On Thursday, September 18th, 2025, HRC hosted its third annual event, Countering Truth Decay: A Community Conversation.
A free event taking place from 5:30-8:00pm at 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica, over 80 community members convened on a warm evening to discuss the impacts of misinformation on local issues.
“Misinformation pulls our foundational rug of accurate information out from under us,” said Dr. Karen Gunn, HRC Board Co-Chair. “Disinformation intentionally crafts that rug with deception, lies and distractions. Healthy, reality-based paths to courageous dialogue and engagement require finding the truth where there’s decay.”
This timely event offers a platform for residents to engage in meaningful dialogue on the impact of misinformation in everyday life and the steps we can take, as a community, to counter its effects. With the increasing spread of false information threatening civic life and local cohesion, the event fostered understanding and develop solutions at a grassroots level.
Participants engaged in breakout sessions where they will discuss how community trust impacts our ability to sort fact from fiction, and what actions they can take to combat misinformation at home.
Carlo Cabanilla, featured speaker and Co-Founder of Bahala, shared that: “Trust is at an all time low, but people really just want to feel connected to their community. At this event, we will walk through the current information landscape and learn some tools for how to resist the effects of misinformation and stay connected to ourselves and others in our day to day lives.”
Julie Rusk, Board Co-Chair, highlighted the event’s community-focused approach:
“When we bring neighbors together around this issue of Truth Decay, we have found an openness and curiosity that creates a different type of conversation. By tackling this larger phenomenon, we end up bridging different perspectives and building greater understanding.”
Spanish interpretation was available. For more information, please contact Catalina Langen at catalina@civicwellbeing.org.