Skip to content

🏆 Be Healthy is now a Gracie Award–Winning Newsletter → Explore it now

Meet Two Men Who Are Working Hard to Know, Love, and Support their Neighbors, No Matter What Their Story

Meet Two Men Who Are Working Hard to Know, Love, and Support their Neighbors, No Matter What Their Story

By The Sunday Paper Team
Copy to clipboard M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z
In these divided times, it's tempting to focus on all of the things driving wedges between us. Dave Isay, the American radio producer and founder of StoryCorps…a non-profit whose mission is to record, preserve, and share stories of Americans of all backgrounds…is aiming to bring us closer together with his new program, One Small Step. Isay's new project grew out of StoryCorps, as an effort to get people who disagree about politics to get to know each other through a StoryCorps interview.In an interview with Norah O'Donnell for CBS, Isay told her that he wants to put an end to what he calls the "culture of contempt" that is tearing apart the country. 'The situation is so bad that if the culture of contempt wins, things are just not gonna end well for the United States,” Isay said.We're so glad Isay is taking a step to move our country…and humanity…forward by getting people to sit down and actually talk to each other about what shapes us as humans. Want to get involved? Learn more here.And in these tough economic times, it's increasingly hard for many families to meet their basic needs, like food on the table and a roof over their heads. When we saw Kurt Rietema's Tweets this week, it gave us reason to hope that there are still people out there trying to help their neighbors. In response to a landlord on The Dave Ramsey Show who says he doesn't feel guilty for raising the rent on his rental properties, Rietema responded: 'I own a few rental properties in the low-income neighborhood I live in. I also help immigrant families who can't access traditional financing become homeowners. You might say we try to help low-income families and find…what's a name for it…”Financial Peace.”Bravo, Kurt, for supporting your neighbors facing hardship.

Please note that we may receive affiliate commissions from the sales of linked products.

Want to learn more about Sunday Paper PLUS?

You're invited to join our membership community! Sign up today to access Maria's "I've Been Thinking" essay archive, our award-winning interview series Life Above the Noise with Maria, SP+ exclusive newsletters “Be Lit” and “Be Healthy,” weekly audio messages from Maria, and more exclusive content.

Explore Membership

Read More Discover Related Stories Above the Noise

Julia Cameron

When Spirituality Is Found Where You Least Expect It

By Stacey Lindsay

No Kings Day Protesters

News Above the Noise—Week of March 29, 2026

By The Sunday Paper Team

Device with Maria Shriver Sunday Paper