On March 12, The Divides Project stepped into a larger shared space—and into a deeper question:
How do we stay connected when we see the world differently?
Nineteen participants gathered at the Chinese Culture Connection Community Room for Conversation and Connection: Exploring Divides and How to Bridge Them, a public event held in collaboration with Malden Reads and the Chinese Culture Connection, supported in part by the Malden Cultural Council.
The evening invited people to explore belonging, connection, and the challenge of remaining in relationship across difference.
“This work depends as much on how we gather as what we discuss.”
Starting with Connection
The evening began simply: participants paired up, interviewed one another, and then introduced their partners to the group.
From the first moments, listening, not debate, set the tone.
Conversations moved between large circles and smaller facilitated groups where people shared stories about family, friendships, and moments when communication breaks down. Rather than abstract arguments, participants spoke from lived experience.
Many described the gathering as nurturing, stimulating, and important. Several noted they learned something new, even about people they already knew.
What Emerged
Across conversations, several shared themes surfaced:
- People are struggling with how to talk across differences
- Many feel uncertain about what information to trust
- Beneath disagreement are shared emotions—confusion, concern, and a desire to connect
What stood out most was the quality of exchange. People listened carefully, reflected openly, and stayed present with one another.
“People are not just looking to debate—they’re looking for places to think together.”
Structure Matters
One clear lesson: meaningful dialogue doesn’t happen by accident.
Facilitation and simple ground rules helped balance participation, create space for quieter voices, and keep conversations grounded. Structure supported trust.
The evening also revealed areas for growth. Multiple prompts sometimes encouraged breadth rather than depth, and there wasn’t enough time to fully bring small-group insights back into the larger circle.
These lessons are shaping how future gatherings will unfold.
Ending with Art
The evening closed with reflection on a piece of artwork, “Journey”, by Lisa L. Sears. (below)
The artwork’s layered imagery invited multiple interpretations, shifting participants away from opinion toward reflection. Responses became personal rather than positional. It was a powerful reminder: how we see something is shaped by who we are.
“Difference lives within each of us and can be explored in more than one way.”
What We’re Learning
Even without perfect documentation, several insights are clear:
- People are hungry for spaces of connection
- There is a desire to practice conversations across difference
- Skills like listening, curiosity, and patience need lived experience—not just discussion
The Divides Project is discovering that conversation is only the beginning.
Where This Is Leading
Future gatherings will focus more intentionally on practice, creating experiences that help people actively build skills for engaging across difference. We are also exploring how Malden’s cultural diversity can offer new ways of understanding and bridging divides. Each gathering becomes part of an evolving learning process shaped by the people who participate.
There is a real appetite not only to understand division, but to practice connection.
Continuing the Work
The Divides Project is evolving in real time. If earlier conversations helped us name divides, this gathering pointed toward the next step: moving from conversation to practice. And that is where we are headed.