04/30/2026
🌍 New data from reveals a powerful truth: you don't have to choose between safety and open dialogue — if you build belonging first.
In a world that feels increasingly fractured, I-House's latest Engaging Across Difference survey of 120+ residents from 70+ countries shows what intentional community design can do:
✅ 90% feel a strong sense of belonging
✅ 68% feel safe sharing views even when others disagree
✅ 93% say I-House actively supports open dialogue
✅ 88% say they've grown in listening to and engaging with people different from them
And yet — the outside world is having a real impact. 83% of respondents say current public conversations about immigration, global conflict, and US regulations have affected how safe or welcome they feel expressing themselves. Students are navigating a "quiet undercurrent of fear" — but within I-House, they're doing it together.
Students overwhelmingly favor engagement over disruption, with the vast majority supporting peaceful protest and dialogue, while virtually no respondents endorsed tactics like shouting down speakers or using force.
The takeaway? Students aren't asking for fewer conversations — they're asking for better ones. Ones built on trust, support, and a genuine commitment to understanding.
Nearly a century in, the I-House model is still proving it works. 🏛️
🔗 Read the full findings: https://ihouse.berkeley.edu/news/engaging-across-difference-survey
