Crossing Party Lines: New York

4.6•581 ratings

About us

Civil, respectful conversation with people with different political views?

Yes, it is possible. We’re doing it and you can, too.

Crossing Party Lines is YOUR brave space to meet and talk with people you disagree with and may not even understand. You might have fun!

Our events include:

- DISCUSSIONS: We meet as small groups where you can talk to real people about the issues that divide us. Share your unique insights, encounter new perspectives and new ways of looking at the world, and experience what it's like to feel heard and understood.

You'll find that it is possible to disagree in a way that leaves you feeling true to yourself and your beliefs without losing your friends or your cool.

- WORKSHOPS: We teach the skills you need to effectively talk across differences. You will learn ways to foster curiosity and invite listening, acquire strategies for overcoming common communication barriers, and develop the confidence to talk politics with people you know, live, and work with.

- COMMUNITY EVENTS: We’re not just about talking – we’re also about community. We host game nights, screen videos, share books, and offer many other ways of connecting across differences.

At all events, trained facilitators set the tone of the discussion and help the group build trust. Come see what civil, respectful conversation is like. Who knows, you might make friends with someone you disagree with!

More about Crossing Party Lines:

We are a national nonprofit with chapters in eight states. Because we believe that the success of America’s unique democracy relies on the diversity of our viewpoints, we encourage people of all political views and parties to join and participate.

Come learn, explore, practice, and grow with us. Join this grassroots movement and become the change in your community.

Note: Due to COVID, most of our events are online. Unless otherwise stated, events are open to all Crossing Party Lines chapters, giving you a chance to interact with people from all over the country.

Upcoming events

See all

Are Checks and Balances Still Working?
Sun, May 31 · 11:00 PM EDT
·
Online
Online
This event will be held online May 3 at 5pm-7pm PT/8pm-10pm ET

REGISTER HERE!

Because we have been having issues with the correct date/time not showing up on Meetup, we encourage you to register at the link above to receive your Zoom link and confirmation email.

The system of checks and balances is a foundational part of the U.S. government, designed to ensure that no single branch holds too much power. Recent events have made people question whether these checks and balances still can hold. At this meeting, we’ll explore how checks and balances operate today and what they mean for the balance of power in government.

We’ll ask questions such as:
- What’s working with checks and balances, and what aspects aren’t working?
- How has partisan politics affected the ways checks and balances work?
- When, if ever, should one branch have more influence than the others?
- How can we better ensure that each branch maintains independence?
This will be an opportunity to explore different perspectives on how power is shared, limited, and exercised within the U.S. government.
Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.
We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news!

Follow us on:
- Instagram @crossingpartylines
- Twitter @crosspartylines
- Facebook @crossingpartylines
2 attendees
What Role Should History Play in Our Lives Today?
Sun, Jun 7 · 8:00 PM EDT
·
Online
Online
This event will be held online June 7 at 5pm-7pm PT/8pm-10pm ET

REGISTER HERE

Because we have been having issues with the correct date/time not showing up on Meetup, we encourage you to register at the link above to receive your Zoom link and confirmation email.
-----------------------------------------------------------

History is often used to help people understand current events, national identity, and social change, yet people can view the meaning and importance of history very differently. Some see studying history as essential for understanding the present, while others question how much the past should shape today’s decisions and priorities. At this meeting, we’ll explore how people relate to history and what role it plays in our country today.
We’ll ask questions such as:
- What experiences have most shaped the way you think about American history?
- When have you felt that learning about history changed how you understood a current issue or event?
- How do you decide which parts of history feel most important to remember, revisit, or discuss?
- In your own life, how have conversations about history brought people together, created tension, or changed relationships?
This will be an opportunity to explore different perspectives on memory, identity, education, and the role history plays in shaping our communities and national conversations.
Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open, and the doors close, approximately 15 minutes after the hour.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news!
Follow us on:
- Instagram @crossingpartylines
- Twitter @crosspartylines
- Facebook @crossingpartylines
1 attendee
Data Centers: What Are We Really Consuming?
Sun, Jun 14 · 8:00 PM EDT
·
Online
Online
This event will be held online June 14 at 5pm-7pm PT/8pm-10pm ET

REGISTER HERE

Because we have been having issues with the correct date/time not showing up on Meetup, we encourage you to register at the link above to receive your Zoom link and confirmation email.

-------------------------------
Data Centers: What Are We Really Consuming?

As demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, streaming services, and digital storage continues to grow, data centers are becoming an increasingly visible part of communities around the country. Some people see them as essential to economic growth, innovation, and modern life, while others raise questions about energy use, water consumption, land development, and local impact.
In this conversation, we’ll explore how people think about the expanding infrastructure behind the digital world and the tradeoffs it may involve.
Discussion Questions
- When have you become more aware of the physical infrastructure behind the internet or digital technology in your own life?
- How do you think about the tradeoffs involved with data centers? What benefits, costs, risks, or impacts stand out most to you, and why?
- What experiences or values have shaped the way you think about balancing technological growth with environmental or community concerns?
- What kinds of policies or guidelines, if any, would you like to see around the construction of data centers or the growth of artificial intelligence technologies?
- How do you personally think about convenience, innovation, and resource use in your relationship with technology?
- If a large data center were proposed in or near your community, what questions or concerns would matter most to you?
This will be an opportunity to explore different perspectives on technology, infrastructure, resource use, and community priorities in a respectful and curious conversation.
Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.
We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news! Follow us on:
- Instagram @crossingpartylines
- Twitter @crosspartylines
- Facebook @crossingpartylines
1 attendee
CPL Book Club - The Politics of Our Time: Populism, Nationalism, Socialism
Sat, Jun 20 · 8:00 PM EDT
·
Online
Online
This event will be held online June 20 at 2pm-3:30pm PT/5pm-6:30pm ET
REGISTER HERE
Because we have been having issues with the correct date/time not showing up on Meetup, we encourage you to register at the link above to receive your Zoom link and confirmation email.
**************************

![img](https://crossingpartylines.membershiptoolkit.com/assets/08909/Event_Images/June_2026/The_Politics_for_Our_Time.png)

The Politics of Our Time: Populism, Nationalism, Socialism by John B. Judis, 2021, 430 pages
This volume is an indispensable guide to understanding the deeply rooted disenchantment that gave rise to populist parties and politicians on the right and left, and to the global changes that have transformed the politics of our time.
See more details in our Books for Discussion doc, where you can also add book suggestions for future discussions and your names to vote for the books that you'd like to discuss next. The first book that will have the largest number of votes in two weeks will become our next book to discuss!
Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting.
We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news!
Follow us on:
- Instagram @crossingpartylines
- Twitter @crosspartylines
- Facebook @crossingpartylines
1 attendee