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

April 28  -  Immigrants and the American Dream: Who Should Get In and Why?   "*ONLINE**

Tuesday, April 28   7-8:30 p.m.

Focus: Minnesota

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.

Overview

Explore the ins and outs of legal immigration

Join us for a thoughtful conversation on one of the most debated issues of our time: who should have the opportunity to immigrate to the United States. Should the system prioritize family ties, humanitarian needs, economic growth, or workforce demands? We’ll start with a brief, fact-based overview of today’s legal immigration pathways—including asylum—and then open the floor for a wide range of perspectives. A fact sheet and resources will be shared in advance, but no preparation is required. Just bring your curiosity and your views to the table.

Questions? Contact mvoss@braverangels.org

April 29 - Depolarizing Ourselves - Mound

Wednesday, April 29      6:30-8 p.m.

Gillespie Center

2590 Commerce Boulevard

Mound, MN 55364

Host Organization: West Suburban Alliance-MSP

Partner organization: Bethel of Mound United Methodist Church

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

RESERVE A SPOT NOW!   *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.

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.

May 4 - Immigration Debate - Shorewood

Monday, May 4   7-9 p.m.
Shorewood Community Center, 5735 Country Club Road, Shorewood, MN 55331

RESERVE A SPOT

Resolution: The federal government should increase funding for effective barriers on the southern border and enforcement resources to deport persons who are undocumented.

You will experience: 

·    Multiple speeches for and against the resolution.

·    The opportunity to make speeches and ask questions about the speeches.

·    Perspectives that challenge your ideas.

Background:  Congress has not achieved a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform bill for the estimated 11 million undocumented persons in the United States. Some legislators focus on improving the naturalization process while others favor enforcement regarding entry to the country and deportation of undocumented persons in the United States.

Braver Angels Debates:  In case you are not familiar with Braver Angels debates, here is additional information:

• A resolution never represents the Braver Angels' stance on any issue. Its purpose focuses discussion on one issue among many concerning a controversial topic.

• It’s a highly structured conversation in which a group of people think together, listen to one another, and are open to being touched and perhaps changed by each other’s ideas.
  
  

Goals:

• Engage in a process looking for common ground where it exists

• Become more aware of the validity of differing views

• Build tighter community relationships

The debate process uses modified parliamentary procedures which create an atmosphere of decorum and respect. Participants are asked and expected to behave respectfully toward one another, whether they are speakers, have a question for the speaker, or are simply there to listen.

Watch Braver Angels Debates, a 5-minute video  that explains more about Braver Angels debates.

May 12 - Skills for Disagreeing Better - Eagan

Tuesday, May 12   7-8:30 p.m.

Dakota Hills Middle School, 4183 Braddock Trail, Eagan, MN  55123

ENROLL NOW

Is political tension hurting your family and friendships? Learn how to understand the values and concerns of people who see politics differently. Explore simple, practical skills for listening so others feel heard, and for sharing your own views in a way others can receive, even if they disagree. 

Participants will: 

• Better understand the values and concerns of people with different beliefs

• Develop listening skills that help others feel respected and understood 

• Practice sharing your own views in a way that encourages connection instead of conflict

Braver Angels of Dakota County
Braver Angels’ mission is to bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. Braver Angels facilitates conversations that bring liberals, conservatives and others together at the grassroots level – not to find centrist compromise, but to find one another as citizens. Through workshops, debates and engagement, they help Americans understand each other beyond stereotypes, form community alliances, and reduce the vitriol that poisons our civic culture.

May 27 - Ely Alliance Meeting - Ely

Wednesday, May 27   6 p.m.

Ely Community Center

27 E 2nd Ave, Ely, MN 55731

Braver Angels members and supporters in the Ely area gather each month to have respectful conversations about timely topics.  We meet every 4th Wednesday, same time, same place, different topics.

Hope to see you there!

Thanks.

Steering Committee

Questions? Reach out to johnnie@ravenwords.com

National Events - All Online

April 25 - Crossing the Continental Divide   **ONLINE**

Saturday, April 25, ,   10-11:30 a.m. CDT

RESERVE A SPOT   This free event is brought to you by Braver Angels as part of our mission to depolarize America. This event is to be attended online via Zoom.

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 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. Visit "Able to give more?" to donate.

This event provides an introduction to Braver Angels and an overview of its principles.

Crossing the Continental Divide provides participants with an introduction to Braver Angels and an overview of its principles. During this presentation, participants will:

• Participate in two brief activities (one taken directly from the Depolarizing Within workshop)

• Watch a video of a Braver Angels' Red/Blue workshop in action

• Gain knowledge about how to have better conversations

• Learn about other Braver Angels' experiences and opportunities

Questions? Contact byoung@braverangels.org

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

May 5 - National Debate: Red/Blue at Braver Angels   *ONLINE*

Tuesday, May 5   7-9 p.m. CDT

RESERVE A SPOT  Click for more details. After registration, you will be emailed the zoom link to attend the event. Keep an eye out!
This is a *FREE * event. Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3. More information on the registration page.

Is the Red/Blue dichotomy the heart of Braver Angels’ success, or is it a limitation we’ve outgrown? Since its founding, Braver Angels has relied on the Red/Blue framework to bring Americans together across the partisan divide. Proponents argue that the framework is a vital tool that ensures viewpoint diversity in all we do–creating structured environments where diverse perspectives can be heard and challenged with civility. Critics, however, worry that this binary approach is outdated amidst an increasingly complex political landscape. They argue that the Red/Blue divide may simplify or even erase the viewpoints of those who don’t fit neatly into either category.

What do you think? Is Red/Blue balance the best way to ensure true viewpoint diversity, or is it time to look beyond the dichotomy? In this debate, we will use our model to turn inward and explore the future of our movement. Join us May 5th at 8 pm ET to share your perspective on Resolved: The Red/Blue dichotomy is the best way to ensure viewpoint diversity at Braver Angels.

Join Braver Angels for a debate on the topic – Resolved: The Red/Blue dichotomy is the best way to ensure viewpoint diversity at Braver Angels

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

May 7 -   Reflections on the Gettysburg Address   *ONLINE*

Thursday, May 7     7-8:15 p.m. CDT

RESERVE A SPOT   After registration, you will be emailed the zoom link to attend the event. Keep an eye out!
This is a *FREE * event. Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3. More information on the registration page.

A National Day of Prayer was established by President Truman in 1952 and set as the first Thursday of May by President Reagan in 1988. Braver Angels will convene a growing number of faith-based bridge-building groups to honor the occasion.You are invited to join Braver Faith to reflect on Lincoln's speech and pray for healing.

May 16 - Workshop to Address Unauthorized Immigrants in U.S. Today   *ONLINE*

Saturday May 16 1-5  p.m.  CDT

RESERVE A SPOT  Click on the link for more details. After registration, you will be emailed the zoom link to attend the event. Keep an eye out!
This is a *FREE * event. Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3. More information on the registration page.

This Common Ground Workshop on Immigration will bring together equal numbers of Reds and Blues take a deep dive into a problem and work on proposing solutions-- together.

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