Get beyond the stories we tell about each other to discover the truth, and create a forum over Zoom to discuss our viewpoints without judgment.
Please join us for an intensive online workshop that will bring together Republican-leaning and Democratic-leaning citizens for structured conversations, with a focus on listening and reflecting rather than debating and persuading. We will use technology to facilitate collaborative discussions and the sharing of ideas.
Goals:
- To better understand the experiences and beliefs of those on the other side of the political divide.
- To seek out areas of common ground in addition to acknowledging and respecting differences.
- To gain insights that might help to heal the increasing polarization in our community and the nation.
Who can come? Anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of, and connection with, people whose political beliefs differ from their own. You should honestly be able to answer "yes" to the following question:
“Are you willing to listen to the other side, and are you willing to speak to the other side with respect?”
Why: In Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address in 1861, with the nation on the brink of Civil War, he appealed to the “better angels of our nature.” In our dangerously divided nation, we all need to be touched by something “better” and Braver within us and within the country we share. That’s why we’re hosting this Braver Angels workshop.
Braver Angels began in December of 2016, shortly after the contentious Presidential election. Its mission is to depolarize America, and it does so with this belief: our love for our country can be shown by our concern for our fellow citizens, even when we disagree about politics. The foundation of Braver Angels is the Braver Angels Rule: at every level of leadership, from the national board of directors down to the organizers of local workshops, Braver Angels is half red and half blue. As individuals we try to understand the other side’s point of view, even if we don’t agree with it. In our communities, we engage those we disagree with, looking for common ground and ways to work together. And in politics, we support principles that bring us together rather than divide us.
The Process:
The workshop is facilitated by two Better Angels-certified moderators who ensure a setting hospitable to red and blue participants alike. All who attend report transformative experiences of positive hope for the country we love.
There are tickets available for both participants and observers. Be sure to select the appropriate ticket type!
Requirements to participate:
Be willing to 'be a color' for the afternoon (Many participants are red in some areas and blue in others. The design of the workshop balances red and blues for maximum experience. Participants agree to reflect a particular color for the duration of the workshop.)
Be willing to listen to the “other side”.
Be willing to engage the “other side” in respectful conversation.
Commit to attend the entire session (three hours, from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm.)
Requirements to observe:
Be willing to listen, and not speak during the exercises.
(Observers do not reflect a 'color' for the workshop. They listen and then interact at the breaks. Observing is a great way to 'check out' a workshop. Observers have also found observing a workshop to be amazingly valuable. If one or more participants do not appear, we may also ask the observers to volunteer to be participants.)
What happens in the workshop:
You will participate in a series of structured experiences, designed by an expert in family therapy, to break through stereotypes and misperceptions of the ‘other’ side. You will also hear how each side believes their values and policies are good for the country, and propose ways they believe their side could improve.
How to attend:
Register on this page for the ticket type that reflects your role. A Zoom Link will be sent to attendees prior to the workshop. An organizer will check in with participants via e-mail or phone beforehand to ensure attendance. No preparation is necessary, either for participants or observers.
