Started by StoryCorps in 2021, OSS has become a national effort where thousands of people from all 50 states have participated through events, activities, and recorded interviews. Visit the OSS website FAQ here. 

One Small Step (OSS) DIY is a resource hub for people to bring OSS into their own communities. Whether you are a librarian, student, faith leader, or a community member wanting to encourage connection, OSS DIY is your one-stop-shop for everything you need. 

Through our OSS DIY site, you can learn about the OSS approach, sign up for your own one-to-one conversation, and start your own programs wherever you live—no large budgets or teams required.

You can sign up for a free, virtual conversation at takeonesmallstep.org. Simply enter your zip code underneath “Sign up for a conversation” and click “Go.” 

From there, our One Small Step Connect platform will walk you through a few questions—this part will only take 10 minutes. 

Once you submit your responses, our system will send you a few potential matches, and you can choose who you would like to connect with. Then, you and your conversation partner will have your one-to-one video call. 

No prior knowledge or experience is required to sign up, and we will provide plenty of guidance along the way.

Our DIY site is full of One Small Step (OSS) program ideas, toolkits, and resources to help you Bring It To Your Community. All our resources are free to download and can be customized to fit your specific community’s needs.

Whether you want to guide OSS activities (e.g., lead conversations, direct participants through OSS programs) or plan OSS activities (e.g., manage logistics, organize events, market programs), we have you covered.

TIP: Think about your specific community. What community events, collaborative projects, physical and digital spaces, etc. already exist that you could simply add OSS programming to? Check out our Planning Worksheet to get started.

All our One Small Step (OSS) program toolkits come with detailed descriptions and tips for how to apply each program to your community, including the steps involved and budget considerations. We have provided thorough guidance to save you as much time as possible.

Since every community is different, we encourage you to pick and choose the programs—or parts of programs—that are most likely to resonate and that suit your space, staff time, and community goals. We have purposefully provided a variety of program ideas requiring different levels of time commitment and budget so you can choose what fits and make it your own!

For those who want to be a Guide and help lead One Small Step (OSS) conversations, visit the Guide OSS Activities section of our DIY site. 

You will learn:

• Tips for taking care of yourself as a Guide

• The most important tools you can use as a Guide

• How to set the tone and ask great questions

• How to prepare for tricky moments

To date, thousands of people from all 50 states have participated in One Small Step (OSS) programs. Check out our Case Studies page for examples of communities that have successfully brought OSS to their own neighborhoods. 

A recent survey found that “people who are aware of OSS are more hopeful, report less division, and are more likely to respect, and feel respected by, people who have different beliefs.” Head over to our Research page to discover the impact OSS can have on your community. 

One Small Step (OSS) is for everyone. Our programs have been used nationally in towns, libraries, college campuses, radio stations, faith communities, and more. We have also seen a huge range of participants, including teens, seniors, veterans, newcomers, and other civic groups. If you are a human interested in connecting with other humans through stories, OSS is for you.

Start where you are—all it takes is one small step. 

• Want to understand OSS and how it works? Visit Learn the Basics.

• Want to sign up for your own one-to-one conversation? Try It Yourself.

• Want to use our resources to share OSS with your community? Visit Bring It To Your Community and Toolkits to adapt for your community.
  • A few places you can start:
    • Display a question prompt or response board
    • Add OSS cards to existing groups (e.g., book clubs, events)
    • Host a passive reflection table or conversation station
    • Print and distribute card decks for participants to take home

We are in process with creating a community forum on this site to connect with others learning and testing their own OSS programs. Stay tuned!

StoryCorps was founded in 2003 with a mission to preserve and share humanity’s stories to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. StoryCorps has given over 700,000 people the chance to record interviews about their lives and preserve their conversations at the Library of Congress. Learn more at storycorps.org. 

One Small Step (OSS) was launched in 2021 and remains one of StoryCorps’ most important programs, bringing people with different views together through meaningful one-to-one conversations and activities.

We’re here to help! You can reach out to our One Small Step (OSS) team anytime for support and ideas. Just email us at [email protected], and we will get back to you as soon as possible.