A Plea to Engage
By Chelsea Miller
Chelsea Miller is the CEO of CPM Global and Co-Founder of Freedom March NYC, one of the largest youth-led civil rights organizations in the U.S.
"Disengagement has become our default to conflict. It’s often easier to cancel, scroll past, or tune out people whose views challenge our own. Sometimes, that instinct is valid through the lens of safety and well-being. But when this becomes a default mechanism to disagreement, we begin to lose something essential. We lose opportunities to build community, to foster understanding, and to strengthen the social fabric that holds us together.
"As more Americans, particularly young people, become politically active, many are seeking change through action. We must recognize that change doesn’t happen in echo chambers; —it happens in the hard, messy spaces where people choose to stay in conversation, to listen, and to imagine something better together. Reclaiming those spaces is how we begin to heal and rebuild — one relationship, one community at a time. History shows us that it’s possible…
"We need conversations now more than ever. In moments of deep division, building community through honest, respectful dialogue is not just helpful—it’s essential. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be when people come together across differences, driven by a shared commitment to progress and understanding…
"Instead of withdrawing into our spaces, we must come together with boldness, empathy, and a shared commitment to meaningful change."
About Heart of a Nation
Empowering the next generation of American, Israeli, and Palestinian change-makers to embrace better, together.
אנחנו מכנסים הוגים מובילים, פעילים חברתיים, ומחוללי שינוי לעתיד, אמריקאים, ישראלים ופלסטינאים, המחויבים לשיפור החברות שלהם.
نحن أمريكيون وإسرائيليون وفلسطينيون نبني ونكوّن روابط من أجل التعلم والتفكير والمشاركة معًا حتى نشجع الحلول التقدمية بشأن القضايا التي تهمنا جميعًا.