Our country is divided, but these people are working to change that

In a nation fractured by division, this episode of Talk of Iowa shines a light on the quiet, powerful work of community builders who are stitching together disconnected lives through art, shared labor, and intentional connection. From Clinton’s transformation via giant troll sculptures and whimsical art forests to Cedar Rapids’ Matthew 25 nonprofit fostering relationships through potlucks and storytelling, the episode reveals that unity isn’t born from grand declarations but from small, consistent acts: listening, showing up, and creating spaces where people feel seen. In Storm Lake, Maggie Reyes turns service into sacred belonging, while Byron’s Bar in Pomeroy becomes a sanctuary of respect and attentive listening. Most strikingly, two Des Moines churches—Corinthian Baptist and Plymouth Congregational—overcome decades of racial segregation not through performative allyship, but through sustained, humble collaboration: book studies, shared meals, and the courageous practice of asking 'why?' without defensiveness. The episode argues that healing begins not when we fix the world, but when we begin to truly see one another—face to face, hand to hand, heart to heart.