NEW ORLEANS — In a world where some say everything feels so divided there is a group working to bridge the gap through healthy conversation.
The Neutral Ground is a non-profit organization promoting healthy behaviors that reinforce mutual respect and trust on all topics.
Thursday night the group held its first debate in a conversation series called “Common Ground.”
The topic was centered on school choice in Louisiana and a bill in the legislature that would create education savings accounts.
“This bill will truly allow more families an opportunity to give their children a better start,” said former state senator Ann Duplessis. “The public school system has failed our children.”
In opposition, Caroline Romer with the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools believes the state cannot afford such a system.
“As a state are we prepared to look at 300 million plus a year?” questioned Roemer. “It’s a lot of money for a state that right now doesn’t have a lot of money to spend.”
Both Roemer and Duplessis seemingly had valid arguments Thursday in front of a packed JCC conference room.
Founders of The Neutral Ground these kinds of topics are why they started the organization because they are known to divide families, friends, and neighbors.
“We may disagree about a particular issue but how are any of these issues actually going to get sorted out if we can’t talk to each other,” asked John Landrum.
Landrum says programming from The Neutral Ground aims to close the divide and engage both sides.
“That’s where we have common ground,” he said. “The idea that we can come together and talk with respect and be in the presence of people who aren’t like us ideologically or otherwise and be comfortable with that.”
Landrum says the hope is to continue to put these respectful conversations on display so an audience can learn more about the topic and see a positive example of civil discourse.
“The bigger lesson is to see two people behaving the way we should be behaving when we disagree,” he said. “We don’t know how this country is going to get better unless we can talk to each other.”
To learn more about The Neutral Ground visit their website, theneutralground.org
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