Events
All events are free and open to the public, unless specified otherwise. 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
Skills for Disagreeing Better Workshops
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 for Participants
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
Wednesday, October 9, 6:30-7:45 pm (In-person)
Host: University of St. Thomas
Meeting Room 340 the Anderson Student Center
2115 Summit Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55105
Register: Skills for Disagreeing Better
Thursday, October 24, 7-8:30 pm (In-person)
Host: West Suburban Alliance-MSP
Partner: League of Women Voters of St. Louis Park
St. Louis Park City Hall
5005 Minnetonka Boulevard, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Register: Skills for Disagreeing Better
Sunday, October 27, 11:30-1 pm (In-person)
Host: MN State Alliance
St. Louis Park City Hall
2175 1st Street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Register: Skills for Disagreeing Better
Tuesday, October 29, 6:30-8 pm (In-person)
Host: Braver Angels
Partner: Dakota County Library System
Kaposia Library, 131 7th Ave N, South St Paul, MN 55075
South St. Paul
Register: Skills for Disagreeing Better
Depolarizing Within Workshops
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 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.
Monday, October 7, 9:30am-12:30 pm (In-person)
Host: Braver Angels
Partner: Independent School District 197
Thompson Park Activity Center,
1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Register: Depolarizing Within
Sunday, October 13, 1-3:30 pm (In-person)
Host: West Suburban Alliance-MSP
Minnetonka City Hall,
14600 Minnetonka Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN 55345
Register: Depolarizing Within
Depolarizing Ourselves Workshops
Interested in examining your own inner polarization and learning strategies to disagree without condemning or ridiculing others? 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. 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
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 6:30-8pm (In-person)
Hosts: League of Women Voters of White Bear Lake Area, Rotary Club of White Bear Lake, and White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce
White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church
328 Maple St, Mahtomedi, MN 55115
Register: Depolarizing Ourselves
Thursday, Oct. 17, 6:30-7:45 pm (In-person)
Host: Braver Angels
Partner: University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105
Register: Depolarizing Ourselves
Mónica Guzmán - Reception and Fireside Chat
Tuesday, Oct. 8 - Reception and book-signing 5-5:45 pm; Fireside chat 6:15-8 pm
Yellowjacket Union Great Room
1605 Catlin Ave, Superior, WI 54880
Register: Mónica Guzmán
This event is open to the public and for UW-Superior faculty, staff and students on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register only if you plan to attend, out of consideration for our community’s resources and interest.
Mónica Guzmán is a bridge builder, journalist, and entrepreneur who lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions. She's author of I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times; founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity; Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels; and host of A Braver Way podcast. For more information and to register, see the Mónica Guzmán flyer (PDF)
Families and Politics
Monday, Oct. 14, 6:00-8:45 pm (In-person)
Host: Centennial School District Community Education
4657 North Road, Circle Pines, MN 55014
Register: Family and Politics Workshop
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 4:30-7:30 pm (In-person)
Host: Braver Angels
Partner: Dakota County Library System
20085 Heritage Drive, Lakeville, MN 55044
Register: Family and Politics Workshop
Thursday, Oct. 24, 5-8 pm (In-person)
Host: Northern MN Alliance
Yellowjacket Union Great Room
1605 Catlin Ave, Superior, WI 54880
Register: Family and Politics Workshop
Family relationships are becoming casualties of our toxic polarized environment. If you want to preserve important family bonds while still being true to your values and political beliefs, this workshop is for you.
Win or Lose — How Do We Bridge the Divide After the Election?
Tuesday, Oct. 22 - Join us for dinner on your own 5:30-7; Discussion 7-8:30 pm (In-person)
Host: Twin Cities East Metro Braver Angels Alliance
Sgt Peppers Grille and Bar
930 Helena Ave N., Oakdale, MN 55128
Register: Win or Lose - How Do We Bridge the Divide After the Election?
Book Discussions
Monday, Nov. 4 - David Brooks: How to Know A Person 6:30-7:45 pm (In-person)
Host: Twin Cities West Suburban Braver Angels Alliance
Ridgedale Library - Ladyslipper Room 275
12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55345
Register: Book Discussion
No matter who wins the election, each of us has a stake – and a role to play – in strengthening the fabric of democracy after the ballots are counted. But given the intense emotions on both sides, can we avoid being a sore loser or an arrogant winner? Join us for a focused discussion on how we can prepare ourselves by identifying pitfalls to avoid and actions we can take – win or lose – to continue building political goodwill and a vibrant democracy.
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, click here.