Founder and CEO of the Listen First Project, Pearce Godwin
We all know that social media can be a gift and a curse. It can allow us to connect with people across the world, share ideas, and find allies for some of our most pressing issues. But with any amazing tech tool, there is always a down side. For so many of us, social media can misconstrue our words and values, and often drive a wedge between us and the people we love.
Pearce Godwin has a solution for that uncomfortable space that we often find ourselves in. Godwin, an NC native created the Listen First Project, ‘a movement to mend our frayed social fabric by building relationships and bridging divides one conversation at a time’. Realizing that all too often our current climate prompts us to withdraw from conversations instead of engaging in them, Pearce realized that change needed to take place. His Listen First Project has been endorsed by major thought leaders and community activists across the country. Substantial has had the honor of not only having an insightful conversation with Godwin, but also creating a 4-part series focused on voting, civil dialogue, racial equity, and community led change.
The interactive and dialogue driven series comes on the heels of one of the most polarizing periods in our history – the 2020 Presidential Election. The grassroots atmosphere of the Substantial audience prompted President Greg Hedgepeth to create an environment where listeners could tune in, express their views, and listen to community leaders with experience in the areas of social and civic engagement, racial equity, and voting. A Substantial Point Of A View provides an unapologetic safe space for people to have meaningful dialogue and engage in purposeful conversations.
