Are you heartsick about the divisions tearing our country apart?
We hear you. We're citizens like you who feel the impact of the animosity, distrust, and fear.
Together, we're working to heal the wounds between left and right, and rebuild trust. And you can too.
Featured Event
Join us on April 27th at The Westport Library for a moderated, in-person panel discussion: Bridging Our Differences: How to Have Curious Conversations. Connecticut Public's Lucy Nalpathanchil talks with Mónica Guzmán and Wilk Wilkinson of Braver Angels about their work building bridges across differences. They share strategies everyone can use. The panel discussion will be followed by questions from the audience.
Guzmán, who describes herself as "the proud liberal daughter of conservative parents," is Senior Fellow at Braver Angels and the author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Wilkinson, a conservative, is a member of Braver Angels' We The People's Project, and host of the podcast, Derate the Hate.
Connecticut Public’s Civility Initiative focuses on ways to build stronger communities by connecting residents to conversations that foster understanding.
The event is a partnership between Connecticut Public, the Braver Angels Connecticut Alliance, The Westport Library and the Hearst CT Media Group.
Live Online Programs
Depolarizing Within
Much of today’s polarization is driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side. Too often, we stereotype, dismiss, or ridicule our fellow citizens who support the other political party, its leaders, and its policies. Become more aware of your "inner polarizer.” Learn methods for disagreeing without contempt and ridicule.
Find one ⧉
On-Demand Option:
Take the 40-minute e-course now! ⧉
Book Club Series
Our first four-session Book Club series will focus on I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times (Benbella Books, 2022) by Mónica Guzmán, Director of Digital & Storytelling at Braver Angels.
Newcomers & Volunteers
2ND WED, 7:00PM-8:00PM ET (Zoom) Sept to June
Tired of the toxic divisions tearing our country apart? You're not alone. At this Intro for Newcomers & Volunteers, learn how we're bringing together citizens from across the political spectrum to bridge the partisan divide, and how you can help too.
7:00PM ET — Part 1: For newcomers & new members interested in learning about Braver Angels and our upcoming events to bridge the partisan divide. Feel free to stay for Part 2 also.
7:30PM ET — Part 2: For members interested in volunteering, locally or nationally. Feel free to attend Part 1 also to meet and greet newcomers.
On-Demand E-Learning Courses
Braver Angels also offers a number of its core workshops in a 40-minute, on demand, E-Learning Course format. They can be used either to prepare you to get a better experience when you take a specific live or in-person workshop, or they can stand alone and provide a valuable learning experience.
Special Programs
For Elected Officials, Candidates, Staffs:
Braver Politics
American politics is broken.
Become part of the solution.
Braver Politics is a national initiative to depolarize our politics and remake our political culture from the ground up in a spirit of trust, citizenship, and good-will. By fostering opportunities for elected officials, candidates, and their staffs to participate in Braver Angels programs with each other and with constituents, develop skills for communicating across difference, and build constructive relationships across partisan divides, Braver Politics will influence our politics at the local, state, and federal level going into the next election cycle and beyond.
On September 8th, 2022, over 125 people came out for the Connecticut Alliance's first Braver Politics event, "Moving Beyond Polarization: Making Politics Work!" If you missed it, you can learn more and view a recording here.
For Organizations, Large and Small:
Braver Partners
Polarization is too big to tackle on our own. We need you.
Braver Partners is a national network of civil society organizations from across the political spectrum who support our mission. Join our free, volunteer network to develop and connect your organization's members, build capacity, depolarize your organizational culture, help the country in a time of need, and gain recognition for your efforts. As a partner, you can engage your members in Braver Angels events, get 100 free memberships, enroll in free leadership training to organize and moderate Braver Angels workshops and activities within your organization, and send representatives to our annual Convention.
Members: Help Braver Partners ⧉
For School Communities:
Braver Schools
Engage your school community and youth in bridge-building.
Our Braver School Communities program engages high school and middle school communities—students, parents, teachers, administrators, and school board members—in our bridge-building efforts through presentations, workshops, discussions, one-to-one conversations, debates, and more. Our programs help participants improve their listening skills, speaking skills, and empathy in the context of cross-partisan discussion and disagreement. It is a pressing need to bring these skills to our youth and the entire school community. Help us bring Braver Schools programs to your school community.
Latest Press
10/12/22
Connecticut Public
Navigating politics at school and at home during 'dangerously divided times'
Listen ⧉
9/22/22
Connecticut Post
‘Braver Angels’ could show us all the way to strengthen our American democracy
Read ⧉
9/7/22
WTIC 1080 AM
Braver Angels Connecticut Alliance Co-Chair Chris Clouet featured on “Brian & Company” radio show
Listen ⧉
Support Us
Donate
Help us build a house united by making a one-time donation to support the efforts of your local alliance. We welcome donations from members and non-members alike (if you're not a member and would like to join, see "Join Us" above).
Donate ⧉
Join Us
Join our legion of Americans who believe that the fight to save our nation begins with a ceasefire among ourselves. Become a member of Braver Angels for as low as $12/year. A member of Braver Angels is part of a national community—we are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents of all political persuasions. We form local alliances and hold local workshops and debates. We discuss our differences with civility and look for common ground. We encourage each other and we organize others do the same. We are a grassroots family fixing our broken politics from the bottom up.
Join us ⧉
Volunteer
In addition to the events and programs you can attend right now, we're also looking to grow our alliance to bring this important work to all of our neighborhoods, towns, and cities. For that, we need you!
Connect With Us
Learn About Us
We bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide. Learn more about us and our efforts at the national and local levels.
Email Us
Got questions or want to learn more about how to get involved? Email us: ctalliance@braverangels.org
Subscribe
Subscribe to our local alliance email list to get updates on news and upcoming activities, as well as workshops, skills trainings, and debates sponsored by Braver Angels national and other alliances across the country.