The effects of the pandemic, including increased levels of distrust in each other and in the government, continue to reverberate for Americans. But amid the challenges, there’s also a growing sense of civic renewal. According to data from the Pew Research Center, 86% of U.S. adults believe that it is possible to improve people’s confidence in one another.

In this season of Pew’s “After the Fact” podcast, we’re traveling to cities across the country to experience the ways people are gathering and connecting to solve the complex problems facing neighborhoods today. Through interviews with local leaders and individuals, we explore how this inspired work is weaving people together across divides, restoring community, and renewing the fabric of democracy.

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After the Fact

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Lessons on Restoring Community

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Although surveys show that Americans felt loneliness during the pandemic and harbor a mistrust of government and of their fellow citizens, the Pew Research Center reports that 86% of U.S. adults believe that it is possible to improve people’s confidence in one another and that local communities can be laboratories for trust-building.

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Restoring Hope in Baltimore

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Across America, local organizations are bringing people together across divides to solve complex problems and renew the fabric of democracy. In Baltimore's Cherry Hill neighborhood, Michael and Danielle Battle share their journey to build community through their nonprofit Restoring Inner City Hope (RICH)—an organization which provides resources and opportunities for youth and young adults from across the city.

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Learn the Basics of Broadband from Our Limited Series

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How does broadband internet reach our homes, phones, and tablets? What kind of infrastructure connects us all together? What are the major barriers to broadband access for American communities?

What Is Antibiotic Resistance—and How Can We Fight It?

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Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as “superbugs,” are a major threat to modern medicine. But how does resistance work, and what can we do to slow the spread? Read personal stories, expert accounts, and more for the answers to those questions in our four-week email series: Slowing Superbugs.