OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION

LAST YEAR, INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. RENAMED THE ORGANIZATION AND REBRANDED TO THE OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION TO ENGAGE BROADER AUDIENCES IN THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO ADDRESS EXTREME POLARIZATION THROUGH DEBATE. IN ADDITION TO REPOSITIONING THE ORGANIZATION IN THE MARKET WITH A MORE ACCESSIBLE NAME, OPEN TO DEBATE PRODUCES A WEEKLY SERIES OF PROVOCATIVE AND INFORMATIVE DEBATES ONLINE AND AT LIVE VENUES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THE GOALS OF THIS INITIATIVE ARE (1) TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON OUR MOST DIVISIVE ISSUES, (2) TO PROVIDE A WEEKLY FORUM FOR INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION, GROUNDED IN CIVIL DIALOGUE, FACTS AND INFORMED BY REASONED ANALYSIS, (3) TO TRANSCEND THE TOXICALLY EMOTIONAL AND THE REFLEXIVELY IDEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS THAT ARE DIVIDING AMERICANS, (4) TO ENCOURAGE RECOGNITION THAT UNDERSTANDING OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS IS WHAT CAN BUILD EMPATHY AND BRIDGE THE DIVIDE, AND (5) TO ENGAGE AMERICAN CITIZENS AS ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN FAIR AND BALANCE DEBATE.