Even though filmmakers Craig and Brent Renaud had been to Iraq twice before filming Off to War, it wasn't until they were back in their hometown in Arkansas that they got the inspiration to make a film about the Iraq War. While at a friend's wedding, they learned that the Arkansas National Guard had been called up to serve in Iraq in numbers unforeseen since the Korean War. These were part-time soldiers whose services were typically reserved for domestic defense and natural disasters, and the Renauds were instantly compelled to tell their stories. Off to War, a co-production of the DiscoveryTimes Channel and Downtown Community Television, is the resulting ten-part series, which follows the men during their year of deployment, and their families back home.

The DiscoveryTimes Channel was drawn to Off to War because it offers an intimate window into the lives of the people most affected by the war, a perspective seldom seen in mainstream media. The network also believed that Off to War had the potential to create impact on a community level, so Executive Vice President Vivian Schiller got in touch with the Ford Foundation. Ford introduced the network to Active Voice, which received funding to develop strategies for using Off to War to help communities find common ground about an issue that has Americans so divided.

In collaboration with the DiscoveryTimes Channel, Active Voice designed the Off to War Community Project, in which we worked with the series as a catalyst for productive dialogue in communities with strong National Guard participation rates. We sought partners that shared our goal of moving discussion about Iraq beyond a pro-/anti-war debate and could commit to planning nonpartisan forums focused on the human costs of war. Moved and inspired by the content, partners immediately signed on.

From Louisville, KY to Lincoln, NE to Atlanta, GA, AV helped put together local coalitions representing diverse backgrounds and political leanings to craft forums that focused on the human impact of war. Participants included concerned citizens, students, soldiers, family members and even National Guard members. Off to War validated the experiences of the soldiers who had served in Iraq and gave voice to them and their families. General Lempke of the Nebraska Guard said,"It's vital that we as Americans understand exactly what we commit ourselves to when we go to war." For many who attended the events, this was the first time they had heard from those who were directly impacted by the war in Iraq. "It's easy to be against the war in an isolated university setting," one young woman said. "The soldiers, though, have no choice but to carry out the orders given to them."

Local coverage of the events captured the nonpartisan spirit of the forums: news articles were balanced and focused on the impact of the war on soldiers and families. Project partners were thrilled by the visibility and new partnerships. In cities where the DiscoveryTimes Channel was not yet carried, attendees called their cable providers to request the network. In Lincoln, the University of Nebraska Osher Lifelong Learning Institute organized a semester-long course in which participants screened and discussed all ten episodes.

The Off to War Community Project successfully advanced dialogue about Iraq beyond the polarizing debate. It showed that quality, story-driven content, combined with carefully crafted, strategic partnerships, can allow those with even the most divergent perspectives to forge meaningful connections.