The World Knows We Are Divided How Can It Be Compared From Colin Woodard

Colin Woodard, Director of Nationhood Lab at Salve Regina University’s Pell Center and a New York Times best-selling author, will discuss how, surprisingly, where people settled during colonial times may still help explain some of America's deepest divides today. Using original research and polling data, he'll show how differences in trust, community engagement, health outcomes, and attitudes on major issues continue to vary across regions in remarkably consistent ways. At a more local level, the research also examined why some communities feel more connected, engaged, and trusting than others? The Social Capital Index looks at factors tied to strong communities, including volunteering, voter participation, involvement in local organizations, and overall community trust. Researchers say areas with higher social capital often experience stronger civic engagement, healthier communities, and a greater sense of connection. Even with regional differences, Woodard’s research shows that a common belief in the principles of the Declaration of Independence still holds us together. Recent polling from Nationhood Lab found Americans agreed by a 97-2 margin that citizens are duty-bound to protect one another’s rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. More than 80 percent of Americans said the country is defined by those shared principles, even during today’s polarized political climate.

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