Braver Angels Minnesota
Welcome to Braver Angels
Braver Angels Minnesota is part of a national citizens' movement that brings together conservatives, liberals, independents and others to restore trust, respect and goodwill in American politics.
We seek not to eliminate our differences but rather deal with them head-on -- with respect and understanding -- for the betterment of our communities. In short, we do not try to change people's views on issues but on how they view the other side.
We offer workshops, debates and structured conversations - typically for no charge - that allow participants to learn and practice effective listening and speaking skills.
Our volunteers share and model these skills because they believe that treating each other better is the answer to what's broken in America.
There will always be differences. We believe the best way forward is to change how we deal with those differences.
Latest Minnesota Braver Angels newsletter
The Feb. 8, 2025 MN Braver Angels newsletter recounts some recent Braver Angels events in Woodbury and a groundbreaking Common Ground workshop in Ely on copper-nickel mining in the Rainy River basin, news about local alliances, an important national survey about how each side mistakenly views the other side, a reference to an insightful new book, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics, and upcoming events.
News about Braver Angels Minnesota
Feb. 12, 2025 - MPR: An Ely group agrees on the value of the Boundary Waters — but they can’t agree on mining
Feb. 6, 2025 -The Timberjay: Ely's Braver Angels host workshop on mining issues
Jan. 6, 2025 - MPR: Jan. 6 still divides people
Nov. 8, 2024 - Restaurant News: If politics are still dividing your staff, here's what to do
Nov. 7, 2024 - KARE-11 TV: As emotions heighten post election, experts give advice on how to cope.
Nov. 6, 2024 - CBS News, Sacramento CA: Grassroots organization, Braver Angels, aims to ease election tension, unite voters
March 13th - Minnesota State Alliance Volunteer Check-In
Thursday, Mar. 13, 7-8 p.m. CST
Online - Contact the MN State Coordinators with any questions and to get the Zoom link if you haven't received it already
Please join us if you're a current volunteer or are interested in volunteering.
If you’ve questions or suggestions on how volunteering for Braver Angels Minnesota can be better, this is a great time to let us know and meet your fellow Braver Angels volunteers. We’re all learning how we can better help depolarize our families, our friends, our coworkers and our state!
Looking forward to seeing and listening to you at our first MN BA volunteer check-in.
Get involved
We offer many ways to Get Involved. Join for $12 a year. Take a free eCourse. Attend a free local, state or national Braver Angels event, among other possibilities. Donations gratefully accepted.
Volunteer Profile - Read about Christopher Schoenherr in Get Involved. He's no stranger to achieving compromise, even in the most unlikely of places.
Join our latest campaign to build capacity among individual Minnesotans and constituencies in academic, civic and religious organizations to disagree better. Here's what one partner said about why her organization joined the campaign.
"We are expecting one in three rural physicians to retire in the next five years. And part of that is being driven by rancor or burnout. Nobody's out there saying we should be less healthy. We all want to be healthy. We have different strategies for how to get there. But health is a common goal."
Laurel Ries M.D., President, Minnesota Medical Association
Braver Angels Effectiveness
After participating in our programs
68% of participants had a positive view of the other side.
75% of participants said they are likely to share what they learned with friends and family.
After participating in our signature Red/Blue Workshop:
86% of participants reported believing that they better understand other points of view
71% reported feeling better understood by people with other points of view
81% reported feeling better prepared to apply the skills they practiced
After participating in 1:1 Conversations: 97% of participants say they found common ground with someone across the divide.
Questions?
Connect with your Minnesota Braver Angels state coordinators at mn-coordinators@braverangels.org.