From the team that brought you Voices of America In One Room, this is Voices of Shaping Our Future.
Imagine a world where forming policy was less about cutting through red tape, and more about listening to people for building a better tomorrow. Two of the most widely discussed social issues facing our society today center around our CLIMATE and ECONOMIC INEQUALITY. While many people are divided on these issues, and there are a variety of ideas involving how they should be handled, we were curious to know what the younger generation thought about these topics.
In May 2021, more than 600 young people from across the country were brought together online to discuss their insights on these issues in small groups, listen to panel experts answer their questions, and interact with each other regardless of whether or not they agreed on the topics being discussed. In this podcast, we speak with some of those participants and get their thoughts on the conversations they had during the 2021 "Shaping Our Future" event.
Publisher
The Center for Deliberative Democracy at Stanford University, Tobe Agency
The Economic Inequality Debate in the United States
In our final episode this season, we conclude Voices of Shaping Our Future by sitting down with a group thought leaders for a roundtable discussion about economic inequality.
5 Nov 2021
Kareem and Sierra Talk About Voting Reform and Fighting Economic Inequality
In this episode of Voices of Shaping Our Future, we had the pleasure of talking with Kareem and Sierra — a recent graduate presently fulfilling his military service commitment and a college student who both attended the “Shaping Our Future” event in May.
We begin our discussion with Kareem and his thoughts on experiencing Shaping Our Future as a registered Independent, teaching people the importance of a dollar to help combat economic inequality, and his perspective on national service as an active member of the U.S. military.
We end our discussion with Sierra and her thoughts on electoral reform and how the concept of rank choice is a lot more common in everyday life than we may assume, her concerns surrounding universal basic income in an increasingly automated world, and how living in a rural community informed many of the discussions she had during our event.
29 Oct 2021
Fiona, Dean, and Seth Talk About Election Reform, National Service, and Economic Inequality
In this episode of Voices of Shaping Our Future, we had the pleasure of talking with Fiona, Dean, and Seth — a trio of participants from our “Shaping Our Future” event in May.
We begin our discussion with Fiona and her thoughts on what it was like being a part of Shaping Our Future, the complications surrounding rank choice voting, and her expectations surrounding the minimum wage discussion — versus the talking points her group actually addressed.
We then hear from Dean and learn about the civil discussions he took part in during the Shaping Our Future event, the controversy surrounding the economic inequality portion of the discussions, and how his group approached the idea of national service.
And we end our discussion with Seth and his thoughts on the civilian climate corps and the concept of national service, the various economic inequality proposals that were discussed within his group, and the potential side effects of implementing a national universal basic income.
22 Oct 2021
Isobel and Tanner Talk About Economic Inequality and the Idea of National Service
In this episode of Voices of Shaping Our Future, we had the pleasure of talking with Isobel and Tanner — a current college student and a college graduate. Despite being on opposite sides of the country, the two share similar outlooks on many of the issues that were discussed during the two-day event.
We begin our discussion with Isobel and her thoughts on electoral reform and her group’s reluctance with rank choice voting, the importance of engaging in conversations with each other, and the idea of national service.
We end our discussion with Tanner and his thoughts on the concept behind Shaping Our Future and why he participated in our event, his opinion on climate change and national service, and what economic inequality means to him.
15 Oct 2021
The Berggruen Institute’s Youth Environment Service (YES) Campaign Roundtable Discussion
In this special episode of Voices of Shaping Our Future, we’re excited to hear from a diverse group of thought leaders. The wide-ranging discussion is inspired by the Berggruen Institute’s Youth Environment Service (YES), a campaign to forefront youth voices in the climate fight and build commitments from governments to invest in jobs, national service, and other opportunities for young people in the fight against climate change.
8 Oct 2021
Kate and Benjamin Talk About Voter Education and Climate Change
In this episode of Voices of Shaping Our Future, we had the pleasure of talking with Kate and Benjamin – a current college student and a college graduate who both attended our event in May.
We begin our discussion with Kate and her thoughts on electoral reform skepticism, why we need to prioritize voter education, and differing opinions on climate change and the idea of national service.
We end our discussion with Ben and his thoughts on the importance of having conversations about climate change, society coming together on how to reach solutions for tomorrow’s problems, and how our voting system should be.
1 Oct 2021
Iyanu and Marketta Talk About Voting Reform and Economic Inequality
In this episode of Voices of Shaping Our Future, we had the pleasure of talking with Iyanuoluwa and Marketta — two female participants from Chicago who participated in our event.
We begin our discussion with Iyanu and her thoughts on our individual voices being heard, national service, the climate change debate, and universal basic income.
We end our discussion with Marketta and her thoughts on electoral reform and rank choice voting, economic inequality and a livable wage, and the concept of national service.
24 Sept 2021
Cade and Harrison Talk About National Service and Universal Basic Income
In this episode of Voices of Shaping Our Future, we had the pleasure of talking with Harrison and Cade — two 23-year-old graduate students who participated in our event.
We begin our discussion with Cade and his thoughts on the minimum wage debate, and the idea of national service versus being a more active member within one’s own individual community.
We end our discussion with Harrison and his thoughts on universal basic income being used to help curb economic inequality, and resolving the climate crisis sooner rather than later in order to minimize the impact it’s having on us now and will have on us in the future.
17 Sept 2021
Voices of Shaping Our Future – Season 2 Trailer
From the team that brought you Voices of America In One Room, this is Voices of Shaping Our Future.
Throughout this season, you’re going to hear from some of our “Shaping Our Future” participants, and you’ll also have the opportunity to listen to two different roundtable discussions with various thought leaders from around the country.
One of our roundtable discussions focuses on the idea of national service and the Berggruen Institute’s Youth Environmental Service (YES) campaign, and the other discusses the societal issues we're currently facing related to the idea of economic inequality.
7 May 2021
Daniel Lubetzky on Extremism, Creating a Dialogue, and Bridging a Better World
In our final episode of the first season of Voices of America in One Room, we sit down with thought leader Daniel Lubetzky, founder and executive chairman of KIND. As a philanthropist, Daniel is passionate about building bridges between people, and it's his mission to make the world a little kinder.
We are honored that Daniel was able to take time out of his busy schedule to discuss the issues that America in One Room was centered around — a range of issues currently impacting all of us.
30 Apr 2021
Crowdsourced Progress: Getting Everyone Involved in a Better Tomorrow
In today's episode, we sit down with Ebony, an accountant and mother of two. In addition to accounting, Ebony is also a notary public, a tax preparer, and a licensed life insurance agent, all in addition to being a published author.
We talk to Ebony about her experience with America In One Room, learn how she used social media to help guide her voice during the event, and get her thoughts on how we can take a more thoughtful approach in tackling the complicated social issues that impact our everyday lives.
23 Apr 2021
Social Media Backlash: Staying Quiet to Stay Out of Arguments
In today's episode, we sit down with Evelyn, a nurse and mother of two from Northern Arizona. In addition to nursing, Evelyn also owns and operates a small business with her husband, and was very excited to be a part of the America In One Room social experiment.
We talk to Evelyn about the friendship she made while attending America In One Room, her thoughts on social media and the idea of self-censorship, and discuss how being a part of the experience impacted her life.
16 Apr 2021
Getting By: What We Earn Doesn't Define Us
In today's episode, we sit down with Jackie, a mother of two from Houston, Texas. Unlike the participants in our previous episodes, Jackie explains that she viewed the America in One Room experience as less of a social experiment, and more of a mini-vacation — or at least that's what she went into the experience thinking.
We talk to Jackie about how attending America In One Room has impacted her life, her relationship with her family, and touch on an issue she felt particularly passionate about — the minimum wage debate.
9 Apr 2021
Sharing the Wealth: Helping Others Who Actually Need It
In today's episode, we sit down with Barry, a retired commercial automotive industry worker from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Barry has a wife, two kids, and hasn’t done much lately due to the pandemic.
Barry talks about why he decided to participate in America in One Room, describes an act of generosity that resulted from his participation, and explains how the experience impacted him.
2 Apr 2021
Unequal Footing: Liberty and Justice for Some
In today’s episode, we sit down with Keyshuna — a wife, mother, and clerical and education assistant originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her students, some of whom have disabilities, range from pre-schooled aged to 20 years old.
Keyshuna talks about why she decided to participate in America in One Room, details her involvement in “The Incident” (a heated exchange about immigration previously referenced in this podcast series), and explains how participating in the experience has impacted her life.
26 Mar 2021
Equal Footing: Coming Together is What Matters
In today's episode, we sit down with Lauren, a Florida native who works in healthcare administration. Lauren loves spending time with her cat, being outdoors, and wasn’t overly interested in politics leading up to the America in One Room event.
Lauren talks about how the pandemic has impacted her job in healthcare, her involvement in a misunderstanding — labeled as "The Incident" in our previous episode — involving another participant, and how the America in One Room experience has impacted her moving forward.
26 Mar 2021
Big Moves: A Change in Mindset and Location
In today's episode, we sit down with Beverly, a 74-year-old retiree from Cary, North Carolina. As a former educator, Beverly has encountered a variety of differing viewpoints over the course of her lifetime, but her experience with America in One Room helped lead her down a path she never would have expected to take, especially in the middle of a pandemic.
Beverly talks about her move from Texas to North Carolina following her America in One Room experience, a particularly heated exchange ("The Incident") that took place between two other America in One Room participants, and her thoughts on what America in One Room meant for her.
22 Mar 2021
Voices of America in One Room - Season 1 Trailer
Imagine being a part of a large group of people, all with differing points of view, socio-economic beliefs, and backgrounds. Now imagine you were asked to discuss a variety of important issues, such as the economy, the environment, and immigration. In September of 2019, a total of 526 registered American voters were brought together to discuss important issues that impact all of us. Participants were respectful, addressed each talking point more objectively, and simply approached these issues as individuals who are being impacted by them daily. These are the Voices of America in One Room.
From The Center for Deliberative Democracy at Stanford University, this is Voices of America in One Room. Join us this season as we revisit experiences from the event, and talk about important social issues that impact all of us. Subscribe today on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.
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