Overcoming Extreme Division 
Starts With Us
Be a Builder, Join the Movement!
Starts With Us empowers the 87% of Americans frustrated with extreme political and cultural divisions with the skills to engage across our differences and move our country forward. Sign up for inspiring stories, practical tips, and ways to take action.
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Are you part of the 
87%
of Americans who are tired of how politically and culturally divided we are?
Starts With Us is a movement to empower millions of Americans just like you — 
tired of our culture of contempt and 
energized to foster critical thinking and constructive communication across our lines of difference.
A Journey to Radical Compassion
How to Overcome Toxic Polarization
Assess Your Polarization Level
Based on decades of research from Columbia University Professor and Starts With Us Expert-in-Residence Peter T. Coleman, Ph.D., the Finding The Way Out Challenge is designed to help shape new habits and norms for political tolerance and courageous compassion. Think of it as a personalized boot camp for building a healthier national culture and repairing broken relationships across differences.
Better Daily Habits with the 3Cs
Curiosity
Sharpen the way you consume information to elevate your thinking: question your assumptions, seek a diversity of viewpoints, dig past partisan talking points, and embrace that there’s always more to learn.
Compassion
Strengthen your empathy muscle to become a more influential communicator: be an active listener, anchor conversations in common ground, and embrace the complex humanity in other people no matter how deeply you disagree.
Courage
It’s a fact: world-class leaders know how to disagree better. Elevate your comfort with the discomfort of disagreement and become a skilled negotiator capable of working beside anyone in your personal, professional, and civic life to solve our toughest challenges.
In Good Company
This movement is powered by people and partnership. Meet the 200+ Movement Partners coming together to help shape and scale Starts With Us.
“My husband, Muhammad Ali, lived his life connecting with people across cultures and countries with curiosity, kindness and compassion. As Muhammad demonstrated throughout his life, creating a kinder world does start with us.”
Lonnie Ali
Founder, Muhammad Ali Enterprises
“I’m excited about the potential for Starts With Us to help people develop greater humility, curiosity, empathy, and mental flexibility.”
Adam Grant
Psychologist & Bestselling Author
“If we are to achieve a future of longer tables where there’s room for everyone to be part of building solutions, it will be thanks to efforts like Starts With Us.”
José Andrés
Chef & Owner, ThinkFoodGroup; Founder, World Central Kitchen
“Curiosity is the antidote to contempt. And just like contempt, it can be cultivated, on purpose, in a million ways, in every medium. We just need to get to work.”
Amanda Ripley
Investigative Journalist & Bestselling Author
“I noticed opportunities for improvement in my life and hope Starts With Us can become a community for anyone looking to create change in theirs.”
Daniel Lubetzky
Founder, KIND Snacks
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By submitting your mobile phone number, you are agreeing to periodically receive text messages from Starts With Us. Message and data rates may apply. Text HELP for more information. Text STOP to stop receiving inspiring, empowering messages.