A woman named Amanda Otero, holding a clipboard, inquired of Hoch whether she intended to support a proposal to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety. Hoch promptly responded with a firm no. Despite this, she welcomed the conversation as a distraction and engaged in a chat with Otero for almost 20 minutes. Hoch, aged 35, expressed her belief that the proposed change would ultimately lead to failure. "She believed that it lacked sufficient substance. However, she also expressed concerns about the police, citing instances of mistreatment towards people she knew. Otero felt that they held similar values. Hoch expressed frustration, stating that something was hindering real change. Otero, the deputy director of TakeAction Minnesota, was attentive as she both spoke and listened." She eventually inquired where Hoch would place herself on a scale of 1 to 10 in support of the ballot measure, with 10 being completely in favor. Initially, Hoch identified as a three, but later adjusted her self-assessment to a five. This method of deep canvassing involves engaging voters in conversations about their personal experiences and emotions rather than relying on scripted talking points or pamphlets. The ultimate objective is to not only secure support for a particular policy in the short term, but also to influence voters' long-term perspectives and opinions beyond a single election or issue. In Minneapolis, the goal is not only to build support for the charter amendment that would change the police department, but also to challenge voters to reconsider what law enforcement should look like in the country, especially in the city where Derek Chauvin, a former police officer, was convicted of murdering George Floyd, a Black man whose death sparked a protest movement for racial justice. Deep canvassing, in contrast to modern campaign tactics like mass texting and social media posts, involves engaging in meaningful conversations with voters to exchange personal stories and foster empathy for differing viewpoints. While most campaigns focus on engaging those who already agree with them, deep canvassing aims to reach out to those whose minds need to be changed in order to support a particular policy or candidate, akin to a "slow food movement" in activist circles. Before splitting into groups and heading out to speak with residents about a Minneapolis ballot measure on Oct 10, 2021, canvassers are given a briefing. The purpose of deep canvassing, according to organizers, is to engage in longer conversations with voters and focus on persuading those who are undecided. This approach is seen as a crucial test case for bringing deep canvassing to communities nationwide, with the goal of training thousands of individuals to engage in conversations with those who hold differing views in order to not only win them over on policy issues but also to help rebuild trust in democracy among voters. Organizers use deep canvassing to engage in longer conversations with voters, focusing on those who may need convincing. The New Conversation Initiative, led by Steve Deline, has utilized deep canvassing on various issues to allow people to share their thoughts and feelings in a relatable and human way. In a divided political climate, proponents believe deep canvassing can persuade individuals who have not yet embraced progressive changes on topics like immigration, transgender rights, and policing. These conversations, which can last up to half an hour, aim to leave both the canvasser and the voter feeling more open and disarmed. George Goehl of People's Action highlights the power of progressives in driving national dialogue on important issues. However, in order to successfully complete a task, it is crucial to engage in discussions with individuals who have differing opinions. The process is both time-consuming and costly, as training canvassers requires a significant amount of time. The majority of voters do not even respond to door-to-door visits, and those who strongly oppose may be hesitant to engage with a stranger. In Minneapolis, a team of 60 volunteers and staff members have only reached 2,400 voters after attempting to visit 6,900 homes and making 49,000 phone calls in a city of 2.9 million people. Despite the challenges, this method of persuasion has proven to be effective. In 2009, gay-rights advocates in California were the first to use deep canvassing, a political tactic that involves engaging voters in conversations to change their attitudes. Three years later, advocates in Minnesota successfully used deep canvassing to defeat a ballot measure banning same-sex marriage. This tactic has mainly been employed by left-wing activists. A study in 2016 by researchers at University of California, Berkeley and Yale showed that deep canvassing in Miami and Los Angeles influenced some voters' views on transgender rights by encouraging them to reflect on their own experiences with discrimination. Canvassers with Take Action Minnesota are currently preparing to discuss a Minneapolis ballot measure on Oct 10, 2021. Take Action Minnesota has implemented deep canvassing as a strategy to interact with voters while going door-to-door. Goehl's organization also utilized deep canvassing over the phone to persuade rural white voters in swing states to support Joe Biden in the 2020 election, with an internal analysis demonstrating its effectiveness compared to traditional canvassing methods. Canvassers from Take Action Minnesota are seen preparing to discuss a Minneapolis ballot measure on October 10, 2021. This year, supporters of a charter amendment in Minneapolis, who believe that Black individuals are unfairly targeted by law enforcement, have adopted deep canvassing to engage voters in conversations about racism and the campaign for police reform, which opponents have simplified to the controversial term "defunding the police." Changing attitudes about race requires genuine human interaction, where people listen to understand rather than just to agree. There are no quick fixes to this issue, but it is essential to have meaningful conversations. Despite lengthy discussions on policing, racism was not addressed in recent training sessions or voter interactions. Many white voters expressed a preference for a measure if they knew it had support from Black voters. It was only when leaving a white voter's home that a canvasser noticed a Black Lives Matter sign in the window. Maybe she had missed an opportunity, but she was pleasantly surprised when a woman on the porch next door waved her over. The woman also had a Black Lives Matter sign and a sign that said "love" in various languages displayed at the front of her house. Mary Scavotto introduced herself and mentioned that it was her birthday. Otero declined a piece of cake and began her scripted conversation politely. Scavotto was aware of the charter amendment. She expressed her concern about the idea of completely changing things without a plan in place. Having lived on the block for almost two decades, she mentioned that she would leave Minneapolis if the measure was approved. She referenced a gas station that burned down the previous summer as an example of the potential consequences. She remembered how she and her neighbors made sure to remove anything from their porch that could be stolen and used to harm their homes. She mentioned that they were prepared to leave at a moment's notice with their bags packed and gas in their tank. She expressed concern about the decrease in police presence and its impact on safety, stating that she no longer feels comfortable letting her kids out after dark. Otero agreed, stating that more police funding has not increased feelings of safety. She also shared her younger brother's mental health challenges and her own mixed feelings about law enforcement. Otero, a Latina woman, questioned whether she wanted the police to catch her brother in order for him to receive help, but she also expressed concerns about him getting a criminal record and whether he would actually receive the help he needs. She also shared her fear for her immigrant husband driving in Minneapolis. Scavotto, a white woman, acknowledged the lack of safety people of color feel with the police and agreed that reform is necessary. Otero expressed hope that more conversations like this would bring about greater clarity on the issue. "What would be needed in Minneapolis for us to unite, regardless of age, race, class, and life experience?" she inquired, acknowledging the community's struggle after a year of trauma. "That's the difficult question," Scavotto responded, laughing nervously. "I'm having trouble getting along with my siblings." Reflecting on their discussion days later, Scavotto mentioned being kept awake by it and noted Otero's attentive listening. She committed to attending local forums to gain a deeper understanding of the charter amendment. She stated that she would not alter her vote at the moment, but mentioned that she is more willing to consider it.