Rainn Wilson thinks 'corny and hippy' hope may be the answer to this US problem
It's one of the actor's key takeaways from a recent summit he hosted focused on addressing division, loneliness and isolation in America.
"Anyone who is delivering hope, that is what we need to do right now, to look for the hope," Wilson says in a June 27 interview with USA TODAY. "Deliver it, kindle the fire of hope − it sounds corny and hippy, but maybe we need some corny hippies in the world right now."
The Share our America summit on June 11 was part of the Newmark Civic Life Series of Recanati-Kaplan Talks, and featured nearly three hours of discussions among more than a dozen researchers, activists, civic leaders and everyday Americans. Their goal is to rebuild trust and connection among people, amid a measured rise in Americans who say they feel lonely, anxious and worried about the country's future.
The event's co-presenters, 92NY's Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact and The Aspen Institute's Weave: The Social Fabric Project, describe the event as a response to a "crisis of community and broken connection."
Gannett and its USA TODAY Network were the exclusive media sponsors of the event.
The summit's speakers included David Brooks, longtime columnist for The New York Times and founder of The Aspen Institute's Weave project, TV host Mike Rowe, creator and host of "Dirty Jobs" and "Somebody's Gotta Do It," CEO of AmeriCorps Michael D. Smith and Michael McCarter, Gannett Opinion Editor.
Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute on NBC's "The Office," served as host of the event.
Though the actor is also known for his work in climate change activism and for his book and podcast encouraging a "spiritual revolution," Wilson said the conference's focus on division is another symptom of the same underlying malady he wants to help address.
"We're disconnected and there's something kind of deeply, profoundly wrong with contemporary society,' he says. "Whether it's being in harmony with our nature and climate, or making sure the poorest among us get an education, or bringing people with different political views together and creating community, it's all part of one imbalance."
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Gallup, one of the nation's leading public opinion research organizations, has observed in its polling data greater pessimism about the state of the nation, widening ideological divides and an erosion of national unity over the past decade. Its research mirrors conclusions from numerous other polls and surveys, showing an increasingly divided and turbulent country.
More than seven in 10 adults reported that the future of the nation is a significant source of stress in their lives in an August survey from the American Psychological Association. According to a September Gallup poll, a record-high 80% of U.S. adults believe Americans are greatly divided on the most important values, alongside record-low levels of trust in government and confidence in U.S. institutions.
A more recent poll released by Gallup on June 30 found 58% of U.S. adults say they are proud to be an American, down nine percentage points from last year and five points below the previous record-low in 2020.
In the face of such concerning trends, summit organizers Frederick Riley and Rebekah Shrestha wrote in a June 5 op-ed for USA TODAY that the answer lies in part in small, local actions, like talking to a neighbor, or joining a volunteer group or nonprofit.
In his book, "Soul Boom," and in the podcast of the same name he hosts, Wilson has urged for a "spiritual revolution" to foster healthier connections and communities, emphasizing the importance of service to others. It's the small initiatives, he says, that are cause for hope for the future, pointing to the projects highlighted in the summit, like the U.S. Army veteran teaching blacksmithing skills to other veterans, or local leaders building gathering spaces to foster connection, arts and education.
"I think the biggest kind of global pandemic is people feeling like the situation is hopeless, that they're powerless and can't do anything to change it," Wilson said, reflecting on the summit. "That's a disease that has to be snuffed out, whether through local politics or activism, through union work, education work, and through building community on the local level."
The full summit can be viewed on 92NY's website.
Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.
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