Brian Hettrick of Manchester is the executive director of the Sunshine Initiative and chief guide of the Genesis Think Tank. James McKim of Goffstown is a managing partner at Organizational Ignition in Manchester, and president of the Manchester NAACP. Both are members of the New Hampshire Together Advisory Council.

Over the past few years, we have seen a concerning erosion of civic engagement and civil discourse in the United States — and right here in New Hampshire. In a recent survey by the University of New Hampshire, 91% of respondents said that hyper-partisanship and an increasing lack of civility are among the most important problems facing New Hampshire today.

But what has made us so uncivil? In our “Live Free or Die” state we are set up, if not expected, to be apart, to think we can do everything on our own. Live and let live is celebrated here. But for many of our politicians, it has morphed into “get your way at all costs.” History tells us, though, that it is only by working together that we can solve problems that impact all of us.

These issues can be attributed to several interrelated factors, including the proliferation of misinformation and conspiracy theories, and the corrosive effects of social media echo chambers. These echo chambers reinforce existing biases and foster a sense of moral superiority, making it easier to dehumanize and vilify those with opposing viewpoints.

The UNH survey, conducted in December 2023, also found that a vast majority of those polled do not feel they are being properly represented in Concord. As the two major parties have drifted further apart ideologically, they have become more entrenched in their respective positions, often demonizing and delegitimizing the opposing side. This “us versus them” mentality has made it increasingly difficult for citizens to engage in respectful and productive discourse, as they view those with differing views not as fellow citizens with valid concerns, but as enemies to be defeated.

This increase in extreme partisanship and decrease in civility is why we both chose to join the advisory council of New Hampshire Together, a non-partisan project that seeks to strengthen voter confidence in elections, reduce polarization and improve political responsiveness to Granite Staters.

Restoring a sense of civic responsibility and fostering constructive dialogue across ideological divides is crucial for preserving the fabric of our democracy. Civic engagement fosters a shared sense of responsibility and investment in the well-being of our communities. It encourages citizens to engage in respectful dialogue, seek common ground, and work together to find solutions to complex problems. The work of the non-partisan New Hampshire Together complements and reinforces other initiatives already underway in the Granite State.

For example, the Genesis Think Tank is focused on bringing a more systematic and coordinated approach to understanding the challenges facing our mental health system and to helping our youth develop healthier identities. The Sunshine Initiative is focused on supporting the revitalization of small towns and communities, considering both the “nuts and bolts” issues of jobs, housing, and education as well as unleashing the human spirit, generating a “can-do” attitude when tackling some of the issues facing our communities.

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Bridging and strengthening the efforts of the Genesis Think Tank, the Sunshine Initiative, and similar organizations is New Hampshire Together, creating another way to identify issues of concern and prioritize issues for deliberation and action. We truly believe gathering the collective voice of the people in efforts like New Hampshire Together is necessary for our state and ultimately nation to survive and thrive. You could call this building our “grassroots organizational muscle.”

Our neighbors across the Granite State must come together and not only have these difficult conversations but also create action to help resolve these complex issues. When citizens are actively engaged in the political process, they hold their elected officials accountable and ensure that their voices are heard. This is exactly the pathway organizations like New Hampshire Together is creating with its Citizens Assembly and Braver Angels is creating with its Community Debates.

The erosion of civil discourse and civic engagement threatens the very foundations of our democracy. To address this challenge we must flex our grassroots organizational muscle, actively working to promote civic responsibility, foster respectful dialogue across ideological divides, and encourage citizens to engage in the political process and their local communities. This can only happen if everyone participates in discussions being led by these organizations.