A woman named Amanda Otero, holding a clipboard, approached Hoch and inquired if she intended to support a ballot measure replacing the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety. Hoch promptly replied that she would not. However, she welcomed the conversation as a distraction and they ended up chatting for almost 20 minutes. Hoch, aged 35, expressed her belief that the proposed change was setting up something positive to ultimately fail. "It lacks sufficient substance," she commented. She was also critical of law enforcement, having known individuals who had experienced mistreatment. Otero felt that they both held similar values. Hoch expressed frustration that something was hindering genuine progress. Otero, the deputy director of TakeAction Minnesota, was an attentive listener as well as a speaker. In the end, she inquired about where Hoch would place herself on a scale of 1 to 10 in favor of the ballot measure, with 10 indicating full support. Hoch initially identified as a three, but later changed her stance to a five. This exemplified the effectiveness of deep canvassing, which involves engaging voters in discussions about their personal experiences and emotions rather than simply providing them with information or materials. The ultimate objective is to not only garner support for a particular policy, but also to influence long-term mindset shifts rather than just focusing on one election or issue. In Minneapolis, efforts are being made to not only gather support for the charter amendment that would change the police department, but also to encourage voters to reconsider the concept of law enforcement, particularly in a city where Derek Chauvin, a former police officer, was convicted of murdering George Floyd, a Black man whose death sparked a movement for racial justice. Deep canvassing, which involves exchanging personal stories and building empathy with those who hold different views, is seen as a slower and more thoughtful approach to political engagement compared to modern campaign strategies like mass texting and social media posts. While many campaigns focus on reaching out to like-minded individuals, deep canvassing seeks to engage with and potentially change the minds of those who may not initially support a particular policy or candidate. Before going out to speak with residents about a Minneapolis ballot measure on Oct 10, 2021, canvassers are given a briefing and split into groups. The focus of deep canvassing is to engage in longer conversations with voters, particularly those who may need convincing. Minneapolis is seen as a key location for testing deep canvassing, as organizers hope to train thousands of people to engage in dialogue with those who hold different views in order to not only sway opinions on policy, but also to rebuild trust in democracy among voters. Organizers use deep canvassing to engage in longer conversations with voters, particularly those who may need convincing. The New Conversation Initiative, led by Steve Deline, focuses on issues like climate, immigration, and jail reform by allowing people to share their thoughts and experiences in a relatable and human way. Advocates believe that in a divided society, deep canvassing can effectively persuade individuals who have not yet embraced progressive changes on various issues. Conversations during door-to-door visits can last up to thirty minutes and often result in both the canvasser and the voter feeling more open and disarmed. George Goehl, director of People's Action, sees progressives as having the ability to introduce significant ideas into national discussions like never before. In order to successfully complete a task, it is essential to engage in conversations with individuals who have differing viewpoints. This type of work is both time-consuming and costly, as training canvassers requires a significant amount of time. The majority of voters do not answer their doors, and those who strongly disagree are often reluctant to engage with strangers. Despite these challenges, in a city like Minneapolis with a population of 2.9 million, a small group of 60 volunteers and staff members have managed to reach 2,400 voters through door-to-door visits and phone calls. Despite the difficulty, this method of persuasion has proven to be successful. In 2009, gay-rights advocates in California pioneered the use of deep canvassing after the state banned same-sex marriage. Three years later, advocates in Minnesota successfully used deep canvassing to defeat a similar ballot measure. This political tactic has mainly been utilized by left-leaning activists. A study in 2016 by researchers at University of California, Berkeley and Yale showed that deep canvassing in Miami and Los Angeles was effective in changing the attitudes of some voters who were hesitant to support transgender rights, by encouraging them to reflect on their own experiences with discrimination. Take Action Minnesota canvassers are currently preparing to engage with residents about a Minneapolis ballot measure on Oct 10, 2021. Take Action Minnesota has implemented deep canvassing as a method to connect with voters while going door-to-door. Goehl's organization also utilized deep canvassing over the phone to try to sway rural white voters in swing states for Joe Biden in 2020, with an internal study revealing its effectiveness compared to traditional canvassing. Canvassers from Take Action Minnesota are gearing up to discuss a Minneapolis ballot measure with residents on October 10, 2021. This year, supporters of the charter amendment in Minneapolis, who argue that Black residents face unfair police targeting, have turned to deep canvassing to first engage voters on racism and then on the call for law enforcement reform, which opponents have simplified to "defunding the police." Changing people's attitudes about race requires genuine human interaction, where individuals listen to understand rather than just to agree. This process is difficult and cannot be rushed, but it is necessary for progress. Despite lengthy conversations about issues like policing, racism often goes unaddressed. During observations of training sessions and voter interactions, racism was not directly mentioned. Interestingly, some white voters indicated they would be more inclined to support certain measures if they knew they had the backing of Black voters. It was only after leaving a white voter's home that it was noticed they supported the Black Lives Matter movement. Maybe she had overlooked an opportunity. However, a pleasant surprise occurred when a woman sitting on the neighboring porch beckoned her over. This woman also had a Black Lives Matter sign displayed in front of her house, as well as a sign with the word "love" written in various languages. Mary Scavotto introduced herself and mentioned that it was her birthday. Otero declined a slice of cake politely and proceeded to begin her presentation. Scavotto had definitely heard about the charter amendment. She expressed her concerns about the idea of completely changing everything without a plan. Having lived on the block for almost two decades, she mentioned that she would consider moving out of Minneapolis if the measure was approved. Scavotto also referenced a gas station that had burned down the previous summer. 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 being prepared to leave at a moment's notice with bags packed and gas in the tank. She expressed concern about the impact of reduced police presence on safety, stating that she now hesitates to let her children 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 mixed feelings about law enforcement. Otero, a Latina woman, expressed her dilemma about whether she wants the police to catch her brother in order to get him help, but worries about him having a criminal record and if he would actually receive the help he needs. She also shared her fear for her immigrant husband from Nicaragua driving in Minneapolis. Scavotto, a white woman, listened with empathy and acknowledged the lack of safety people of color feel with the police, recognizing the need for reform. Otero expressed hope that more discussions like this would bring about greater understanding and change. She inquired about what it would take for the people of Minneapolis to unite across age, race, class, and life experiences, especially after a year of trauma. Scavotto responded that it was a difficult question to answer, jokingly mentioning her struggles to get along with her siblings. Reflecting on their conversation later, Scavotto noted how Otero had listened more than she had spoken and committed to attending local forums to gain a better understanding of the charter amendment. She stated that she would not alter her vote at the moment, but mentioned that she is now more willing to consider it.