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One Small Step
One Small Step
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  • Thank you for your interest in participating in StoryCorps’ One Small Step initiative (OSS) initiative.

    We use this questionnaire to match you with a conversation partner—someone we think you’ll connect with, even though you may have different beliefs. The form typically takes applicants about 5-7 minutes to complete.

    IMPORTANT: The information you share in this form will be used by StoryCorps to match you with a conversation partner and to personalize email content for you. Shortly before your interview, we’ll share your first name, last initial, and a short bio with your conversation partner.

    Let's get started!
  • By providing your phone number, you agree to receive text messages from StoryCorps and One Small Step. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies.
  • Please check all that apply.
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    If you have a conversation partner in mind, we will get in touch with you for further details.
    If not, don't worry! We want to make this opportunity available to everyone, so we will work with you to find another way to participate.
  • Now, help us understand your political beliefs:
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    If not, don't worry! We want to make this opportunity available to everyone, so we will work with you to find another way to participate.
  • Drag the slider to where you see yourself on the scale, with the left being the most liberal and the right the most conservative.
  • Drag the slider to where you see yourself on the scale, with the left being the most liberal and the right the most conservative.
  • Drag the slider to where your feelings on religion fit best on the scale, with the left being not at all important and the right extremely important.
  • WHILE ONE SMALL STEP PAIRS STRANGERS WITH DIFFERENT BELIEFS, THE GOAL IS TO REMIND US THAT WE'RE ALL HUMAN AND THAT WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WE THINK. THE BEST INTERVIEW PARTNERS OFTEN SHARE A PASSION OR SIMILAR LIFE EXPERIENCES. THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WILL HELP US IN THE PAIRING PROCESS.
  • Please select as many as you like.
  • Please select as many as you like.
  • PROVIDING STORYCORPS WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION WE ASK FOR BELOW IS OPTIONAL. HAVING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOU WILL HELP US MATCH YOU WITH AN INTERVIEW PARTNER, SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE.

  • Provide a short biography below (a maximum of 500 characters). Good bios tell your partner about who you are and where you’re from: the family you grew up in, your community, big life events that have shaped you, your personal values and any issues that are especially important to you. If you opt-in to the OSS Connect experience (see below), exactly what you write here will be shared with a number of potential partners. Be careful not to include any personally identifiable information like your full name, employer, etc. If you chose only the One Small Step facilitated conversation, only your partner will see your bio.

    This bio will be read aloud as part of your recorded conversation. If you opt-in to the OSS Connect experience (see below), exactly what you write here will be shared with a number of potential partners.

    Here’s an example to guide you.

    "I am the youngest of 6 kids and was raised on a farm in rural California. My faith as a Christian drives my politics. Hunting and fishing are important to me, and I care deeply about public land use and conservation. I have been married for 47 years. I have adult children and 6 grandchildren. I lost one of my children a few years ago."
  • NEW! One Small Step Connect

    This fall, StoryCorps will offer a new way to have an OSS conversation. OSS Connect allows you to engage in a virtual One Small Step video conversation—without a facilitator. Don’t worry, we will provide you with tools to support your experience every step of the way and rest assured we will only record the audio of your conversation. Learn more about the difference between the facilitated and unfacilitated OSS experience in our FAQ.

    Opting into the OSS Connect experience does not remove you from consideration for a facilitated interview—we’d love for you to experience a conversation both ways. And, you can do as many OSS Connect conversations as you’d like.

    IMPORTANT:If you opt into the OSS Connect experience, we may share some or all of the following information with other potential participants, who you may or may not end up connecting with for a conversation. This information will be shared exactly as you complete it here:

    first name and last initial; city & state; gender; age range (i.e., 20–30); political party; social issues score; interests; bio; key words from “descriptors” and life events.
  • THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. OUR TEAM WILL NOW BEGIN LOOKING FOR YOUR MATCH. IF WE ARE ABLE TO MATCH YOU, A STORYCORPS TEAM MEMBER WILL REACH OUT TO SCHEDULE YOUR INTERVIEW AND PREPARE YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION.

Copyright © 2023 StoryCorps, Inc. All rights reserved.

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