Cortico, working with MIT, helps communities have better conversations by bringing people together in small groups to share stories and listen to each other. In 2025, they held over 2,500 conversations with nearly 9,500 people across schools, cities, and youth programs. Their approach starts with recorded small-group talks where people share personal experiences.
Then they use technology to find patterns in what people said, helping leaders understand community needs better. The program worked with college students on 26 campuses, high schoolers in six cities, and helped Durham, North Carolina use conversations as part of city planning. They also helped youth in Newark research why school doesn't feel connected to their futures.
Cortico believes that in our divided world, genuine listening can create trust and understanding. They're building tools that help turn real conversations into insights that can guide decisions and create positive change. Their work shows how small-group trust can grow into larger public dialogue that includes voices that are often not heard.
The organization continues to develop better ways to help communities listen to each other and work together on solutions.