Braver Angels Minnesota
Welcome to Braver Angels
Braver Angels Minnesota is part of a national citizens' movement that brings together conservatives, liberals, independents and others to restore trust, respect and goodwill in American politics.
We seek not to eliminate our differences but rather deal with them head-on -- with respect and understanding -- for the betterment of our communities. In short, we do not try to change people's views on issues but on how they view the other side.
We offer workshops, debates and structured conversations - typically for no charge - that allow participants to learn and practice effective listening and speaking skills.
Our volunteers share and model these skills because they believe that treating each other better is the answer to what's broken in America.
There will always be differences. We believe the best way forward is to change how we deal with those differences.
Bill Doherty on WCCO-AM: Responding to the assassination attempt
In response to the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump, Braver Angels co-founder Bill Doherty was interviewed on WCCO-AM's Adam and Jordana Show about the need to tone down our political rhetoric. Bill offered three steps to bring down the current political temperature. To hear the interview or to read the transcript, go to News
Braver Angels Minnesota offers Election Survival Guide
to reduce political rancor and preserve relationships
In a divisive election year, Braver Angels Minnesota has developed the 2024 Election Survival Guide to support Minnesotans who feel uncertain about handling political differences with those around them.
The free guide offers a three-minute video and other resources with practical ideas on preparing for challenging political conversations with family, friends and neighbors…more…
News about Braver Angels Minnesota
Sept. 13, 2024 - The Current: MPR and nonprofit Braver Angels want Minnesotans to 'disagree better'
Sept. 2, 2024 -Minnesota Star Tribune: Don't like coarse political discourse? Do something.
Aug. 26, 2024 - Minnesota Star Tribune: How the Minnesota Council of Churches is bridging divides this election year
Aug. 19, 2024 - How one state's new 'Civility Caucus' aims to bridge partisan divides
July 28, 2024 - St. Paul Pioneer Press op-ed ran op-ed Doherty, Thiemann: Time to reduce the rancor, Minnesota
July 28, 2024 - America's divisiveness got you down? Some Minnesota towns see an antidote: Improv comedy
July 17, 2024 - Fulcrum published Harry C. Boyte's article Building Civil Hope through Braver Angels
July 15, 2024 - Bill Doherty on WCCO-AM: Responding to the assassination attempt
June 9, 2024 - Duluth's Northern News Now covered Finding Common Ground: Braver Angels holds political discussion on gun regulation Sunday
June 6, 2024 - MPR broadcast of April 24 workshop in Rochester, Talking Sense: Skills for disagreeing respectfully across political divides
Featured Event: Skills for Disagreeing Better
Thursday, September 19, 6-7:30 pm (In-person)
Host: Our Savior's Lutheran Church
9185 Lexington Avenue North, Circle Pines, MN 55014
Register: Skills for Disagreeing Better
Thursday, September 19, 7-8:30 pm (In-person)
Host: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
920 Holly Ave., St. Paul Park
Register: Skills for Disagreeing Better
Monday, September 23, 6:30-8 pm (In-person)
Hosts: Braver Angels and League of Women Voters of Park Rapids Area
Northwoods Bank
1200 First Street East, Park Rapids, MN 56470
Register: Skills for Disagreeing Better
Saturday, September 28, 9-11 am (In-person)
Hosts: City of Cologne and Carver County Public Health Department
Cologne City Hall, 1221 Village Parkway, Cologne, MN 55322
Register: Skills for Disagreeing Better
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
Depolarizing Ourselves
In partnership with MPR's Talking Sense Initiative
Thursday, October 3, 5:30-7:30pm (In-person)
Fergus Brewing Company
1683 Ottertail Drive Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Register: Depolarizing Ourselves
Doors open and complimentary food with registration will be served at 5:30 pm. The workshop will begin at 6:00 pm. Each registration also comes with a free drink. What this workshop is about: 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
Get involved
We offer many ways to Get Involved. Join for $12 a year. Take a free eCourse. Attend a free local, state or national Braver Angels event, among other possibilities. Donations gratefully accepted.
Volunteer Profile - Read about Christopher Schoenherr in Get Involved. He's no stranger to achieving compromise, even in the most unlikely of places.
Join our latest campaign to build capacity among individual Minnesotans and constituencies in academic, civic and religious organizations to disagree better. Here's what one partner said about why her organization joined the campaign.
"We are expecting one in three rural physicians to retire in the next five years. And part of that is being driven by rancor or burnout. Nobody's out there saying we should be less healthy. We all want to be healthy. We have different strategies for how to get there. But health is a common goal."
Laurel Ries M.D., President, Minnesota Medical Association
Braver Angels Effectiveness
After participating in our programs
68% of participants had a positive view of the other side.
75% of participants said they are likely to share what they learned with friends and family.
After participating in our signature Red/Blue Workshop:
86% of participants reported believing that they better understand other points of view
71% reported feeling better understood by people with other points of view
81% reported feeling better prepared to apply the skills they practiced
After participating in 1:1 Conversations: 97% of participants say they found common ground with someone across the divide.
Questions?
Connect with your Minnesota Braver Angels state coordinators at mn-coordinators@braverangels.org.