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

July 15 - Skills for Disagreeing Better - Minneapolis

Wednesday, July 15  6:30-8 p.m.

Lake Harriet United Methodist Church

4901 Chowen Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55410

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.

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

Questions? Contact Melinda Voss, mvoss@braverangels.org

July 16 - The Declaration of Independence and Liberty, Then and Now: A Community Conversation - Edina

Thursday, July 16        12 noon-2 p.m.

Edina Senior Center
5280 Grandview Square, Edina

The Minnesota Humanities Center presents a community conversation in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding and to identify shared values as Minnesotans. Free to attend. Registration required. Lunch provided.

REGISTER   Free

The Minnesota Humanities Center presents a community conversation in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding and to identify shared values as Minnesotans. Free to attend. Registration required. Lunch provided.

July 22 - Ely Alliance Summer Fish Fry

Wednesday, July 22 - 5-7 p.m.

Samz Place, 1225 Winton Road, Ely

We hope to see you at our Summer Social on July 22nd, 5-7 at Samz Place!

Fish fry, beer and pop, and dessert bar - no charge for any of that, but of course donations are welcome. Grant Hauschild (our state senator D) and Roger Skraba (our representative R) will both be present and share some thoughts on working across the aisle. Roger is also cooking the fish!

Happy 250th Birthday, America! And Belated Happy 4th of July to all you Ely Braver Angels and others curious about this organization.

At the national convention in Philadelphia last week, the nearly 900 delegates from all over the US forged a pledge for our time. Honoring the pledge made by those brave souls who risked everything to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776, all the delegates stood and read this pledge:

"I pledge to be a courageous citizen — to choose curious listening over contempt, to build alongside those with different politics, and to embrace our shared duty to renew America's civic culture."

This pledge doesn’t ask us to come to an agreement about how the future of our country should look. It asks that we engage in citizenship, which means learning what we can about the issues we face, listening to one another to hear a range of ideas, sharing the values we have in common, and moving ahead with solutions that include respect for one another. The signers of the Declaration of Independence didn’t agree on much, and they were trying to set up a whole nation on the novel (at the time) premise that free people can govern themselves. Surely, we Americans today can accomplish a renewal that creates effective government. But we can’t do it through apathy or rancor. We need a culture of involvement, of caring, of understanding our civic responsibility, and modeling good citizenship for the next generation.

As small as the Ely Braver Angels Alliance is, we can be effective in our community. Share with your friends, family, and neighbors that Braver Angels is a place where we are not trying to change one another’s views, but to change our views of one another. 

We hope to see you at our Summer Social on July 22, 5-7 p.m. at Samz Place. Let’s be courageous citizens and bridge our political divides to create a culture where we can disagree agreeably. Let’s carry the spirit of 1776 forward!

The Ely Braver Angels Alliance meets the 4th Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m., usually at the Ely Community Center at 27 S. 1st Ave E. All welcome!

Aug. 3 - Book discussion: Beyond the Politics of Contempt - Duluth

Monday, Aug. 3 - 6 p.m.
Ursa Minor Brewing, 2415 Superior St., Duluth

You are invited to discuss Beyond the Politics of Contempt, written by long-time Braver Angels. Ursa Minor has a warm and open atmosphere, with a play area for kids, bigger kids too. You may purchase a pizza, salad, or dessert; non-alcoholic options are available.

NATIONAL EVENTS - ALL ONLINE

July 25 - Depolarizing Within   **ONLINE**

Saturday, July 25  1-4 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.

A free online workshop to become more aware of your "inner polarizer" and learn methods for disagreeing without contempt and ridicule

Note: This event is to be attended online.

Polarization can be driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side. Too often, we stereotype, dismiss, or ridicule our fellow citizens who support the other political party, its leaders, and its policies.

This *FREE* 3 hour workshop is offered online over Zoom and teaches participants:

• How to be more aware of their own "inner polarizer"

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

• How to constructively intervene in polarizing social conversations with like-minded people

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

Please be on time. Because this is an interactive workshop, latecomers may not be admitted.

Questions? Contact Paige Swartz, paige@braverangels.org

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