Maine Takes One Small Step

Back in June 2023, we put out a call. We were looking for people who were willing to come together for an hour-long facilitated conversation with a stranger with different viewpoints, during which they would be invited to get to know each other as people, through listening to each other’s stories. As you can imagine, the response was mixed. But by the end of 2023, over a hundred people had signed up to participate.

We recorded 25 One Small Step conversations with 50 participants from 37 towns in 15 different locations/venues (as well as two virtual conversations)—all the way from Falmouth to Presque Isle. Participants laughed, cried, disagreed, found common ground, and sometimes, exchanged contact information.

A photo from our interactive One Small Step listening event at the Alamo Theatre in Bucksport in November 2023. From L–R: Chris Battaglia, Michele Christle, Phil Bailey (Building Bridges Maine), and Sue Sheremeta. Photo by Jack Sullivan.

What is One Small Step?

Created by StoryCorps, One Small Step is an effort to remind the country of the humanity in all of us, even those with whom we disagree. The initiative brings strangers with different political beliefs together for a conversation—not to debate politics—but to get to know each other as people for a simple, personal, 50-minute conversation. One Small Step brings communities together, one conversation at a time.

One Small Step is based on contact theory, which states that a meaningful interaction between people with opposing views can help turn “thems” into “us-es.” Its scientific and systematic approach is supported by a group of advisors that include scientists, researchers, and psychologists. Since its launch in 2021, over 2,528 people across 40 states have participated in a One Small Step conversation, including 50 people here in Maine.

WERU was one of just five stations selected nationally to host One Small Step in 2023. With participant permission, these conversations are preserved for future generations at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

Dig Into Our One Small Step Conversations

Click here to check out the full archive
of WERU One Small Step conversations.

Location, Location, Location

We recorded 25 conversations with 50 participants from 37 towns in 15 different locations/venues, including two virtual conversations. In addition to recording at the WERU studio, we recorded conversations at libraries, town offices, museums, the office of a rock shop, and a vacant storefront at a mini-mall. While location scouting wasn’t necessarily something we anticipated as part of this initiative, it became a fun aspect of the process as it provided additional opportunities to get the word out and helped make participation more accessible for a wider number of participants. 

Check out this interactive map* to see where participants came from and where we recorded the conversations.

A huge thank you to the Belfast Free Library, Blue Hill Public Library, Bucksport Town Office, Davistown Museum, Gouldsboro Recreation Center, Old Town Public Library, Searsport Municipal Office, Social Capital, The Rock and Art Shop (Office), Unity Public Library, Vacant Office at the Mini Mall, and the Victoria Grant Civic Center for providing space for us to record.

*This map is a work in progress. We’re attempting to include the Penobscot / Wabanaki names for all the locations. Can you help? Drop us a line. In the meantime, we highly recommend this map: Iyoka Eli-Wihtamakw Kǝtahkinawal / This Is How We Name Our Lands from Penobscot Cultural & Historic Preservation. You can purchase it from the Maine Historical Society.

One Small Step Conversation Facilitators/Producers

WERU brought on two local contractors to conduct outreach, recruit strangers, wrangle participants, scout locations, and facilitate, record, and archive One Small Step conversations: Chris Battaglia and Michele Christle. They also did a lot of deep reflecting on the project at large and its implications—for their communities and themselves. Keep your eyes out for more reflection pieces, coming soon.

Chris Battaglia (he/him)

Chris Battaglia has produced multimedia and storytelling for 15 years, working with many local businesses and nonprofits. His work has been funded by the New England Foundation for the Arts, the Kindling Fund via SPACE’s national regranting program through Andy Warhol Foundation, Maine Community Foundation, and the Maine Arts Commission.

chrisbattaglia.info

Michele Christle (she/her)

Michele is a freelance writer whose work focuses on ecology, culture, and place. Her writing has been published in Eater, Down East, Insider, and The Kenyon Review. She served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon, received an MFA in Creative Writing from UMass Amherst, and has worked in nonprofit storytelling and communications—locally and internationally—for 15 years.

michelechristle.com

What’s Next for One Small Step?

If you signed up in 2023 but haven’t been matched, you are still in the pool to participate! StoryCorps receives all applications and will continue matching participants across the country in 2024 and beyond. StoryCorps will contact and schedule you to record when they find the right conversation partner for you. Visit www.storycorps.org/onesmallstep to learn more.

If you haven’t signed up for One Small Step, or would like to learn how to document and preserve One Small Step local stories you can start and record your own conversation with a friend, relative, colleague, or someone else you know using StoryCorps technology. Take the One Small Step: DIY participant course here. This will guide you through the process, step by step!

You can join the One Small Step community by participating in discussions and upcoming events through the One Small Step Facebook group. Joining the One Small Step email list is also a source for information on an ongoing basis about the initiative, related resources and articles, and a way to experience the stories of people who’ve had a conversation.

We are officially committed to continuing this work, partnering with organizations, companies, and people who share our belief that talking to neighbors and strangers alike will make us all stronger, safer, healthier, and less isolated.

Want to help us keep One Small Step going?
Drop us a line at [email protected].

Thank you for being part of One Small Step.

StoryCorps’ One Small Step and the Radio
Station Hubs are made possible by the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting.