A “peace entrepreneur” who previously served as a White House Fellow under then-President Barack Obama and assistant commissioner of economic development for Tennessee under then-Gov. Bill Haslam, Ali is also a political science and law research professor at Vanderbilt University.

In the midst of another contentious election season, two Tennesseans from vastly different backgrounds say their friendship is an example of how to bridge our country's deep divides.

State of play: Vanderbilt University law professorSamar Ali, who works to defuse hate and division through her nonprofit Millions of Conversations, recently filmed a TED Talk video with Clint Brewer

With the State of Tennessee as divided as it is, Vanderbilt Law Professor Samar Ali wants to help people with differing views and beliefs establish a peaceful dialogue to achieve progress.

As a peacemaker, my heart aches. Far too many people are justifying violence. This is a frightening place to live. Our children deserve better. Far too many people are dehumanizing entire ethnicities, religions, and genders. Our children deserve better.

As the Israel-Hamas war continues with mounting civilian casualties, many in Nashville are struggling to figure out how to talk about Israel and Palestine and the conflict in Gaza.

On Thursday, over 120 people came together to do just that

Vanderbilt professor Samar Ali is an international conflict resolution expert who works with the U.S. government and the United Nations. She’s also the founding president of Millions of Conversations, which is hosting an interfaith conversation about the war in Gaza later this month.

WPLN’s general assignment reporter Rose Gilbert spoke with Ali about the current conflict — and how we talk about it.