It's TED Talks Daily. I'm Elise Hugh.

We're in the midst of the most divided times in American history, and arguably in many other places around the world.

Those on opposite sides of the political divides seem to exist in different realities.

Even still, finding common ground is possible.

In today's talk from TEDx Berkeley in 2020, social entrepreneur Nisha Anand shares how

she learned to build bridges over years of hard work.

It's not easy.

But the framework she sets up includes a few first steps.

In 1994, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act passed.

You probably know it is the crime bill.

It was a terrible law.

It ushered in an era of mass incarceration that allowed mandatory minimums, three strikes laws, the expansion

of the death penalty. It was terrible, but it passed with bipartisan support. Gop House Speaker

Newt Gingrich, architect of the Republican Revolution, led the way, signed into law by Democratic

President Bill Clinton.

Also in 1994, I was a senior in high school when this bill got passed,

and you were likely to find me on the streets protesting any number of causes,

including the crime bill.

New was not on the top of my favorite person in this country list.

This was the start of a movement that would pass a bill called the First Step Act. The New York Times called it the most significant reform

in criminal justice in a generation. This is what I'm here to talk to you about today. This is

radical common ground. And I'm not talking about the kind of common ground where, you know,

...