Hands Across the Hills is a dialogue and exchange project founded in the aftermath of the 2016 election when residents of Letcher County, Kentucky and Leverett, Massachusetts came together to understand each other better — to listen closely, to affirm and challenge and learn from each other, and to open up about painful experiences.

We held diverse positions on many issues, yet we also soon learned how much we agreed on. We recognized each other as friends and neighbors. We discovered that we all believe our country is not divided beyond repair. We see this idea, that we are hopelessly divided, as a myth sold to us by politicians and mass media, to hide our nation’s all-too-real inequalities.

In 2023 this project came to a close — after six years, three in-person exchange weekends, two trainings in dialogue across divides, and untold numbers of public discussions, news reports, and media stories.

 

The work of building understanding and collaboration across divides is far from finished. This website will remain available until at least 2026, as a resource for learning more about Hands Across the Hills and doing this kind of work in other communities.