Marcia Oates and Ann Mershon

AM disturbed by political extremes, we need more communication.

MO agrees, says their mutual generation is more comfortable with face to face dialog.

AM feels strongly about giving back to the community and spends time volunteering in different ways.

MO talks about the need to support fellow people and community members.

MO talks about admiring her son who passed away tragically at 33. He had all kinds of friends and was able to connect and get along with all types of people regardless of hobbies or politics or cliques.

AM talks about admiring her friend and in particular her friends generosity to others and to the community.

MO talks about leaning conservative but says she's been doing a lot of thinking about politics and power and has gotten more liberal with her life experiences.

AM grew up in a liberal home. Her father lost his job for demonstrating against the Vietnam War which she admires him for. In her younger years she didn't care much about politics but has gotten very concerned about inequality in this country. She considers herself a socialist.

AM shares stories of college friends that got pregnant before abortion was legal.

MO leans pro-birth but thinks we get it wrong when we make it solely a medical issue and that there should be more support for mothers-maternity leave, childcare etc.

MO is disheartened that more progress has not been made on women's issues in general.

MO continues that there are good men out there but they haven't had the experiences to know what it is like for women.

MO struggles with the trans-athlete issue but says she tries to remind herself that we are in the infancy of dealing with it and maybe she doesn't fully understand it yet.

AM hopes people are getting over Climate Change denial.

MO Climate Change has gotten so political and people have dug their heels in.

MO concerned locally about the anti-tourist sentiment - says being a good North Shore resident means taking care of the land.

AM says it's important to support local businesses.

MO says things are starting to turn especially with gender roles in families and dad's being more hands on and loving.

AM says she's fearful for the future if we don't start to come together. Wealth inequality is at an all time high and we've lost the middle.

MO says maybe the middle isn't disappearing as much as it just doesn't have the pulpit-regular folks too busy and the media thrives off conflict.

MO learned to be present with kids through teaching.