A Humanity Systems project
We believe that most conflicts are misunderstandings and could be avoided if our intentions were understood. And when we do agree, we need a way to turn that shared view into something actionable.
Why this matters
Social media rewards whoever reacts fastest and loudest, and we’ve started talking to each other that way offline too. And when someone does ask what we think, they’ve usually already picked the question and the answers.
Examples
These are everyday moments we’re building for. They show the problem and what changes, not how the tools work.
At home
She says, “We never go out anymore.” What she means is, “I want to spend more time with you.” What he hears is an accusation, and it turns into an argument.
What changes: he understands what she meant before he reacts. Instead of an argument, they make plans.
With family
A dad texts his teenage son, “Call me.” He means, “I miss you and want to hear your voice.” His son spends the afternoon sure he’s in trouble, and puts off calling.
What changes: his son knows it’s a warm message, not a warning, and calls back right away.
At work
A manager writes, “Can we talk tomorrow?” She wants her employee’s ideas for a new project. Her employee spends the night worrying they’re about to be let go.
What changes: the employee knows it’s good news and walks in ready to share ideas.
Across cultures
A coworker in another country sends a short email: “This is wrong. Fix the dates.” Where he’s from, that’s just efficient. His teammate reads it as angry and stops asking him questions.
What changes: the teammate sees he was being clear, not hostile, and the two keep working well together.
Among friends
She sends her friend a long, honest message about a hard week. He’s driving, so he replies, “k.” She reads it as “I don’t care,” and stops reaching out.
What changes: she knows he was busy, not cold, and the friendship keeps going.
Neurodivergent
An autistic team member says, “That plan won’t work.” She’s trying to help the team avoid a mistake. The team hears her as negative and dismissive, and stops inviting her input.
What changes: the team hears a useful warning from someone who wants the plan to succeed.
City hall
Everyone on the street knows the crosswalk by the school is dangerous. Dozens of people have complained to the city, one at a time. Nothing changes, because the city council never hears it as one voice.
What changes: the neighborhood names it as its top issue, together. The council sees how many people agree, and it has to respond on the record.
The school board
Parents across a school district agree that classes start too early for teenagers to get enough sleep. Their concerns are scattered across emails, posts, and hallway conversations, so the school board never sees how many people agree.
What changes: the parents’ shared view shows up clearly, in one place. The board can see how many families agree, and it has to respond.
Our state lawmakers
Families across the state are frustrated that their power bills keep rising. Lawmakers mostly hear from the few people who call their offices or show up at hearings, so most of us never count.
What changes: people across the state show their lawmakers what they agree on. That shared view reaches the people writing the policy, and they have to answer for how they vote.
Our national leaders
Millions of us share the same concerns about a new national policy. But we’re spread across the country, posting into feeds that disappear in a day, so our representatives never see what we actually agree on.
What changes: what we share becomes a clear, lasting message our representatives can’t ignore, and it’s on the record when they decide.
A message meant kindly gets read as criticism, and a small mix-up turns into a real fight.
Parents, kids, and siblings who love each other but still talk past each other, especially over text.
Friendships that fade after one message was taken the wrong way and never cleared up.
People who say exactly what they mean often get taken the wrong way, and they can misread others too.
A short message comes across as rude, or a simple question sounds like blame.
Writing in a second language, or to someone from another culture, where tone and manners don’t always come through.
Groups where an honest question gets taken as an attack.
A tool that helps us understand what someone meant before we react.
A tool that lets communities pick the issues that matter most to them, then gets those results to the officials who set the policies that affect us, from city hall to state and national leaders.
Understanding each other and being heard go together, so we’re building both at the same time.
We’ll build these tools with the people who will use them, and pay close attention to what actually helps.
We’ll share what we learn and what we build.
Who we are
We’re a California nonprofit building alignment between humanity and the technology we create. We study how we shape technology and how it shapes us, we share what we learn, and build tools to make that relationship better.
Better Public Square is one of five programs we’re working on. Each one answers a problem all of us live with.
Founded in 2026 by Adam Tucker, David Satossky, and Matthew Leebert. Based in San Diego, California.
This program is in development.
Your donation pays for the research and design that come first, so both tools help us understand each other and be heard.
Humanity Systems is a California nonprofit. Our application for federal tax-exempt status is pending, so donations aren’t tax deductible yet. If our application is approved, past donations may become deductible.
Leave your email and we’ll write when there’s real news on Better Public Square: progress, new research, or a new way to help.
We’re a California nonprofit based in San Diego, founded in September 2026 by Adam Tucker, David Satossky, and Matthew Leebert. Our mission is building alignment between humanity and the technology we create.
Yes. Your donation goes to the part of our work you choose. If an idea can’t move forward as planned, we’ll put your donation toward the closest related work.
Not yet. Our application for federal tax-exempt status is pending. If it’s approved, past donations may become deductible.
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Our solution
How we hold AI to account
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The problem
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Our solution
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What we’re building: Plain-language guides and an explainer series for the public, and briefings for the lawmakers writing the rules on AI.
The problem
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Our solution
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What we’re building: A marketplace where anyone who wants to use our content has to ask first and pay fairly.
The problem
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Our solution
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