Featured May 10, 2024 Partnership unveils the 2024 Service to America Medals® finalists Back to Blog ‘A Starting Point’ co-founders Chris Evans, Mark Kassen and Joe Kiani honored with our 2024 Spirit of Service Award Date October 7, 2024 Authors Dieynaba Talla Tags Recognition On Sept. 11, the 23rd annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals® gala took place in Washington, D.C., to honor exceptional public servants who are dedicated to serving our nation. At the gala, the Partnership presented its 2024 Spirit of Service Award to the co-founders of “A Starting Point,” Chris Evans, Mark Kassen and Joe Kiani. “A Starting Point” is a civic engagement platform designed to facilitate bipartisan communication and connection between the public and elected officials. Through video interviews and discussions, it aims to create a more informed electorate and foster civic engagement. During the gala, the trio shared the inspiration and goals for this initiative. Renowned comedian W. Kamau Bell introduced the winners, while Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent of the PBS NewsHour and a previous Spirit of Service honoree, interviewed the team about its work. The mission of “A Starting Point” Evans, Kassen and Kiani launched “A Starting Point” to break through the partisan divide and engage people—especially young adults—on the major policy issues of the day. “We all realized the most important way to move the political ball down the field is with engagement,” Evans said. “What we all shared was the desire to make sure it was one place where people who maybe felt uncomfortable with what they didn’t know felt safe enough to ask questions,” Kassen added. Kiani highlighted the importance of youth engagement in politics, stating, “Five million young people didn’t vote who could vote. We were hoping [the platform] could get young people involved from both sides.” Building an informed electorate “A Starting Point” simplifies complex topics by providing a digital space where individuals hear directly from elected officials without the bias or hyperbole often present in traditional media. The platform covers a wide range of issues, offering interviews with politicians and experts who present different viewpoints. The content enables individuals to make informed decisions. One of the most unique aspects of “A Starting Point” is its “Counterpoints” section, where elected officials debate various topics civilly and constructively. The debates not only educate viewers, but also demonstrate that constructive dialogue is possible on contentious issues. Engaging the public and future initiatives The founders aim to improve public service through engagement and education. By involving everyday people in policy discussions and helping them understand the work of federal employees, “A Starting Point” strives to bridge the gap between the public and government officials. Upcoming projects seek to expand the platform’s reach even further. “We have several partnerships coming for ASP Homeroom, where regular Americans who are affected by policies throughout the country can have their voices heard,” Kassen said. Evans, Kassen and Kiani hope “A Starting Point” will continue to foster civic engagement and create a more informed electorate. By providing a space for open dialogue and diverse perspectives, they aim to encourage greater trust in government and more active participation in the democratic process. “Given everything that’s going on in the world, more engagement in politics is always a good thing. It will only help the government work better for us and better represent who we really are,” Evans said. To learn more about our 2024 Service to America Medals winners and for a recap of the gala, read our recent blog post. To submit a Sammies nomination for 2025, visit servicetoamericamedals.org.
