Sometimes it feels as if we’re coming apart at the seams. The conclusion drawn from the near-constant polling, media commentary and academic analysis of the last few years is that Americans are polarized—divided along geographic lines or by race, by generation or by socio-economic status.

Historians Kevin Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer say it all goes back to 1974, when Watergate, the end of the Vietnam War and anti-busing riots were among the many crises that rocked America. Journalist Bill Bishop, working from reams of sociological and political science data, says we started to sort ourselves into camps in 1965—between June and October, to be exact. Others go back to the 1920 census, the first to show that the majority of Americans lived in cities and towns, rather than rural areas.

So what’s true? Are we more divided than ever before? If so, why is that? What, exactly, divides us? We’ll dig into these and similar questions on Tuesday, April 23 during a special INseparable-themed Chew On This. Sign up for one of 6 locations around the state, where you’ll share a meal and civil yet fun in-depth conversation with other curious Hoosiers. Each table will be led by an expert facilitator, someone who brings special insight into why we do or don’t manage to get along with one another. Your ticket price includes meal and an unforgettably rich experience.

• Dr. Terri Jett, professor of political science, Butler University
  (Ambrosia | Indianapolis)
• Tim Swarens, journalist
  (Rooster's Kitchen | Indianapolis)
• Rima Shahid, executive director, Women4Change Indiana
  (divvy | Carmel)
• Tory Flynn, director of communications, Hillenbrand
  (The Sherman | Batesville)
  
• Micah Towery, writer and scholar
  (Tapastrie | South Bend)
• John Christensen, Fort Wayne magazine
  (Próximo | Fort Wayne)
• Roger Baylor, blogger
  (Pints & Union | New Albany) (Host Organization | ArtSeed)
  
• Dan Hawthorne, history teacher
  (Carnegie Center | Rensselaer) (Host Organization | Jasper Newton Foundation)
  
• Brenda Rigdon, development director, Kosciusko County Community Foundation
  (rua | Warsaw) (Host Organization | Kosciusko County Community Foundation)

TICKET INFORMATION

Conversations will take place at different locations around Indiana. When selecting your ticket, please pay careful attention to the restaurant cuisine, your dietary preferences/restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, etc.), as well as your preferred facilitator. Your ticket will serve as your entrance to the restaurant. Your ticket price includes a meal, non-alcoholic drink, and tax and tip at one of the locations.

WANT TO HOST CHEW ON THIS IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

Applications to host Chew on This have closed.

Questions? Contact Claire Mauschbaugh, events and communications associate at cmauschbaugh@indianahumanities.org

ABOUT CHEW ON THIS

Chew On This is a program designed by Indiana Humanities to use the power of food and drink as a convener of people and catalyst for conversation to inspire thoughtful discussion on engaging topics.

ABOUT INSEPARABLE

INseparable is a two-year Indiana Humanities initiative that invites Hoosiers to explore how we relate to each other across boundaries, real or imagined, and consider what it will take to indeed be inseparable, in all the ways that matter. Learn more at www.IndianaHumanities.org/inseparable.

ABOUT INDIANA HUMANITIES

Indiana Humanities connects people, opens minds and enriches lives by creating and facilitating programs that encourage Hoosiers to think, read and talk. www.IndianaHumanities.org