In these fractured and fractious times it can sometimes be difficult to see past the political chasms that divide us; harder still to find the common ground needed to attempt anything approaching a healthy public discourse. 

On this edition of In Depth -- hot on the heels of the fourth of July -- we get to know the work of one group attempting to address these challenges: Citizen University is a Seattle-based nonprofit working to draw people together around a common commitment to bettering American life through civic engagement.

Over the past few years they've organized what they're calling Civic Saturday events in dozens of cities around the country. We discuss those community gatherings and the prospect that America just might be on the verge of a civic revival. 

Host: KCBS Radio reporter Keith Menconi 

Guest: Eric Liu, the co-founder and CEO of Citizen University. His new book, which draws together 19 of the Civic Saturday sermons he’s delivered over the past few years, is called "Become America: Civic Sermons on Love, Responsibility, and Democracy.”