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.