Events

Braver Angels workshops are typically free events as part of our mission to depolarize America. Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. We invite you to consider a gift to Braver Angels; all donations are tax deductible.  Your support will allow us to offer more workshops and debates with the ultimate goal of uniting America. To donate to Minnesota Braver Angels, go to Support a Braver Angels Field Organization - Minnesota.

Minnesota events are listed below, as well as some national events. To find additional national events, visit the Events Calendar on the national Braver Angels website. The national BA events calendar offers in-person and online events and can be searched by date and location. Most Registration links go to Eventbrite, a service that lists events and manages registrations.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN MINNESOTA

ONGOING SIGN-UP - Pairs to the Polls

Red-Blue pairs (or Red or Blue individuals willing to be paired) are needed to represent the Braver Angels Way outside polling places this November.

Read about how it worked in 2024 by going to Election Day Recap.

Interested? Visit Practice Courageous Citizenship on Election Day to sign up.

Oct. 25 - World Premier of An American Mass, a Choral Composition - Plymouth

Sunday, Oct. 25, 3-5 p.m.
St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church
17205 County Road 6, Plymouth

For Braver Angels members, Registration is appreciated but not required.
Admission is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $20 at the door. Do not pay through the Braver Angels websites.

Braver Angels members and friends are invited to the world premiere of An American Mass, at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 25.

The choral work, by Minnesota composer Paul Winchester, is presented by MPLS (imPulse) in partnership with Braver Angels.

An American Mass, patterned on the traditional Mass, explores in a secular composition, what it means to be American at a time of deep political and social division. Following the 45-minute performance, Braver Angels will lead a conversation.

Questions? Contact Thomas Niedzielski, tniedzielski@braverangels.org

 Oct. 28  - Ely Alliance Members Meeting:  “The Day After the Election...Now What?” - Ely

Wednesday, Oct. 28,  6-8:30 p.m.

Ely Braver Angels will meet on Wednesday, October 28 at the Community Center, 6 pm.

This gathering is planned with the election in mind that will take place just days later.  The topic will be: The Day After the Election….Now What?

• How can you be prepared for post-election discussions of the results with your friends and relations? Have you had any personal relationships strained by politics, and how might you begin to mend them?

• Will you trust the results?

• If your side wins?

• If your side loses?

• If you are pleased or disappointed with the results, can you imagine why someone on the opposite side feels differently?

• Do you have concerns about election integrity? 

These questions and more will be discussed in a civil manner with our friends in the Ely Braver Angels Alliance. 

Thanks,

Braver Angels Steering Committee

Nov. 6 - A House United Screening - Northern MN Alliance - Two Harbors

Friday, Nov. 6, 4:30-6 p.m.
Harbor Theater 616 2nd Ave., Two Harbors

Tickets Required  Only $7

4:30 to 6:00 show Tickets

7:00 to 8:30 show Tickets

In a polarized America, the new documentary, A House United, is an introduction to the often unheard of ecosystem of 10,000 bridge-building organizations across the country. The country deserves to know of the work being done to save it. Produced by Braver Angels, Disagree Better and BYU Broadcasting. Join us for this screening!

Nov. 8 - Depolarizing Ourselves - Bloomington

Sunday, Nov. 8, 12:15-1:45 p.m.
Unity South Twin Cities
7950 1st Avenue South

Bloomington, MN 55420

RESERVE A SPOT   *Tickets are Free, Donations Help Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3.  Braver Angels does not ask for a donation if the participant is making one to their faith organization.

A free in-person session to become more aware of your "inner polarizer" and to learn methods for disagreeing without contempt and ridicule

Polarization is fueled by how we talk about those on the other side of an issue. Too often, we ridicule, dismiss, or stereotype our fellow citizens. When Braver Angels addresses “polarization,” we are not referring to healthy disagreements over issues or philosophy. We are addressing how we regard and talk about large groups of people -- people who happen to be on the other side of the political aisle.

Goals

In this 1.5 hour session participants will learn:

• How to be more aware of their own “inner polarizer”

• How to be critical without demonizing, dismissing or stereotyping large swaths of the population

Who Can Attend?

Anyone interested in examining their own inner polarization and learning strategies to disagree without condemning or ridiculing others.

*Tickets are Free, Donations Help As a spam prevention measure, you must use promo code BRAVER during registration to secure your spot in the workshop. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3. Braver Angels does not ask for a donation if the participant is making one to their faith organization.

Questions? Contact Scott Schluter, sschluter@braverangels.org; kristin@elephantemn.com, kellisvh@gmail.com

Nov. 17 - Elections: What We Hope For, What Our Concerns Are, and How We Keep Them Fair for Democracy - Woodbury

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7-8:30 p.m.
Eastridge High School
4200 Pioneer Dr, Woodbury, MN 55129

RESERVE A SPOT

You don't have to choose between blindly trusting elections and assuming they can't be trusted. This 90-minute session offers a chance to better understand how elections work, explore what can go wrong and what safeguards are in place. You can hear genuine beliefs from both sides and practice having a more constructive conversation about one of the most important—and divisive—issues in American democracy today. You can review a summary of  What a 2026 Legislative Auditor Review Found on Minnesota Voter Registration ahead if you want. Here’s a worksheet to complete If you want to formulate some thoughts ahead of time, see this worksheet: Elections: What We Hope For, What We Fear, and How We Keep Them Fair.

Why Attend?

By the end of this 90-minute session, participants will:

•  Review your view on how the election went (not who run, but the process)

•  Identify what they hope elections accomplish.

•  Articulate concerns about how elections could go awry.

• Learn some basic facts about how American elections are administered and safeguarded.

• Explore what citizens can do to strengthen confidence in elections—even when their preferred candidate loses.

For more information, contact Melinda Voss mvoss@braverangels.org.

NATIONAL EVENTS - ALL ONLINE

Ongoing - 1:1 Conversations with Students

A novel way for Americans with different backgrounds to connect as people and as citizens who are concerned for our country. Get matched with a conversation partner outside your political bubble, and follow our structured discussion guide to broaden your horizons.

The process involves one or two hour-long conversations between two people using a structured conversation guide. The goals are to better understand the experiences, feelings, and beliefs of the other person, discover any areas of commonality, and share ideas for how to bridge differences across our country. NEW Slideshow! Individuals share their 1:1 experiences - click on slide to advance

Sign up  (select option "college student")

Oct. 26 - Come Together by Sharing the Soundtrack of Your Life  **ONLINE**

Monday, Oct. 26  6-7:30 p.m. CDT

RESERVE A SPOT   –*Tickets are Free, Donations Help. Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3.

Strengthen community bonds and humanize across differences by sharing music.

Presented by Braver Angels Music, Derate The Hate Podcast, The Come Together Music Project, and based on the work of facilitator Shaka Mitchell, this event uses personal playlists and shared musical memories to bridge divides and foster human connection in a polarized era. Rather than driving political agreement, the sessions aim to build empathy across differences by having participants share the soundtrack of their lives.

Participants will receive song prompts and technical instructions in advance to bring with them to the event. This event will take place on Zoom. This will be a tech-forward event, so general Zoom familiarity is encouraged. Additionally, we'd love for you to bring someone (a friend, family member, co-worker) that has a different political perspective or identity than you.

The Come Together Music Project and bridge-building podcast was a concept that started informally in a driveway during the COVID-19 pandemic before growing into a nationwide movement and official non-profit. Shaka Mitchell has hosted events and recordings across the country, including collaborations with TEDxNashville, Tomorrow.City USA, and on campuses including Wheaton College and Arizona State University’s School of Law. 

Learn more about how the project uses music-based listening sessions to bridge political and social divides: https://www.cometogethermusic.org

Questions? Contact Ben Caron at bcaron@braverangels.org

** This event is open to the media upon approval. Send requests to press@braverangels.org

Oct. 28 - A House United - A National Braver Angels Virtual Screening  **ONLINE**

Wednesday, Oct. 28   6-7:30 CDT

A 90 Minute Virtual Screening Event of the new Documentary, A House United, Hosted and Produced by Braver Angels.

BUY TICKETS  This ticket purchase includes a 48 HOUR DIGITAL RENTAL and recording of the Braver Angels event.

Produced  in partnership with Disagree Better and BYU Broadcasting, this documentary presents Braver Angels as the antidote to polarization. This is not a story about polarization, it's the story of the efforts made by those doing something about it.  Discover the work of over 10,000 individuals and organizations actively trying to unite a Divided United States.

Oct. 29  -  Civic Scholars Council Seminar: From Subject to Citizen  **ONLINE**

Thursday, Oct. 29   2 p.m. CDT

RESERVE A SPOT   – This is a *FREE* event. Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3.

Join the Civic Scholars Council for a Panel Discussion of Historical Perspectives on Courageous Citizenship

Who are we as a people and a nation? Is Courageous Citizenship in our DNA?

The answer is a resounding yes! American history is replete with examples of ordinary citizens coming together, many times across deep divisions, to improve life for themselves, their families, their communities, and their country.

From the high-stakes internal struggle among our founders over the very definition of liberty, power, human rights, and who “we the people” include, to the abolitionist societies and the agricultural cooperatives, of the 19th century; to the suffrage movement, the farmer soil conservation cooperatives, and the civil rights movement of the 20th Century; and the Cajun Navy of the 21st Century, Americans have organized collaboratively and taken responsibility for their shared life.

Join us for the first Civic Scholars Council Seminar, a Panel Discussion on Courageous Citizenship exploring this history as the foundation for our future. The theme is “From Subject to Citizen,” harkening back to a little-known anecdote when Thomas Jefferson, in authoring the Declaration of Independence, crossed out the word “subject” and substituted the word “citizen.”

Panelists will discuss examples of how everyday citizens have worked across differences to improve communities and co-create a Commonwealth, advancing the goal of a more perfect union. You will have an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists, to tell civic stories from your area, and reflect on how you can demonstrate Courageous Citizenship in your community.

Panelists include Civic Scholars Council members:

Trygve Throntveit, Ph.D - National Civics Fellow at the Hoover Institute and Research Professor in higher education and associate director of the Center for Economic and Civic Learning at Ball State University

Johann Neem, Ph.D. - Professor of History at Western Washington University

Advisory Council member:

Pete Peterson, Ph.D. - Braun Family Dean's Chair and Senior Fellow at Davenport Institute, School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University

Moderator:

Sarah Stitzlein, Ph.D. , Distinguished Research Professor of Education and an affiliate faculty member in Philosophy at the University of Cincinnati

*Tickets are Free, Donations Help Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3.

Questions? Contact Barbara Farmer at bfarmer@braverangels.org

** This event is open to the media upon approval. Send requests to press@braverangels.org

Oct. 29 -   Monthly National Debate (Coliseum Style)  **ONLINE**

Thursday, Oct 29, 6-8 p.m. CDT

RESERVE A SPOT   – This is a *FREE* event. Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3.

A Zoom webinar link will be emailed to you a few days before the event, All guests will have the opportunity to submit questions via registration and during the event. The event will be conducted as a webinar format on Zoom.

Should the US provide humanitarian or development aid to other nations?  Join Braver Angels to debate. Decide for yourself at our online Coliseum-style debate on the United States’ role in international development. Our panelists differ on American “soft power,” but agree on accurate disagreement and productive debate. Guests will be able to submit questions at registration and during the debate.

Should the United States fund international development?

At the start of his second term in office, President Trump and his administration withdrew funding for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with a small portion of USAID's functions being transferred to the Department of State. These extensive changes prepare the way for accurate disagreement and productive debate about the United States' proper role in supporting the development of foreign nations.

Does the US have an obligation to provide humanitarian aid to other nations? Should funding for USAID be restored? How should the US extend its soft power influence around the globe?

Our resolution will be developed to generate disagreement amongst our panelists.

Speakers include:

• Alice Albright - former CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation

• Max Primorac - Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation

• Emily Brearley - Founder, Solution42 and developmental economist

• + More coming soon!

Questions? Email debates@braverangels.org.

You probably haven’t experienced anything like a Braver Angels Debate. This is a highly structured conversation in which a group of people think together, listen carefully to one another, and allow themselves to be touched and perhaps changed by each other’s ideas. When done well, everyone walks out a little closer to the truth, more aware of the validity in opposing views, and with tighter community relationships.

To learn more about these debates, you can view this video of a sample debate (it lasts about 15 minutes). This file might help you understand the debate process that we use.

This debate is a free event brought to you by Braver Angels, a 501(c)(3) non-profit as part of our mission to depolarize America. We invite you to consider a gift to Braver Angels; all donations are tax deductible. Your support will allow us to offer more workshops and debates with the ultimate goal of uniting America.

You will have an opportunity to make a donation as you register, if you so choose. Your choice will have no bearing on your registration or Zoom meeting assignment.

Braver Angels events may be recorded, and may be shared with media or used in Braver Angels publications, including web pages. Participants who object to this may disable their video.

Nov. 1 - Faith in America: Pray for the Election  **ONLINE**

Sunday, Nov. 1   6-7:15 p.m. CST

RESERVE A SPOT   Tickets are free; donations are welcome. Use promo code BRAVER during registration for a free ticket.

Join American Faith and Civic Leaders in an Inspiring, Joyful Online Event to Honor and Protect Free, Fair and Safe Elections.

At a time of deep political division and declining trust, Praying for America brings people together across faith traditions and political perspectives in a nonpartisan, multi-faith gathering to pray for our country and champion free, fair, and safe elections.

A coalition of faith-based and civic organizations will sing, pray and offer inspiration drawing on the wisdom and traditions of America's many faith communities. We'll come together around shared values, mutual respect, peace, and honoring the will of the people.

Praying for America is nonpartisan. It is not about candidates, parties, or policy positions. People across the political spectrum and from all faith traditions are warmly invited.

The events are part of the broader Faith in America initiative, which also includes local faith-community engagement and the grassroots I Have Faith in America video campaign.

Join us in bringing the healing grace and shared civic values to the forefront by expressing support for free, fair and safe elections. Voting is a fundamental and sacred civic practice, and Praying for America is a wonderful way to celebrate citizens expressing their will by casting ballots and having them counted.

Check out the website here for more information: Faith in America - Braver Angels

Questions? Email Cheryl@civildiscourseinstitute.org

Nov. 5 - When the Going Gets Tough  **ONLINE**

Thursday, Nov. 5  6-7:30 p.m. CST

RESERVE A SPOT   *Tickets are Free, Donations Help Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3.

Join fellow Braver Angels members in a small group setting to discuss challenging situations you've encountered. Share your experiences, reflect together, and strengthen your Braver Angels skills through peer learning.The event is carefully and kindly moderated. This is a space for personal reflection and supportive connection—not for giving advice to others.

Restricted Attendance: You need to have taken at least one Braver Angels skills course, in person, online or eCourse.

Questions? Contact Paul Norris, pnorris@braverangels.org

Nov. 14 - National Common Ground Immigration Workshop  **ONLINE**

Saturday, Nov. 14  or Saturday, Jan. 23 - 12 noon-4:30 CST

Braver Angels is beginning recruitment for two national discussions of immigration policy that will bring folks together from across the political spectrum.

We seek a roughly representative group of Americans for two upcoming National Online Common Ground Workshops on Immigration: Sat, Nov. 14 or Sat. Jan. 23 - Both from 12 noon-4:30 Central.

If you're interested in participating, please complete the questions in the webform (link below). 

EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST

Workshops may be recorded for internal training, quality assurance, and program improvement purposes only. Thanks for considering this opportunity!

For more national online opportunities, visit Braver Angels Events Calendar.