From easing loneliness to easing conflict
How a conversation series addressing pandemic loneliness paved the way for deep dialogue during polarized times
We’re spotlighting a conversation series run by and for young adults in Provo, Utah. Treehouse Talks has built a trusting community where people gather, share, and listen to each other that made it the perfect platform for the Peace Making Provo initiative in 2024. Read on to learn from the project leaders and other peacemaking events from the past month.
Next time, we’ll share a piece from an English teacher on connecting across language barriers. Have you ever made a peacemaking fumble due to language barriers? Share with us here.
Hollis Hunt, founder of Treehouse Talks
What problem were you trying to solve when you started Treehouse talks? Has that problem shifted at all?
We started Treehouse Talks shortly after the COVID pandemic to combat loneliness. Just a simple gathering of people sharing about things they are passionate about. The beautiful thing about it was it was never meant to be what it is now. The mission of Treehouse Talks has always been simple: Connect with peers, learn diverse ideas, leave more aware. It has now transformed into a place of belonging, a community where people can find a safe place.
Treehouse Talks when you look at it, is really a big informal sacrament meeting. You have your music, you have your speakers, and we are giving people an opportunity to gather together for something greater.
You mentioned that you know an event is successful if people have their hearts softened. How do you design an event to make that possible?
It comes down to two things. First, co-creation—my favorite word! The best and most transformative events are where both the provider and consumer have a part in creating the experience. There’s magic in involving the community in the creation of the event. Second, propinquity—which refers to the state of being near or close to someone or something, often in terms of physical proximity or social connection.
About Hollis
Hollis Hunt is a graduate of BYU in Experience Design and Management. He channels his focus into HXP (Humanitarian Experience), a nonprofit that empowers youth to make a difference through humanitarian work worldwide. He’s also the voice behind This is Kingdom, a Christian podcast that reaches nearly 70,000 listeners.
Alex & Carter Haight, founders of Peace Making Provo
What inspired you both to make this initiative?
We watched this summer as our families from different sides of the political spectrum merged peacefully for our wedding, with the intention of coming together in love. When returning to Provo, we realized the same polarization exists here, as well as the same desires to coexist and learn from one another. We decided to team up with TreeHouse Talks, a platform that models learning through story sharing, and together with a group of BYU students, “Peace Making Provo” was formed.
We’ve learned people’s hearts are good, and if we aren’t proximate to people with different opinions, it’s much easier to make assumptions or to live in fear of one another. When presented an opportunity to engage with someone who we don’t agree with, we can identify gaps within our thinking we may have never noticed before.
What safeguards (if any) do you have in place to promote peace while bringing different people together?
We ask our speakers to prepare a message on why they hold the beliefs that they do, and how they exist as a peacemaker. We also ask them to converse with the other speaker in preparing their messages, to drive unity even prior to the event. Together, they choose a mutual cause that is doing “good” for us to donate any proceeds to after the event. Their preparation causes reflection on times when they really have been a peace maker in their lives, and times when maybe they didn’t accomplish this.
About Alex & Carter Haight
Alex & Carter are from Orange County, CA. After meeting in high school, they reconnected in 2023 and recently got married. They’ve spent their last few years at BYU studying Sociology, and Business Strategy respectively. Alex and Carter seek to create a world that is more united, and are hoping to do that in their current community of Provo, UT. They’re inspired by their love for their families, who have shown them the importance of advocacy, and kindness.
Peacemaking Beat
Leading as a peacemaker requires asking good questions that help us understand others and open the door to growth and transformation. Check out the following projects, led by powerful questions.
What is it like being young in America?
The Culture of Encounter at Georgetown University invited radio show host Krista Tippet to join in a conversation on how America’s generations misunderstand each other. We’ll share the video when its posted!How do we engage faith communities in our neighborhood?
In Logan, Utah, the Cache Valley Interfaith Open House invited faith communities to open their doors to the public for two days to learn about their beliefs and practices.What happens when self-preservation competes with collective preservation?
Also in Logan, Utah State University’s Heravi Peace Institute hosted a Dangerous Love workshop with USU Professor Chad Ford. Chad’s concept of dangerous love emphasizes us-preservation over self-preservation.How do I bring curiosity to my conversations?
The Institute for Multipartisan Education hosted a Thriving in Thanksgiving Conversation workshop on approaching disagreement with curiosity and difficult conversations during the holidays.
Can politicians across the aisle disagree productively?
The Wheatley Institute and others hosted current and former Colorado governors for a conversation.