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

Jan. 27 - Hopes, Fault Lines, and the Work Ahead in 2026

Tues., Jan. 27,  7-8:30 p.m.   In-person

Host: Twin Cities East Metro
Location: East Ridge High School, 4200 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury, MN 55129 (Media Center on the 2nd floor)
(Enter the high school at the door by the flagpole. A parking lot is adjacent to the building. An elevator is located to the left in the hallway just after entering the building.)

Reserve a spot

As we look toward 2026, many of us feel a mix of hope, concern, determination, and fatigue. In Minnesota, the year ahead will be especially momentous. As the midterm election approaches, Minnesotans will elect a new governor, and every seat in the state legislature will be on the ballot. Decisions made in 2026 will shape the direction of our state for years to come. The questions before us aren’t just what do I believe? But also, how do I want to show up as a citizen during a consequential political moment?

Join us for a thoughtful, respectful 90-minute conversation where Minnesotans from across the political spectrum reflect together on the road ahead. This is not a debate or a campaign event—it’s a chance to listen, be heard, and think clearly about what matters most as our state enters a pivotal election year. What we’ll explore together:

• Your hopes and concerns for 2026 — What gives you optimism about Minnesota’s future? What worries you as a major election approach?

• What are the issues that matter most to you right now — Which state or national issues feel most urgent—and why?

• How you want to engage in a high-stakes year — Do you feel called to help reduce polarization and strengthen relationships in your community? Or to advance your political beliefs through ethical, constructive civic action? (Many of us feel drawn to both.)

• What are your ideas for 2026 conversations in the East Metro Alliance — What topics, debates, workshops should we have in the East Metro as we head into this election year?

You don’t need to be an expert, an activist, or even particularly optimistic. You just need to be willing to speak honestly, listen generously, and stay curious. As Minnesota approaches a defining political moment, let’s practice how to engage well—together.

Questions: Contact mvoss@braverangels.org

Jan. 29 - Ely Alliance Social Event

Thursday, Jan. 29, 5-7 p.m.
The Boathouse

Social Event with free food and beverages and plenty of conversation. Watch for details.

Feb. 9 - What Did We Learn from the Parties

Mon, Feb. 9   6-8 p.m.
Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka, Room 174

RESERVE A SPOT   Registration is appreciated but not required.

Come discuss what we learned from the DFL and GOP at our last alliance meeting. Let’s talk about what we learned from Minnesota Republican Chair Alex Pleschash and DFL Executive Director Jim Heighington, who explained their respective party’s positions. Braver Angels members at the January 5 alliance meeting obtained answers from these two political competitors. Part of our discussion will include whether any of us altered our viewpoints on the discussed topics.

Time will be time scheduled to write our legislators on these topics or any other pressing issue that we individually have strong opinions on.

If you didn’t attend the January 5 meeting, we’d still love you to come as you’ll hear various viewpoints and takeaways.

*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 Bruce Pomerantz bpomerantz@braverangels.org, Sue Hann shann@braverangels.org

National Events - Online

Jan. 27 - National Debate: The American Dream

Tue, Jan. 27,  7-9 p.m. CST

Host Organization: BA National 

RESERVE A SPOT    Note: This Free event is to be attended ONLINE. Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3.
You will not need physical or virtual tickets  to attend this event.  After registration, you will be emailed the zoom link to attend the event. Keep an eye out!

Is the American Dream alive and well? Join Braver Angels to debate: Resolved: The American Dream is alive and well.

The ideal of the American Dream was introduced into popular discourse early in the 20th century in the wake of the Great Depression. By the 1950s, alongside economic prosperity and the expansion of home ownership in the United States, the American Dream had come to symbolize Americans’ collective optimism about upward mobility.

As 2026—the year of our nation’s 250th anniversary—begins, the future of the American Dream is contested. The share of Americans who own a home continues to rise, but at the same time, the share of Americans who rent their housing is rising faster. Is it still the case that, regardless of background, anyone can achieve success if only they have the will? Some argue that a modern economy characterized by the hollowing out of the middle class makes the American Dream less relevant than in the past. Others, however, argue that rapid technological progress is accompanied by increased opportunity for success. Does this ideal still hold promise in our modern economy? Does the American Dream need an update?

Remember, our resolutions never represent Braver Angels' stance on any issue, and we alternate between speeches for and against the resolution.

Come join us for this free national debate, in which all participants from across the ideological spectrum will have an opportunity to speak and ask their questions. Tell us what you have experienced and what you think.

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 our debates, you can take a look at our quick start guide and this video about the spirit of a Braver Angels Debate. For further information, including to find additional upcoming events or view recordings of some of our past debates, please visit: https://braverangels.org/what-we-do/debates/.

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.

Jan. 31 - Skills for Disagreeing Better

Saturday, Jan. 31, 1-4 pm CST

Host Organization: BA National - Workshops

Setting: Online

Reserve a spot

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

Feb. 6 - National Forum on America's Deportation Policy      ONLINE

Friday, February 6, 2026

5pm PT / 6pm MT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET

RESERVE A SPOT

Join us for a thoughtful, searching conversation among friends and experts who disagree on America’s immigration policies, but who are working together through Braver Angels to find agreement on updating and improving the nation’s immigration and deportation policies.

They’ll discuss:

• What’s at the heart of America’s deportation policy for you?

• What policies or remedies do you support to improve America’s deportation system?

Panelists will include:

• Theresa Cardinal Brown has been working in the immigration policy space for over 30 years. Her work includes stints in the Department of Homeland Security (in both the George W. Bush administration and the Barack Obama administration), as a policy advisor to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (in the George W. Bush administration), and as a director for immigration and cross-border policy for the Bipartisan Policy Center. She serves on the Citizens Commission on Immigration leadership team and as a leader of the initiative’s Immigration Policy Roundtable.

• Gaby Pacheco is President and CEO of TheDream.US, the nation’s largest college and career success program for undocumented immigrant youth. Born in Ecuador, Gaby moved to America as a child at a time when her parents did not have legal status. Her activism, beginning in 2001 as a college student, spearheaded the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

• Jim Robb is Vice President of Alliances at NumbersUSA, the largest membership-based immigration group in the world, and has been working on immigration issues for 30 years. Jim helped found NumbersUSA in 1996 and is the author of Political Migrants: Hispanic Voters on the Move. He serves on the Citizens Commission on Immigration leadership team and is a leader of the initiative’s Immigration Policy Roundtable.

• Peter Skerry is Professor of Political Science at Boston College, and has been researching and writing about immigration issues for more than 30 years. His work on immigration includes stints at the American Enterprise Institute and at the Brookings Institution, where he co-authored Breaking the Immigration Stalemate: From Deep Disagreements to Constructive Proposal. He serves on the Citizens Commission on Immigration leadership team and as Chair of the initiative’s Immigration Policy Roundtable.

This National Forum is part of the Braver Angels Citizens Commission on Immigration, an initiative bringing together grassroots Americans, national leaders, and members of Congress who disagree to find common ground on immigration.

Questions: Contact David Lapp, dlapp@braverangels.org

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