A Des Moines movement wants to improve trust
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A previous Tallgrass Festival at The Shop. Photo: Courtesy of The Lyceum Movement
Trust between people has been declining for decades, but it's gotten even worse over the last five years, a 2025 Pew Research Center report says.
Why it matters: Trust in each other helps build a healthy society, per Pew. People are more likely to work with each other, give their neighbor a helping hand and even repay loans and respect contracts.
Driving the news: Tallgrass Festival, a local two-day event held this month by The Lyceum Movement, is tackling the topic "Who Can We Trust?" through panels, essays and conversations.
- Planned discussion topics include trust in media, religion and government, and include speakers like Elaine Godfrey from The Atlantic and Judge John Sandy of the Iowa Court of Appeals.
State of play: People living in wealthier, college-educated neighborhoods were more trusting of others, in comparison to those who were concerned about poverty and employment in their communities.
- Over the last five years, people who reported less financial well-being said they had more distrust. Increased political polarization and online media consumption may also be contributing to distrust, per Pew.
Zoom in: The Midwest has the highest trust of any region, with 38% saying most people can be trusted, per a survey conducted by Pew between 2023-24.
- 37% of Iowans surveyed said most people can be trusted, falling behind 41% in Minnesota and 44% in Nebraska.
What they're saying: Lyceum Movement director Nathan Beacom believes Midwesterners may be more likely to speak with their neighbors and build community, in comparison to regions with larger cities where people can cordon themselves off.
The intrigue: Trust levels also varied by race and ethnicity: Black (21%) and Latino Americans (23%) expressed more distrust than white (40%) and Asian Americans (38%), per Pew.
The big picture: The Lyceum's goal for the festival is to create conversation, not conflict, Beacom says. People are more likely to trust each other if they venture out and join community groups, even as simple as an arts club or a sporting activity.
What's next: The festival is Aug. 15-16 at The Shop downtown and costs $60 for both days.
- People who cannot afford entry can reach out for a sponsored ticket, Beacom says.