It has been said that, "a house divided against itself cannot stand" (Abraham Lincoln, 1858). Yet the U.S. finds itself increasingly fractured along partisan lines. These growing divides are supercharged today by instant Internet and social media communications, 24/7 cable news, blatantly partisan media which attract and inflame like-minded viewers, body cams, viral smartphone videos, and the denigration of some American traditions.

Each of the six prominent speakers will frame the key issues of the series, probe challenges to finding common ground, and provide insights on how to most constructively unite America to solve them.

July 12: Government Dysfunction and the Future of Our Democracy
Speaker: Steve Levitsky

July 19: Black Man in a White Coat
Speaker: Damon Tweedy

July 26: Widening Inequality
Speaker: Kathy Edin

August 2: Our Broken Immigration System and How to Fix it
Speaker: Steve Yale-Loehr

August 9: The U.S. Role in the World: Can A Divided Country Still Lead?
Speaker: Senator George Mitchell

August 16: Unequal Opportunities, Unequal Outcomes? Averting The Worst for Health and Health Care in America
Speaker: Susan Dentzer