"I want to listen... and see why Americans feel the way they feel," Gordon said. "I want to find out more, not just about our differences, but also our similarities."
Los Angeles Times reporter Sam Fulwood will head a study group focusing on how the use of race issues by the media affects politics and public policy.
Fulwood cited his experiences covering the Los Angeles city riots as well as the struggles over apartheid in South Africa to explain the importance of having informed citizens.
"When people don't know what's going on around, all kinds of bad things can happen," he said. "We have to create an educated and informed citizenry."
The IOP study groups will begin next week, running Monday through Wednesday for the next eight weeks.