Why We Must Learn to Listen

Charlie Kirk was, and remains, a significant recent presence in American public life. As the founder of Turning Point USA, he spoke to thousands of young people who felt unheard on their campuses, offering them a sense of belonging, clarity, and conviction. For many, his voice met a real need: to be seen, to be affirmed, and to feel that their values mattered.

From a bridge building perspective, his story reminds us that people are searching for community as much as for ideology. When students flocked to his message, they weren’t only looking for talking points; they were looking for connection. This tells us that the longing for belonging is universal—whether we find it in progressive spaces, conservative spaces, or anywhere in between. If we want to reduce division, we have to listen deeply, not only to what people are saying, but to why they are saying it.

At the same time, some of Kirk’s rhetoric contributed to polarization. That’s an important reminder for all of us: certainty can be powerful, but when it shuts down curiosity or turns difference into a battle line, communities become more fragile. Our work is to create spaces where people can carry their convictions and practice curiosity, where we can disagree without dehumanizing, and where the table is wide enough for many truths to sit side by side.

Charlie Kirk’s influence shows both the challenge and the opportunity before us. Division doesn’t have to be the end of the story—it can be the place where we begin. If we respond with kindness, courage, and intentional gathering, we can write a different story together: one rooted not in “us versus them,” but in shared belonging.

Learn more about Common Ground USA’s work with youth and higher education and about how you can create intentional gatherings.