"30 for Us" is Breaking Bubbles and Bridging Student Divides (Ep 49)
When former Wall Street banker Adam Mizel decided he could no longer sit on the sidelines watching the country come apart, he took a leap few would imagine—leaving a three-decade financial career to launch US United, a movement dedicated to rebuilding trust and dialogue in America. In this episode of Courageous Conversations About Our Schools, host Ken Futernick talks with Adam about what sparked that transformation and how his work is reshaping how people—and students—connect across divides.
After witnessing the unrest following the murder of George Floyd, Adam met Sheriff Chris Swanson of Flint, Michigan, whose powerful act of empathy during a protest went viral. Their meeting led to the creation of US United and its flagship initiative, “30 for Us,” a monthly event where small groups of Americans—from high school students to business leaders—gather to talk, listen, and find shared values around difficult topics. As Adam explains, the goal isn’t agreement—it’s respect.
The conversation explores how “30 for Us” works in high schools, how it gives students a genuine voice, and why young people may hold the key to rebuilding civic trust. Ken and Adam also reflect on what true unity means—not the absence of disagreement, but the presence of dignity, empathy, and curiosity.
Along the way, they share moving examples: a college discussion that shifted hearts around “redlining,” students using dialogue to address mental-health challenges, and the reminder that “empathy is not endorsement.” Together, they illustrate a simple truth—when people listen to each other’s stories, change becomes possible.
This episode is a hopeful roadmap for educators, parents, and citizens who believe unity begins in our schools, our communities, and within ourselves.
Featured Guest:
Adam Mizel
Adam Mizel's journey from Wall Street to corporate leader to building a grassroots unity movement wasn't exactly planned. After a successful 30-year business career, from Morgan Stanley, to launching private equity firms and hedge funds, to starting and running public and private companies, he found himself screaming at the news during the chaotic days of May 2020. George Floyd had been murdered, the country was in the midst of a pandemic, politicians and pundits amped up the rhetoric and many of us felt that the fabric of the country was ripping apart. At that moment, his wife Taunya delivered the wake-up call: "No one's hearing you if you scream at the TV." That insight sparked his biggest epiphany yet—instead of just making another donation, Adam was going to DO SOMETHING about America's divisions. He did not have a more developed concept than that, but as a serial entrepreneur, Adam was confident he would figure it out.
What happened next surprised even him. Doors started opening in ways they never had during his business career. Through a social justice task force formed with CMO leadership organization PTTOW, he met Ken Nwadike, Jr. (the "Free Hugs Guy"), who in turn introduced him to Sheriff Chris Swanson of Flint, Michigan. Chris made global headlines when 3.2 billion people watched as he and his officers took off their riot gear and marched arm-in-arm with George Floyd protesters on May 30, 2020. Flint was one of the few American cities that did not burn that night. Their instant connection led to the co-founding of US United in 2021 and together they have grown it into a movement for unity that is proving that Americans aren't as divided as politicians and media want us to believe.
Today, US United has built a network of close to 100 sheriffs committed to bringing unity into their communities. They have reached thousands of families across the country through giving events like the Holiday Spectacular, broken people out of their bubbles with a unity pledge and national online conversations called 30 For US, and just completed a summer cross-country road trip documenting real stories of unity happening at the grassroots level. Adam went from yelling at his TV to building a movement that's challenging the narrative about American division by empowering Americans with the tools they need to reunite our country – and inspiring others along the way. One voice is loud, millions are a movement.
Related Content:
US United - Adam Mizel’s website.
30 For US - Sign up to be part of a conversation with other Americans on a provocative topic. You will be placed in an online video group of 5 people from around the country.
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