Braver Angels 2025 tour
Fergus Falls

Reduce the Rancor Minnesota Bus Tour

(Worthington, Willmar, Kerkoven, Fergus Falls, Moorhead, Bemidji and Brainerd)

April 24-May 3, 2025

Four Events for Fergus Falls and Surrounding Areas
Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Local citizens in Fergus Falls and surrounding areas are working with Braver Angels Minnesota to offer several events in your area. Begun in 2016, Braver Angels is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit with a particularly strong base in Minnesota dedicated to reducing unhealthy polarization without either side compromising its values. BA offers proven methods and strategies that people can use immediately to forge better relationships. By using these tools and supporting efforts to reduce the rancor, we can strengthen our communities and our democratic republic.   

Questions? Laura Merickel, lauraannemerickel@gmail.com or Ben Schierer, benjaminschierer@yahoo.com or Melinda Voss, mvoss@braverangels.org.

Managing Difficult Conversations with Constituents and Colleagues Workshop
For elected officials and administrators who deal with the public

Tuesday, April 29, 10-11:30 a.m. Fergus Falls Public Library, 205 E Hampden Ave., Fergus Falls, 56537

Register here

In a time when norms of civility and compromise have broken down, this lively and interactive 90-minute workshop for elected officials and public administrators provides a way to strengthen skills for managing conversations when constituents or colleagues are frustrated, angry, or locked in their viewpoints. Led by a national Minnesota-based Braver Angels leader, the workshop includes four specific skills and guided practice around common scenarios that elected officials encounter every day. The focus is on one-to-one conversations rather than large public meetings. The goals are for you to be able to:

• Show people who disagree with you that they have been heard.

• Find areas of commonality or agreement when those are present.

• Share your view in a way that is likely to be heard by the other person. 

There is no charge for this workshop, which has been conducted around the state for the last several years after being endorsed and supported by the Minnesota School Boards Association, the League of Minnesota Cities, the Association of Minnesota Counties and the Minnesota Association of Townships.  

Leadership Luncheon on Bridging Divides in Today's World                  
For elected officials, senior administrators and community Leaders (There is no charge.)
Tuesday, April 29, Noon – 1:30 p.m.     Fergus Falls Public Library, 205 E Hampden Ave, Fergus Falls 56537

Community Leaders Register here

Nearly all Americans agree that we are too divided. Polarization started at the national level and has spread to local communities and even families. Join us at a luncheon with other community leaders for a guided conversation led by a national Braver Angels leader about how we can head off the forces that divide and instead focus on bridge building in the years ahead. 

Bridging Divides, Building Community: A Braver Angels Open House

For members of the public and particularly Braver Angels supporters

Tuesday, April 29, 2-4  p.m.  Fergus Falls Public Library, 205 E Hampden Ave, Fergus Falls 56537

Register here (Registration requested; walk-ins welcome)

Tired of toxic polarization? Join us for a Braver Angels Open House—a welcoming space for anyone who wants to bring friends, families, and communities back together despite political and cultural differences. Since 2016, Braver Angels has worked to reduce unhealthy divisions without asking anyone to compromise their values. With a strong Minnesota presence, Braver Angels focuses on changing not what people believe, but how they see each other—through respectful disagreement and civic friendship. Come learn how you can be part of the movement to heal our democratic republic, one conversation at a time. Let’s turn discord into dialogue!

Parenting in a Time of Polarization Workshop - cancelled
Had been scheduled for Tuesday, April 29 , 7-8:30 p.m