Meet the people of Billings, Montana. When someone painted a swastika on a Native American family’s home, the local painters’ union repainted it. When skinheads disrupted services at an African American church, White neighbors accompanied its congregants to services. When a rock shattered an eight-year-old boy’s window displaying a menorah, hundreds of citizens hung a paper menorah in their windows.

“I ran for Congress to make a difference. Now that I’m here, I might as well be a potted plant.” This one comment captured the experience of 60 Representatives interviewed in 2018. Even though January 6th was still two years away, plenty had already happened to make it harder and harder to get anything done in the “People’s House.” Then, with little fanfare, twelve members set out to buck that trend.

In the aftermath of the 2018 attack on Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, Pittsburghers declared to the world, “We are stronger than hate.” In a city long divided by segregation, faith leaders and everyday citizens reached across historic divides to achieve a common goal: keeping their communities safe from hate and violence.

Like so many industrial centers, Lewiston, Maine fell into economic decline after its textile center closed its doors. With its population dwindling, Lewiston was on the verge of dying when an influx of Somalian refugees held out the possibility of bringing it back to life—but only if old and new, Black and White Mainers could come together. Although the people of Maine persevered, the path they took was far from straightforward.

On Instagram as @Sharonsaysso, former high school teacher Sharon McMahon invites citizens to think together about our most divisive issues. Since launching the site, McMahon has become one of America’s most trusted sources for nonpartisan, factual information.