During one of his early semesters at Johns Hopkins, Aron Einbinder recalls a discussion about healthcare policy that “immediately became… combative, like within a minute.” It escalated so quickly that he saw no point in continuing the conversation. “I ended up walking away because I didn’t think we were going to get anywhere,” he says. Later, he realized how much that moment mattered. “I wish I had been better at trying to find some common ground,” he admits, recognizing that how we handle disagreements can either shut down dialogue or create opportunities for mutual understanding. This realization sparked his journey from dodging conflict to seeking collaboration.
Aron began to see a new path forward when he discovered courses designed to turn polarizing debates into productive conversations. Intrigued by the SNF Agora Institute’s focus on civic engagement, he signed up for moral and political economy classes. During lectures and group discussions, he realized that people’s personal experiences often shape their worldviews as much as – if not more than – the evidence for or against them. This understanding of diverse perspectives taught him that taking a moment to understand what drives others’ positions can diffuse tension over disagreement before it starts.
Hoping to test this understanding in a real setting, Aron volunteered for a local city council campaign. He remembers initially feeling nervous, especially since “most doors you knock on don’t open.” Yet even with the low response rate, he found that a handful of in-depth conversations could reveal what people cared about. By beginning each exchange with, “What is an issue that matters to you and that you would like to see changed?” he invited neighbors to speak from the heart and share everyday worries they faced. Often, they brought up unglamorous yet urgent problems like missing speed bumps or a lack of after-school programs, teaching Aron another lesson: what people care about in their daily lives is often different than what others shout about online.
The more he talked to residents, the more Aron saw signs of shared purpose, and the power of surfacing that. “Finding shared values or opinions is helpful because it allows everyone to notice that they might be aiming for the same result—like safer neighborhoods—even if they disagree on the path to get there.” This emphasis on shared values fosters a sense of connection and unity, helping to avoid the anger he had felt during that combative campus debate. Instead of focusing on clashes, he emphasized solutions that resonated with everyone’s core needs.
Aron’s sense of possibility grew further after attending a global poverty conference. Surrounded by faculty, activists, and researchers, he watched them collaborate on large-scale ideas and recognized that no single person can fix every problem alone. However, united efforts can make a genuine impact. This experience showed him that academic insights gain real power when applied to community challenges in practical ways.
As Aron reflects on his progress, he points to one lesson that stands out both in class and in the field.
“If you’re not willing to have your mind changed to some extent,” he says, “it’s hard to have a productive conversation.”
He also remains convinced that “you can only control your own approach,” meaning it takes genuine openness—and sometimes courage—to keep a dialogue on track. Nowadays, whether he’s canvassing in a neighborhood or engaging in campus discussions, he relies on the tools he developed through SNF Agora: curiosity, mutual respect, and a commitment to building bridges where there used to be walls.
