept the myth that we are too divided to come together. It is my hope the Rediscovering Common Ground series encourages all of us to be more involved in our democracy and to model good civic behavior, contributing to healthy and constructive dialogue between people with differing viewpoints. Overcoming division in society begins with a better understanding of how to help heal divisions and move our country and local communities forward.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, the regional chamber of commerce. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com