Resources for Partners
This page offers tools and ideas for actions that could be helpful in carrying out the Reduce the Rancor, Minnesota campaign within your organization and community, whatever your level of commitment. Ideas range from simply endorsing the campaign to leading your community to take a step and growing your constituents’ capacity to lead the work of depolarizing.
If your organization is not a partner and you wish to learn more about it, please email bdoherty@umn.edu.
How to begin to participate in the campaign?
Write down your mission and see how it aligns with the campaign. For instance, Dr. Laurel Ries, president of the Minnesota Medical Association said at our March 11 kick-off: “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.”
How do I endorse the Reduce the Rancor, Minnesota campaign?
Interested in endorsing this campaign? Send an email to bdoherty@umn.edu.
Take a public stand via your organization’s communication channels (newsletters, website, mailings, events). Braver Angels can offer brief messages (50-100 words), short articles (700 words) on such topics as why engage with the other side or longer pieces (up to 1,500 words) during the course of the year that you could use. Contact bdoherty@umn.edu for more information.
Send a news release or opinion piece in your local media
Publicize Braver Angels activities in your area. See the Events page.
Distribute handouts (PDF)
How do I go from endorsing to promoting Reduce the Rancor, Minnesota?
Publicize Braver Angels activities in your area. See the Events page.
Invite a Braver Angels ambassador to speak to your organization. Presentations can be limited to an hour or be longer to include an exercise. Contact mn-coordinators@braverangels.org.
Host a Reduce the Rancor event or Braver Angels activity. Contact mn-coordinators@braverangels.org.
Offer a Braver Angels workshop to your employees, members, supporters or other constituents. Braver Angels workshops can be customized for specific organizations. Contact mn-coordinators@braverangels.org.
Think about making a plan for how your organization can sustain the conversation before, during and after the election. Here’s a plan developed by the University of St. Thomas with Tommies Reduce the Rancor.
What steps can members of our community take?
Encourage your constituents to have a 1:1 conversation - The process involves one or two hour-long conversations between two people using a structured conversation guide. The goals are to better understand the experiences, feelings, and beliefs of the other person, discover any areas of commonality, and share ideas for how to bridge differences across our country. Currently there are six types:
The Golden Rule - Connecting people across one of our differences for a discussion about The Golden Rule
Red/Blue - Connecting one conservative and one liberal/progressive to share what each believe and want for the country
Rural/Urban - Connecting one rural or small-town dweller with one person from an urban or suburban area to better understand each other’s worlds
Conversation About Race, Ethnicity and Culture - Connecting two people from different racial, ethnic or cultural groups
Conversation Across Generations - Connecting one person 18-30 years old with one person 61+ years old
Conversation about Israeli-Palestinian Relations - Conversation type 1 connects an Israeli-leaning person with a Palestinian-leaning one. Type 2 connects two Jews who disagree on Israeli government policy toward Palestinians.
Suggest that they attend a national Braver Angels offering, such as an online debate or eCourse. These opportunities are open to all at no cost.
Invite your constituents to attend a Braver Angels event in their area or a national Braver Angels Online debate or discussion. These events are open to all at no cost.
Visit Get Involved to find free workshops you can take or volunteer opportunities.
How can members of my community become even more involved?
Participate with a local Braver Angels alliance (or chapter) in your area or start one. Visit Contact Us for the list of Minnesota alliances
Encourage them to get trained for volunteer roles that can bring the campaign to more people in your organization. Visit that national Braver Angels site Become a Member site, then scroll to Volunteer. Here are just a few:
Facilitator training
Moderator training
Ambassador training
Invite your constituents to join Braver Angels Minnesota. Membership costs $12 a year, which helps fund Braver Angels Minnesota activities. Minnesota has no paid staff. Donations are appreciated to cover costs, such as supplies and meeting room charges. You can donate directly to the Minnesota state alliance or to a local Minnesota alliance on the Contact Us page.