Case Study
State Policy Network – UNDIVIDE US Movie
ISSUES + ADVOCACY
Government + Public Policy
Bridging America’s divides through film and conversation.
THE CHALLENGE
State Policy Network (SPN) saw America at a crossroads where politicians, traditional media, and social media fan the flames of toxic partisanship, undermining the values and institutions that unite Americans. They sought to highlight a better way to engage with our fellow Americans, even when we disagree on the most divisive issues—policing, immigration, gun control, abortion, and education. SPN needed a partner to help show in real-time how to navigate these sensitive topics and create a narrative that could foster understanding and unity across ideological lines.
OUR STRATEGY
Heart+Mind Strategies partnered with SPN to recruit and field focus groups for the UNDIVIDE US documentary filmed in politically charged cities like Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Phoenix. Using our Finding Common Ground approach and our Triadic Illumination technique, the team facilitated conversations among Americans with opposing views. The goal was not to change minds on issues, but to change hearts about one another—showing that finding common ground is always possible and essential to the American way of life.
IMPACT
The film successfully demonstrated that Americans could engage in civil discourse on even the most contentious topics. Participants didn’t change their positions, but they changed how they viewed those on the other side. UNDIVIDE US became a powerful tool for empathy and civic renewal, culminating in its recognition as the winner of the 2025 Atlas Network North America Liberty Award.
