Eleanor Ague and Ben Lashley

[Recorded: Friday, July 21, 2023] This One Small Step conversation was recorded in Charlottesville, Virginia as part of the Sorensen Institute’s summer High School Leaders Program in 2023. Eleanor Ague (17) is from McLean and Ben Lashley (17) is from...

Samyuktha Mahadevan and Preetima Moteea

[Recorded Monday, July 17, 2023] Samyuktha (25) and Preetima (25) have a One Small Conversation in Charlottesville. Samyuktha is Programs Manager at the Karsh Institute of Democracy and has experience in politics, campaigning, and grassroots organizing. Preetima has 5+ years’...

Riley Davis and Tom Acklin

[Recorded: Monday, January 16, 2023] Riley (21) and Tom (57) have a virtual One Small Step conversation in Charlottesville, Virginia. Riley is an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia studying psychology and American Studies. Tom is a recovering neurologist...

Yasir Mahboba and Evelyn Garey

[Recorded: Thursday, April 27, 2023] Yasir (22) and Evelyn (21) have a One Small Step conversation in Charlottesville, Virginia. Yasir is an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia studying biology on a pre-med track. Evelyn is also an undergraduate...

Evan Crowne and Lyla Denny

[Recorded: Tuesday, March 19th, 2024] UVA Students Evan Crowne (22) from Virginia and Lyla Dennny (22) from Wyoming/Connecticut recorded a One Small Step conversation as a part of their course Lead from Anywhere. They discussed political influences in their childhood,...

Kate Walldorf and Aishani Patnaik

[Recorded: Monday, September 11, 2023] Kate Walldorf (19) from Charleston, SC, and Aishani Patnaik (19) from Ashburn, VA participated in this One Small Step conversation as part of their Public Service Pathways 1-credit UNST course at UVA. Aishani shares how...

Chandler Nandkumar and Kendall Sano

[Recorded: Friday, September 22, 2023] Chandler Nandkumar (20) from Gloucester Township, NJ and Kendall Sano (19) from McLean, VA participated in this One Small Step conversation as part of their Public Service Pathways 1-credit UNST course at UVA. Both students...

Charles Kramer and Doug Small

[Recorded: Tuesday, November 15th, 2022] Charles (30) and Doug (68) have a virtual One Small Step conversation in Charlottesville, Virginia. The pair begin by mourning the loss of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler, and D'Sean Perry, who were killed in...

Bob Pearson and Carlos Rodriguez

[Recorded: Friday, November 19th, 2021] Bob Pearson (70) and Carlos Rodriguez (20) have a One Small Step conversation in Charlottesville, VA. Bob is an Air Force veteran and Carlos is a second-year student at UVA. Bob grew up in a...

Miles Efron and Marion Dembling

[Recorded: Friday, November 5th, 2021] Miles Efron and Marion Dembling have a One Small Step conversation in Charlottesville, Virginia. Miles works for the Miller Center at UVA, and Marion is a retiree living in the Charlottesville area. During their conversation,...

Spencer Haydary and Ethan Dahlby

[Recorded: Thursday, April 7th, 2022] Spencer (26) and Ethan (21) have a One Small Step conversation in Charlottesville, Virginia. Spencer is a UVA Law student and Ethan is a 3rd year computer science student at UVA. They are both active...

Cristina Amador and Olivia Paschal

[Recorded on October 26, 2021] Cristina Amador ('24) and Olivia Paschal (PhD '26) share their experiences growing up in open-minded Christian households, the decisions that led them both to the University of Virginia, and their disapproval of partisan labels.

Arden Luthy and Hewan Kasie

[Recorded Monday, February 19, 2024] UVA students Arden Luthy (19) and Hewan Kasie (19) recorded a One Small Step conversation as part of their course 'Democracy and Public Service.' Some of the major themes that they explored in their conversation...

David Larbi and Judy "Chess" Cheserek

[Recorded Monday, July 17, 2023] David (26) and Chess (34) have a One Small Step Conversation in Charlottesville. David is from Ghana and is a human rights activist advocating for youth empowerment and LGBTQIA+ rights across the African continent. Chess...

Jacob Saul and Kate-Lin Ly

[Recorded: Friday, September 15, 2023] Jacob Saul (19) from Bristow, VA, and Kate-Lin Ly (19) from Northern Virginia participated in this One Small Step conversation as part of their Public Service Pathways 1-credit UNST course at UVA. Jacob shares how...

“And at that moment I thought, it was real.”

A conversation between Emma Gonzalez & Pedro Damasceno recorded during a rally in favor of gun control laws— held in response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Highschool. Emma had just delivered a speech addressing her experience during the...

Rollie Zumbrunn and Don Gathers

[Recorded: Tuesday, August 23, 2022] Rollie (45) and Don (63) have a One Small Step conversation in Charlottesville, Virginia. Rollie works for Facilities Management at the University of Virginia, and Don is a deacon who served as the chair of...

Deborah Palmer and Terry Maynard

[Recorded Friday, April 28th, 2023] Deborah (64) and Terry (43) have a One Small Step Conversation in Charlottesville, Virginia. Deborah is a mother of two from Richmond, Virginia and works as an Inspector for UVA's Facilities Management. Terry is a...

Lillian Rojas and Donna Price

[Recorded: Friday, September 2nd, 2022] Lillian (20) and Donna (68) have a One Small Step conversation in Charlottesville, Virginia. Lillian is a Third Year student at the University of Virginia studying public policy, leadership, and religious studies. Donna is the...

Eujine Kim and Keisha Thomas

[Recorded: Monday, February 26, 2024] UVA students Keisha Thomas (19) from Fredericksburg, VA and Eujine Kim (20) from Lynchburg, VA recorded a One Small Step conversation as part of their course, UNST 1410. They began by connecting through their shared...

Bereket Erecha and Aiche Sy

[Recorded Monday, July 17, 2023] Bereket (33) and Aiche (28) have a One Small Step Conversation in Charlottesville. Bereket has 10+ years experience in peacebuilding, journalism, and public relations and is Program Advisor with Dexis Consulting Group. Aiche has 3+...

Monique Emond and Isabel Lafrance-Melendez

[Recorded: Friday, July 21, 2023] This One Small Step conversation was recorded in Charlottesville, Virginia as part of the Sorensen Institute’s summer High School Leaders Program in 2023. Monique Emond (17) is from Warrenton and Isabel Lafrance-Melendez is from Henrico....

Elizabeth Walther-Grant and Alex Wu

Creating Community Through Sharing Stories: Elizabeth Walther-Grant, adopted from the Bahamas and raised by an Andover family, talks about growing up in Andover, the racism she faced, and what inspired her to found Merrimack Valley Black and Brown Voices. She...

Mila Snyder and Brian Warden

[Recorded: Thursday, February 22, 2024] UVA students Brian Warden (19) from Morgantown, WV and Jamila Snyder (19) from Pittsburg, PA recorded a one small step conversation as part of their course Public Service and Democracy. They discussed that both of...