David Simas, chief executive officer of the Obama Foundation shared a story of an experience he had during a visit to a shelter of The Home Project in Athens, Greece.

The conversation took place during the proceedings of the annual Concordia Summit in New York City, where numerous representatives of organizations working to alleviate the refugee crisis in Greece were on hand.

Telling a simple story, Simas shared how Sofia Kouvelaki, the Home Project’s executive director was able to transform neighbors’ mistrust into something good.

“The things that unite us are much more powerful and potent than the things that divide us,” Simas said after sharing the story.

Watch the video from the Concordia Summit here: