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

Nov. 3 - Community Impact Fundraising Event for Northern MN & WI Braver Angels Alliance

Monday, Nov. 3,   4-8 p.m. 

Host: Northern MN & WI Braver Angels Alliance

Pizza Hut near  Miller Hill Mall
1600 Miller Trunk Hwy, Duluth, MN 55811

Bring your family and friends and enjoy dinner at Pizza Ranch in the front row of stores at Miller Hill Mall in Duluth. OR, if you are far away, pass this along. 

This is not a workshop or speaking event. A portion of the proceeds will go to support your local Northern MN & WI Braver Angels Alliance.

This is our first fundraiser. Please mark your calendar to help make it a success!

Nov. 10 - Common Ground Workshop on Immigration

Monday, Nov. 10,    6-9:15 p.m. 

Host: Twin Cities East Metro

East Ridge High School (Use main entrance by the flag pole)

4200 Pioneer Drive Woodbury, MN 55129

REGISTER

About this event

Join us for a Common Ground Workshop on Immigration.

The Braver Angels Common Ground Workshop brings together equal numbers of Conservatives and Liberals – Reds and Blues (4-8 of each) – for a deep dive into a problem, such as addressing climate change, electoral reform or abortion. Together participants talk about their connection to the issue and their opinion on solutions. By the end of the workshop, participants have come up with jointly and unanimously held Points of Agreements on values, concerns and policies.

The Common Ground workshop is an out-growth of Braver Angels signature Red-Blue workshop and allows participants to go deeper into a single issue. Points of Agreement can be fleshed out at future group meetings, and when possible lead to joint Red-Blue actions such as op-eds, joint speaking and meetings with legislators.

Goals

• To delve into a single issue where citizens differ, and learn how each other sees the problem

• To delineate areas of common ground and points of agreement

• To learn something that might be helpful to others in our community and the nation.

Logistics

There are two ways to join a Common Ground Workshop:

• Participant: A participant will engage in small- and large-group discussions with individuals of both the same and different political persuasions. Participants must identify as “red” (Republican or leaning conservative) or “blue” (Democrat or leaning liberal). We will strive for an equal balance of red and blue participants: 4 to 8 people on each side.

• Observer/Alternate: An observer/alternate will not participate in the discussions directly but will have the opportunity to watch and listen. Observers/Alternates should be ready to step in and participate as their “color” in the event of participant cancellations. In areas that have a geographic “color” imbalance, allowing for up to 15 Observers/Alternates provides an opportunity for more people to experience a Red/Blue workshop. Observer/Alternates have found observing a workshop to be amazingly valuable.

Who can come? Anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of, and connection with, people whose political beliefs differ from their own. You should honestly be able to answer “yes” to the following question:

“Are you willing to listen to the other side, and are you willing to speak to the other side with respect?”

Organizers reserve the right to switch people between Participant and Observer/Alternate status depending on the needs of the workshop.

Questions? Contact Melinda Voss at mvoss@braverangels.org

This workshop is a free event brought to you by Minnesota Braver Angels 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. Click here to donate.

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

Click here to sign up now!

Nov. 20 -  Skills for Disagreeing Better

Thursday, Nov. 20, 6:30-8 p.m. (In-person)

Wayzata City Hall 600 Rice St. East, Wayzata, MN 55391

Host: West Suburban Alliance-MSP

Partner: Minnesota State Alliance

RESERVE A SPOT

In this polarized time, we lack a basic understanding of why people on the other political side hold their beliefs. We don’t see them as they see themselves–their core values and central concerns–but instead as we choose to see them. We are tempted to regard our own side as principled and the other side as self-interested.

When we try to communicate across this gap, we often lack the skills for listening carefully, looking for common ground, and sharing our perspectives in ways that connect rather than create more misunderstanding.

We can learn to disagree better in polarized times, which means accurately seeing where we differ and where we share common ground.

Goals

• More understanding of the values and concerns of people who differ from you politically

• Better skills for listening in a way so that the other person feels heard

• Better skills for sharing viewpoints in a way the other person might hear — even if they disagree

This workshop is a free event brought to you by Braver Angels 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. Click here to donate.

Nov. 20 - Depolarizing Within

Thursday, Nov. 20,    6:30-8 p.m. CST

Host: Minnesota Braver Angels

Wild Wings Plaza, 2102 US Highway 61, Lake City, MN 55041

REGISTER     Note: This free* event is to be attended in person. 

About this event

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.

Registration not required but it's a big help if you let us register. Food will also be available for purchase before the event. We suggest you come around 5:15 or 5:30 p.m. so you have plenty of time for dinner. We want to start promptly at 6:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you!

Questions? Contact mvoss@braverangels.org

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

National Events - Online

Oct. 29 - National Film Club discussion of Affordable Housing (online)

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 7-8:30 Central
Host: Braver Angels National  Note: This event is to be attended online.

SIGN UP 

Why is affordable housing so hard to build in America? We will discuss three videos exploring various aspects about what’s called a national affordable housing crisis. Is the crisis different in blue versus red states or cities? Or is the real divide not political at all? Watch these videos on your own and join us on October 29 at 8p ET to discuss this important subject.

• When the Housing Crisis Breaks the Political Spectrum https://youtu.be/B9d-fwsQzbo?si=ayQrsYTbDMSSPpD1 11 minute podcast on Youtube

• The Abundance Debate Hits California https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyUp-rgpSJg 32 minute podcast interview on Youtube

• Why Texas Will Become More Expensive Than California https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIaOwO_OBO8 8 minute documentary on Youtube

We choose films that address social, political or cultural issues that are relevant to society today. They may highlight liberal-leaning, conservative-leaning or independent themes, or feature actors or directors from opposite sides of the political spectrum.

“The discussion(s) of this film/book and its inclusion on the Braver Angels website does not imply promotion of the subject matter or personages involved in the creation of said book/film.  The opinions expressed are those of the book’s author/film’s creators.”

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

Nov 1 - Skills for Disagreeing Better (online)

Saturday, Nov. 1, 1-3:45  p.m. Central time

Host: BA National   Note: This event is to be attended online.

SIGN UP

In this polarized time, we lack basic understanding of why people on the other political side hold their beliefs. We don’t see them as they see themselves–their core values and central concerns–but instead as we choose to see them. We are tempted to regard our own side as principled and the other side as self-interested.

When we try to communicate across this gap, we often lack the skills for listening carefully, looking for common ground, and sharing our perspectives in ways that connect rather than create more misunderstanding.

We can learn to disagree better in polarized times, which means accurately seeing where we differ and where we share common ground.

Goals

• More understanding of the values and concerns of people who differ from you politically

• Better skills for listening in a way so that the other person feels heard

• Better skills for sharing viewpoints in a way the other person might hear — even if they disagree
  
  

This workshop is a free event brought to you by Braver Angels 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. Click here to donate.

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