About us

State Steering Team

The state steering team works to carry out initiatives to increase membership in all areas of the state, particularly the rural areas; build and support local chapters, known as alliances and recruit and support volunteers. The steering team follows a Braver Angels principle of leadership being balanced among those who lean conservative, liberal or independent. Also, the team strives for the membership to be balanced.

To contact the state coordinators, please email mn-coordinators@braverangels.org. You can donate directly to the Minnesota State Alliance #123.

Local alliance leaders

Alliances are chapters or units of Braver Angels members at the local, regional and state level. They offer a way for members to engage routinely with each other in their own communities using the Braver Angels Way.  Alliances have a Red-Blue balance in their leadership and strive toward a Red-Blue balance in their membership. Independents and others are welcome as well. The co-chairs for each alliance are listed below.

When you donate to a local or the state alliance, 80 percent goes to that alliance and 20 percent goes to national Braver Angels to support the infrastructure we use.

Greater Minneapolis Area - Donate directly to Alliance #1082.

• Scott Schluter (Leans Red) sschluter@braverangels.org

• Need volunteer (Leans Blue)

Western Suburban - Donate directly to Alliance #1111.

• Susan Hann (Leans Red)  shann@braverangels.org

• Bruce Pomerantz (Leans Blue) bpomerantz@braverangels.org.

Twin Cities East Metro - Donate directly to Alliance #1129.

• Karl Sandberg (Leans Red) ksandberg@braverangels.org

• Melinda Voss (Leans Blue) mvoss@braverangels.org

Owatonna (Cong. Districts 1, 2, and 7) - Donate directly to Alliance #1110. 

• Damian Baum (Leans Red)  baum.damian@gmail.com 

• Roger Warehime (Leans Blue)  rwarehime@braverangels.org

Ely - Donate directly to Alliance #1139.

• Johnnie Hyde (Leans Blue)  jhyde@braverangels.org

• Nick Wognum (Leans Red)  nwognum@braverangels.org

Northern MN Alliance (Cong. District 8 includes Duluth) - Donate directly to Alliance #1112.

• Tim Gustafson (Leans Red)  tgustafson@braverangels.org

• John Wolforth (Leans Blue)  jwolforth@braverangels.org

What Braver Angels is - and isn't

1. We’re nonpartisan and secular

Braver Angels is a nonpartisan nonprofit that doesn’t take sides on issues. Also, we’re not affiliated with any faith tradition though we offer a few workshops for various faith groups.  Our name comes from a line in Lincoln’s first inaugural address, where he appealed to the “better angels of our nature.” We started as “Better Angels,” but later became “Braver Angels” because these days, it takes guts to listen to someone you disagree with.

2. We’re not here to change your mind

Braver Angels is not interested in persuading you to abandon your political beliefs or adopt new ones. We are not in the business of converting conservatives to liberals or vice versa. Our goal is not to make everyone agree but to help people understand each other better. If you walk away from a Braver Angels event with the same political beliefs you had when you arrived—but with a deeper respect for those who think differently—we consider that a success.

3. We’re not centrists Looking for the middle

People sometimes assume we’re all about meeting in the middle. But centrism is just another political lane—not our destination. Sometimes one side has the better argument. Sometimes, compromise isn’t possible. We’re not here to force agreement—we’re here to help people engage across disagreement with honesty, clarity, and respect.

4. We’re not all “kumbaya”

Sure, we value civility. But we’re not asking you to hold hands and pretend big issues don’t matter. Braver Angels doesn’t avoid conflict—we walk into it. We want you to show up as your full, authentic self. Say what you really believe. Then listen, not to rebut, but to understand. That’s the real challenge—and the real work.

5. We’re not a Trojan horse for one side

We’re not sneaking in an agenda under the banner of “unity.” Our leadership, moderators, and programs are built for balance—right, left, and everything in between. If you come looking for bias, you’ll probably find someone who sounds familiar. But zoom out, and you’ll see a bigger picture: a movement full of people committed to restoring political goodwill across the divide, not winning political points.

6. We’re not pretending everything’s fine

Let’s not sugarcoat it: things are rough. Political polarization is growing. Trust is shrinking. People are afraid to speak up. We’re not here to pretend otherwise. We “see: the damage—and we’re trying to do something about it. Not by shouting louder, but by stitching back the civic fabric that holds us together as a country. It’s hard work. It’s messy. But we believe it matters. And we’re not giving up.

What we ask of you

If you’re here, we hope you’ll bring the same spirit we try to live by:

- Curiosity – Come to learn, not just to be heard.
- Humility – None of us has it all figured out.
- Courage – Speak honestly, even when it’s tough.
- Commitment – Stick with it. Show up. Help build something better.

Braver Angels isn’t for everyone. But if you believe America is worth fighting *for*—not by deepening the divide, but by bridging it—we’re glad you’re here. This is long-haul work. We’re in it for the journey. And we need fellow travelers. Join us

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.

Source: Braver Angels Program Evaluations