Friday evening saw an unlikely group gather at the Tom Stafford Museum for a night of conversation and compassion across social, political and generational lines.
The event was hosted by The Caravan, an organization that originated in Los Angeles, California, for the purpose of uniting Americans during a time of tension and divisiveness.
“We are bringing people together across differences to have courageous conversations to hopefully create better understanding,” The Caravan founder Ben Caron said. “The idea for this project began during the 2016 election, when I watched as Americans began to speak about our fellow citizens with increasing anger, contempt and distrust.”
Since his initial idea for the project in 2016, Caron has raised funding for the organization and educated himself on how to unite differing people groups.
The Caravan hosted a six-week online experience last year, but this is the first year for a crosscountry road trip where volunteers from across the nation have come together to encourage community and unity from differing people groups.
Friday’s event began with introductions from those in attendance, and then the group had time for a quick walk through the museum. Caron emphasized the relevance of meeting in the Tom Stafford Museum by highlighting the unlikely friendship between United States astronaut Tom Stafford and Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov. The two shared a handshake in space during a period of tension and distrust between the United States and the Soviet Union.
“It’s not that unlike what we’re experiencing in our country now,” Caron said before escorting the group to dinner, a three-course meal prepared by an L.A. chef.
During the meal, the group was divided into pairs based on each person’s responses to a previously answered survey. Conservatives were matched with liberals; the young conversed with the old; and immigrants shared their cultures with the native citizens. All conversations were facilitated by The Caravan, and many unexpected friendships had formed by the end of the night.
Weatherford was just one of 19 stops on this ongoing tour, and Mayor Mike Brown was glad the community could be a host for the organization.
“Anytime you can get different perspectives in a calm setting, finding common ground—it’s a plus,” Mayor Brown said as the evening came to a close “I didn’t have any reservations and I’m glad I came. I thought it was great. The food was great, and the conversations were great. I would certainly do it again, and I would invite more people to do it.”
“We loved visiting Weatherford and we hope we can return again next year to continue to build relationships with you all and to expand the scope of our bridgebuilding across differences,” Caron said.
If all goes according to plan, The Caravan will return to the same cities each summer for the next five years. Weatherford community members who missed out on this free and eye-opening event can make plans to attend next year and foster a new set of friendships.