One Small Step: Bridging Divides through conversation

Join us for this Galesburg’s Morning News interview as we talked with Tri States Public Radio General Manager Heather Norman and reporter Jane Carlson about One Small Step, a StoryCorps initiative bringing strangers with different views together for 50-minute conversations to foster understanding—not debate. TSPR, one of just four stations nationwide selected for 2025 with a CPB grant, is recording 25 talks in the region, with four completed so far, including a notable chat between State Senator Mike Halpin and Representative Dan Swanson, revealing shared values despite political differences. Learn how the matching process works, what happens to the recordings (some archived at the Library of Congress), and how Galesburg residents can sign up at tspr.org to join this effort to connect beyond labels. Key Takeaways: One Small Step pairs diverse locals for personal, non-debate talks. Recordings may be preserved historically with participant consent. TSPR aims for 25 conversations by year-end; sign up now. Or email: [email protected].