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. To find a national event, 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

May 1 - National Debate Series: Trump's First 100 Days

Thursday, May 1, 7-9 p.m.
Northern MN & WI Braver Angels Alliance - In-person discussion on May 4; more information in the next event listing, below.

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

On the first day of his second term of office, President Trump signed over 20 executive orders. Bolstered by the move-fast-and-break-things attitude of advisors like Elon Musk, President Trump has since signed dozens more orders in an effort to bring about “The Golden Age of America.”

Some of President Trump’s promised changes are broad (requiring the federal government to eliminate all DEI programs); others are highly specific (renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America). He also has offered an updated vision of the Constitution's Citizenship Clause. In addition to swift domestic action, President Trump has shifted America’s posture toward both allies and competitors on the international stage.

Does America need the changes President Trump's administration promises? Should we end birthright citizenship? Should the US stand with our allies abroad? Is it time to end governance by executive order? Should we defend DEI? Finally, is President Trump making America great? Bring your ideas and questions to these Braver Angels debates, where we’ll dive head first into discussions of the first 100 days of President Trump's second administration.

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 view this video of a sample debate (it lasts about 15 minutes). For more information, to find 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.

May 4 - Discussion of national online debate Making America Great Again (Listen online May 1; discuss in-person on May 4)

Sunday, May 4,  3-5 p.m.
Dovetail Cafe and Market
1917 W Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55806

Host:  Northern MN & WI Braver Angels Alliance

Register for May 1 national online debate (as soon as possible) Use promo code BRAVER
Register for May 4 discussion at the Dovetail Cafe

On the first day of his second term of office, President Trump signed over 20 executive orders. He has since signed dozens more orders in an effort to bring about “The Golden Age of America.” In addition to swift domestic action, President Trump has shifted America’s posture toward both allies and competitors on the international stage. Does America need the changes President Trump's administration promises? Is President Trump making America great? On May 4, bring your ideas and questions to a discussion with members of the Northern MN & WI Braver Angels Alliance about the May 1 online debate - Making America Great Again.

• Prior to May 1 (asap) - To prepare for the May 4 discussion, register for a national online debate, the  fourth debate in a series. The first two are already filled up, so you might want to register now by visiting Is President Trump makiing Ameria great again?. Scroll down to select the May 1 event, then click on the red button that says Reserve a spot.  You will be sent a video link by email.

• May 1, 7-9 p.m. - Listen to the online debate: 

• May 4, 3-5 p.m.  - Gather at Dovetail Café for a respectful discussion to hear how others in your community felt about the May 1 online debate. This discussion is free and open to the public. Registration is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Join us to reflect on your experience from the debate and dig into local perspectives on the topic

Note: 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.

Using Braver Angels guidelines, speakers are timed and responses are directed to the issues, not to the personalities of the speakers. Braver Angels debates are an opportunity to hear how people like you and me are responding to the issues, not a place to tell others that they are wrong. At Dovetail Cafe, we will be less formal. With everyone’s help we will create the respectful space and strengthen our community.

May 12 - Skills for Disagreeing Better

Monday, May 12,  6-8 p.m.
Brookdale Library
6125 Shingle Creek Parkway #Suite 800 Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

Host:  MN-West Suburban Alliance MSP

Register  Note: This *FREE* event is to be attended in person (Promo code: BRAVER). You will not need physical or virtual tickets in order to attend this event.

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

*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 jthiemann@braverangels.org

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