Crossroads Conversations, a Van Alen public program series presented with Times Square Alliance, invites passersby to participate in 10-minute conversations between two passersby facilitated by journalists at the base of the Red Steps, encouraging strangers from across the nation and around the globe to reveal multifaceted personal beliefs, provoke robust debate, and find common ground with people who may share differing perspectives.

On March 20, we held discussions that focused on immigration. Participants could sign up on-site to join a brief moderated conversation with a stranger about their thoughts on the topic, or sit on the Red Steps and listen in on the live dialogue. Crossroads Conversations offers a chance to engage others thoughtfully in an iconic public space.

Moderators: Anne Quito, design reporter, Quartz; Audrey Wachs, The Architect’s Newspaper; and Oscar Perry Abello, NextCity.