Composite image of some of the participants in the Maine Trust Project.

The Maine Trust Project

In our mistrust-filled world full of political contention and both fake and devastating news, mustering the courage to have authentic conversations with people can be a challenge. Finding common ground and engaging in civil discourse about important issues facing our communities, our state, our country and our world can seem elusive, if not sadly impossible.

This concerning state of affairs prompted the newsroom to examine the concept of trust. In this series, we sat down once a month with a Maine resident to discuss this precious commodity. The project revealed which people and institutions Mainers trust and how the concept of trust drives their thought processes and actions.

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Michael Burman in a science lab

Defining how our brains help us trust

The experiences our brains have of the world — from the womb through early childhood — and our interactions with caregivers shape the patterns our minds build to figure out who and what can be trusted.
Composite image of some of the participants in the Maine Trust Project.

Trusting & Believing

Despite our divisive times, Mainers see trust, respect and community binding us together. Each month for the past year, I sat down with Maine residents to discuss the precious commodity of trust. Here's what I discovered.