One of the goals of This I Believe is to facilitate a higher standard of active public discourse by inspiring people to reflect, encouraging them to share, and engaging them in a conversation about personal values and beliefs that can shape a life, a community, and a society. By inviting Americans of diverse backgrounds to participate in the series, we hope to create a picture of the American spirit in all its rich complexity.
And writing a This I Believe essay is just the first step.
We hope people will come together to discuss their essays in a respectful manner in the classroom, in book clubs, in places of worship, and other public spaces. To help you do this in your community, we offer the following tools:
Discussion Guide
This guide can help you engage a group of people in a moderated conversation about belief and values. It is appropriate for use in classrooms, civic clubs, libraries, senior centers, coffee shops, and other public venues suitable for respectful discussion. Contents include ground rules for structuring a dialogue, questions to launch the conversation, and tips for writing and sharing essays.
This guide is available for a small donation to This I Believe, along with several other documents that have been prepared for educators and houses of worship.
Brochure and Poster
Help spread the word about This I Believe. Download this free brochure and poster to promote the project and related activities happening in your community. The three-page brochure measures 8.5 by 11 inches. The poster measures 11 inches by 17 inches. Both documents are best printed in color. For best results, these documents may be printed at your local print shop.
- Download the Brochure (Requires Adobe Acrobat)
- Download the Poster (Requires Adobe Acrobat)
Contact Us
Our staff is available to assist you with specific questions about bringing This I Believe to your community. Plus, we want to hear how you are using these materials.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to our Motherhood Bouquet project to honor the roles mothers play in our lives. Thanks to Steve Ramsay, Margaret Rosenson, michael taylor, Jeanene MacLean, Shari Larson, Joseph Swain, Renee Hudson, Lisa Palczewski, Kristen D. Allaire, Melissa Dinsmore, Elazabeth Van Sant, Bennet Goldstein and Mary Jo Gediman.
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For Jessica Paris, “just say no” is more than a slogan from the 1980s. It’s a credo that gives her the freedom to discover the things she truly wants to experience in life instead of succumbing to the instant gratification pushed by so much marketing. 
