Annual Heart of America Survey Portrays a Nation Seeking Unity

The National Collaborative for Health Equity (NCHE) recently conducted our 3rd Annual Heart of America Survey. This opinion poll offers a unique and robust counter-narrative to the prevailing cynicism and pessimism that dominate communication channels and public discourse.  The nationally representative survey paints a distinct picture, diverging from the divisiveness prevalent on the internet, social media, and partisan news outlets.

The survey revealed a strong and growing desire for unity, empathy, and racial healing nationwide. The complete poll results are here.

Notably, the responses to the immigration issue revealed a significant disparity between disruptive government practices that instill fear and trepidation and the public’s fervent longing for peace and civility. The results reflect the heartfelt sentiments of everyday Americans, who seek good jobs, fair wages, and low inflation as they raise their families and pursue the American dream.

Burson, our polling firm, conducted 1301 online interviews with adults from May 30 to June 9. A powerful consensus emerged: 73 percent of Americans agree that all immigrants, regardless of legal status, should be guaranteed due process. The steadfast commitment to justice and fairness transcends partisan politics—88 percent of Democrats, 80 percent of Republicans, and 83 percent of Americans agree This stark contrast between public sentiment and government actions underscores the urgent need for the two to be more aligned.

A growing majority (63 percent, up from 57 percent in 2024) of respondents view immigration as a source of strength for the United States.  Seventy-seven percent of poll respondents acknowledge immigrants’ vital contributions to the American economy.  This also exemplifies that, too often throughout our nation, public opinion points in one direction, but government policies and practices do not comport with the priorities and needs expressed by the people.  This is further illustrated by our poll results that address diversity.

Despite Executive Orders that suppress authentic expressions of our diverse and complex racial and ethnic struggles past and present, our poll reveals that the American public desires a different path—one that fosters equitable opportunities and a strong, growing passion for unity, empathy, and racial healing across the nation. This desire for unity and empathy offers a hopeful vision for the future, where these values can help bridge political and social divides.

An overwhelming 78 percent of Americans acknowledge the importance of promoting diversity in the workplace, and 83 percent believe it’s critical to educate children on the history of race and racism.  These findings have been consistent for the last three years.  Forty-seven percent of respondents acknowledge that inequality is systemic, and certain groups face inherent disadvantages regardless of their efforts. This growing awareness of structural inequities underscores a collective will to address these foundational issues, inspiring hope for a more equitable future.

Domestic terrorism is a growing threat during these turbulent times.  In sharp contrast, our Heart of America Poll revealed an overwhelming hunger for human connection and trust, with 87 percent of Americans eager to feel they belong, are connected, and trust each other again (a significant increase from 78 percent in 2023).  A remarkable 90 percent agree on the critical need for new ways and words to foster respectful dialogue and empathy, highlighting a collective yearning to overcome entrenched political and social divides.

Now in its third year, let’s revisit why NCHE created the Heart of America Poll.  Recognizing the profound connection between chronic fear, stress, and overall health, as well as the role that the national discourse plays in shaping them, we sought to create a more authentic narrative about the actual priorities, emotional desires, and aspirations of the broader population.  We believe accurate and truthful assessments can yield conversations, policies, and practices that address actualproblems and concerns, rather than those manufactured or created through crass manipulation, ultimately leading to improved health. For instance, NCHE believes the best way to overcome bigotry and hatred is to reveal how small it is in terms of the general population.  The survey showed positive signs that the nation is eager to heal, with 52 percent of respondents feeling a strong sense of community in their neighborhood, up from 43 percent in 2023.

The contrasts between the authentic narratives disclosed by the Heart of America Poll and government policies and practices raise significant questions: Can America have a healthy democracy when public policies do not track with public opinion, and in some cases seem to careen in opposite directions?  Is a resounding Call to Action required to move public opinion and public sector leadership into closer alignment, and would that effectively lower the temperature on the heated discourse on a wide range of issues?

To be sure, we will learn the answers in the coming months, years, and decades as events unfold.  

What’s clear is that kinetic energy emanates from the survey results, generating positivity and envisioning an America that can overcome divisions and build strength in its unity. This energy must be lifted and celebrated. Then it can become a dominant narrative in America. That’s how we fuel a needed transformation that puts public sector leadership and public opinion on the same track.

Georges C. Benjamin, MD, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, maintained that the poll results are akin to a vote of confidence in the American people, asserting, “The Heart of America Survey results are a breath of fresh air for those of us who believe in the capacity of the American People to come together for the common good. We must promote these results to help change the false narrative that Americans are so divided in our views that we cannot work together to improve our way of life.” 

Lynn Pasquerella, President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, is enthusiastic about how the survey results show the potential for a more aspirational future for today’s college students and the next generation.

“The 3rd Annual Heart of America Survey is an indispensable window into the values, hopes, and concerns shaping our nation today,” she said. “It offers not just data but insights into the American spirit, one rooted in resilience, community, and a shared desire for a more just and equitable future.  Most importantly, it provides a powerful call to action for identifying and supporting leaders who are committed to building authentic relationships across difference, bridging divides, and advancing the work of racial healing in communities across the country.”

Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, said the poll provides the nation with a comprehensive roadmap for building community trust and reflects a hopeful shift toward empathy, equity, respect, and connection — American values that are central to the organization’s mission.

“As many communities continue to face persistent health disparities and systemic barriers, it is encouraging to see a growing consensus on the need for transformative leadership, racial and community healing, and inclusive policies that foster dialogue and bridge-building,” she said. “We stand ready to partner, across sectors, to ensure that these values translate into action and lasting change for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and beyond.”

Furthermore, Phoebe Stein, President of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, envisions how the nation’s 56 humanities councils can play an instrumental role in creating a more cohesive society, which Americans indicated they want in the survey.                                               

“Our nation does have a necessary organizational infrastructure for enhancing our understanding of shared humanity,” Stein said, recognizing the potential role of her network in efforts that affirm a shared humanity across the country.

“This third—and perhaps most revealing—NCHE Heart of America Poll centers, with the power of data, what the work of the nation’s 56 humanities councils addresses every day: an overwhelming hunger for human connection and trust.  Since their founding in the 1970s, nonprofit humanities councils have worked with and in communities to address this yearning for new ways and words to foster respectful dialogue and empathy to address the collective yearning to overcome political and social divides.  The Federation of State Humanities Councils applauds this indispensable research and its role in identifying our shared humanity and a path forward for a stronger civic life in communities.”

As America prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, our annual Heart of America Poll results confirm our interdependence and the desire for greater connection among us, with less divisiveness and a yearning to heal the wounds of the past. These results issue a clarion call for intentional work that affirms human dignity and helps to unite us for a common purpose.