Despite this, or perhaps because of it, we share lessons learned from two years of collaborating on a research project at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy examining racial bias in jury selection processes, and jury composition as well as efforts to improve them. We leveraged shared commitments to truth and authenticity to engage and secure evidence informed public policy decision making. Also important, however, was our example of how to hold social scientific and authentic truths as core guiding principles when we worked collaboratively, respectfully and civilly across differences — and sometimes even mild disagreement — towards a common goal of improving the human condition.