The One Nation/One Project (ONOP) campaign paralleled the most consequential United States presidential election of a lifetime. In this conversation, the national political cycle becomes a prism for ONOP team members to reflect on the roles theatremakers play to strengthen our democracy now and move forward in these times.

Pluralism is inherent in community partnerships, whether hyperlocal or national. As the One Nation/One Project team built public arts partnerships in eighteen sites across the country, they sought pluralistic strategies to respond to a question of growing importance: What future is possible at the intersection of our increasing diversity and diminishing cohesion? And how do we reach it?

The same set of skills theatremakers use to create transformative theatre are essential in building resilient, equitable communities. National leaders of the One Nation/One Project initiative kick off a series on their work with an essay on these transferable, deeply valuable skills.