Colorado River

Our final R.A.F.T. for America event in 2024 was hosted on the iconic Colorado River in Utah, where fittingly, Spencer Cox and Chris Peterson - as opponents during their 2020 Gubernatorial campaign - helped inspire R.A.F.T. for America by publicly embracing the idea of disagreeing better and promoting respect across the aisle, in spite of their deep political differences.

Participant Stories

Rosie Card  

Rosemary was raised as a conservative Christian. She was attracted to R.A.F.T. for America as an opportunity to spend time with people who "you wouldn't ordinarily cross paths with." Rosemary believes that Americans' root concerns are fairly similar,  and she's very concerned about the way online social engagement can quickly turn toxic.

Rachael Sowydra

Rachel works in the cybersecurity field and describes herself as a progressive liberal who has strong beliefs, but who also wants to listen to and respect other people's beliefs and lifestyles.  She recently moved to Utah from San Francisco to be closer to her boyfriend, who is a Trump supporter. Rachael confessed to being nervous about stepping outside her comfort zone to talk about polarizing topics, but she valued the R.A.F.T. experience and says her greatest hope for America is that we can all respect one another.

Ady Lynn Anderson

Ady, a political science major at Salt Lake Community College, recently moved to Eagle Mountain, Utah, from Lawton, Oklahoma, after her father retired from the military.  Ady has competed nationally and internationally in organizations like the VFW and DAR.  Ady identifies as a Democrat with some conservative ideals.  She enjoys discussing politics, although she recognizes the challenge when others aren't open to dialogue.

Dana Thompson

Dana is an analytics manager for Blue Cross / Blue Shield.  He describes himself as a "non-traditional conservative." He was surprised to find that on the river, people with different opinions and politics turned out to be a lot less contentious than he had imagined they would be.  He is frustrated with how politics has become so rigidly divided, believing that ideas and people don’t fit neatly into partisan boxes. Dana's take-away from the R.A.F.T. experience was that "most people aren't that far away from where you are!"

Louis Ruiz

Louis considers himself politically neutral, and enjoys his time outdoors, in nature.  Climbing is his favorite sport, and he appreciates his two dogs and seven chickens.  Louis thinks of himself as a good listener who gets along with just about everyone.  He believes that a big misperception about conservatives is that they dislike minorities.

Becca Kearl

Becca is adamant about communities coming together over conversation, and she values discovering the diverse experiences and beliefs of the people around her. She is an avid book reader, lover of foreign languages, and passionate about supporting women and families. She believes it's often a misperception that dialogue or "talking about politics" has to be "heavy" and she loved that R.A.F.T. for America gave people with different ideas the opportunity to really hear each other in a refreshing new way.

Kimberly Cline

A recently retired grandmother, Kim wants her grandchildren to enjoy a future that is free, safe, and hopeful.  She enjoys being a person that her nieces and nephews turn to for insight about what's going on in the world.  Kim identifies herself as a strong conservative.  She says it's fine for folks to disagree with her, but "hating me, not so much."  At the river, she expressed concern that there's often partisan intolerance from both sides of the aisle, and that it's keeping us from "getting anything done."  Her greatest hope is that we can all start talking again.

Sylvia Newman

Sylvia is a 59-year-old educator, wife, mom and grandmother. She formerly voted Republican more than Democrat, but recently feels alienated from her party.  Sylvia considers herself easy-going, and able to get along comfortably with other people.  But she says it's difficult to discuss issues when there's no agreement about the facts, and when people on both sides of the aisle are getting their information from mutually exclusive echo chambers.  She concluded her day on the Colorado River with this thought:  "Just talk to people!"

Laura Leavitt

Laura was raised in a "very conservative" household, but now considers herself "left leaning."  She and her parents live close to one another, but now steer clear of political conversations.  Laura worries about autocracy, and the "dismantling of democracy and decency."  She thinks the biggest misperception about democrats is that "we all want bigger government and we are all out to destroy the country."  She believes there are equally harsh stereotypes about conservatives.

News Articles and Videos

The R.A.F.T. Experiment: Turning political turbulence into teamwork

By
Cailley Chella
January 29, 2025
PBS Utah
Moab, Utah

Join Cailley Chella, PBS Utah’s politics reporter, on a trip down the Colorado River with “Reuniting America by Fostering Trust” or R.A.F.T. The non-profit brings people of varying political opinions together to work as a team while navigating difficult political conversations.

Would you want to be stuck on a raft all day talking politics with strangers who disagree with you?  

According to Samantha Moore-Berg, Assistant Professor of Politics at the University of Utah, it can feel demoralizing or even dangerous to engage with those who disagree with us, inhibiting conversation across political divides.  However, studies show that perception of the political divide is worse than the actual division. Engaging with others can be a powerful tool to overcome barriers and realize we might not be as different as we think.

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R.A.F.T.* For America on the Colorado River in Utah

By
Ryan Malavolta
October 7, 2024
Team Democracy
Moab, Utah

In a time when America feels chaotic and divided, participants from diverse backgrounds came together for a R.A.F.T.* for America trip on the Colorado River in Utah. This wasn’t just about whitewater rafting—it was about having real conversations, listening, and discovering shared values. From political moderates to those leaning left or right, everyone found common ground amidst the rapids. Nature set the stage for genuine dialogue, allowing each person to reflect, connect, and challenge their perspectives. It was a powerful reminder that while we may come from different places, we’re all navigating the same river—and we’re better when we paddle together.

*Reuniting America by Fostering Trust

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