In 1990, Alex and David were roommates at Boston College.

Alex was a proud Hispanic Democrat. David was a Republican from Connecticut. On paper, they could not be more different—politically, culturally, and geographically. From their college days at Boston College, they disagreed on nearly every political issue and had countless spirited debates that rarely ended in agreement.

And yet, they were close friends then—and they are close friends now. Why? Because they discovered something simple but powerful: while they disagreed on politics, they agreed on much more. They both believed in the American spirit of hard work and opportunity. They shared a love of music, having bonded as band geeks. They took pride in their academic success and in being part of a vibrant college community.

Over the years, through career changes, life milestones, and the rising tide of political polarization, they stayed in touch. They worked together on professional projects, debated the headlines of the day, and never pretended to agree on political matters. But through it all, they never let disagreement turn into hostility. They listened, questioned, challenged—and respected each other.

In recent years, as political discourse has devolved into anger and distrust—where neighbors are told to fear each other and families struggle to have civil conversations—Alex and David chose a different path. They realized that disagreement does not have to mean division. They believed that if people can focus first on what they share—values, experiences, common goals—they can have meaningful discussions about what they do not agree on.

That idea became a mission. It became The Discourse Project: a movement to show that productive, respectful conversation is possible when we start with common ground. Because when you build from agreement, even the toughest disagreements can lead to understanding, not hostility.