Moderated Workshops
Braver Angels Alliance of Wilmington holds moderated workshops, debates and public presentations designed to bridge the political divide in America today. These events allow conservatives and liberals to get past the destructive stereotypes so we can exchange ideas about real issues that lead to productive problem-solving.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Braver Angels Collegiate Debate
UNCW
Thursday, February 13, 3:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
More Wilmington-based workshops are being planned.
In the meantime, build your skills with one of Braver Angels online e-courses.
In the meantime, build your skills with one of Braver Angels online e-courses.
FEATURED ONLINE COURSES
Skills for Social Media
Free Online
Available on Demand
This course takes approximately 40 minutes.
“...Comments made in the heat of the moment could have unintended effects at home and in the workplace. This course helped me to formulate an informed, thoughtful approach to my social media participation.”
-- Braver Angels of Wilmington member
This course will teach you the knowledge and skills to avoid contributing to polarization on social media. It will also help you identify difficult situations and help you decide what strategy to use to either participate or disengage from them.
You will learn tools to depolarize yourself and engage more constructively with those you disagree with on social media. It does not address the general climate or influence of social media in our country; it is only intended to influence the online behavior of people who take the course. The posts shared here are based on actual posts found on social media, and edited for instructional purposes.
Braver Angels Families & Politics
Free Online
Available on Demand
This course takes approximately 40 minutes.
“Political discussions within families are often loaded with emotional charge and past baggage ... I loved learning about a wide variety of engagement styles along with strategies for handling each one in a way that prioritizes family unity.”
-- Braver Angels of Wilmington member
If you want to preserve important family bonds while still being true to your values and political beliefs, this workshop is for you!
Although the focus is on family relationships, you can use strategies in this workshop with any loved one. You’ll laugh and have some fun in this workshop—it won’t be all serious. After all, we all come from quirky families
This 40-minute online workshop is designed to provide participants with a deeper understanding of why family differences over politics are uniquely challenging, insight into the common roles that family members play when political conversations go badly, and strategies and skills for dealing with family political differences in a constructive way.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Skills for Bridging the Divide
Learn how to communicate better with people who differ from you politically.
There are two course options, one for "reds" and one for "blues." By "red," we mean someone who leans conservative or tends to vote for Republicans. By "blue," we mean someone who leans liberal or tends to vote for Democrats. You are also welcome to take both courses if you like. The skills are the same but the examples are different. If you are an “other” who does not lead red or blue, please choose a side for the sake of practice.
At the end of this training, we hope you will:
Understand what it takes to have constructive, non-polarizing conversations between people who disagree politically;
Walk away with a toolkit of tactics to have more successful conversations, and;
Feel motivated to have these conversations in your social network.
Click here to Begin Red e-Course
Other Free eLearning courses
Check out Braver Angels' full catalog of professional level courses, crafted by experts in communications and depolarization. They provide an effective and “safe” way to interact with people in difficult situations. Each course takes approximately 40 minutes to complete.
PAST EVENTS
Town Hall
NC SENATE CANDIDATES DISTRICT 7
September, 2024
Sponsored by the UNCW Department of Sociology and Criminology, UNCW Department of Public and International Affairs, and Braver Angels of Wilmington NC
What students are saying:
“I really appreciated being able to hear both perspectives and truly listen to the reasoning behind each's opinions. The fact that the only rule that was broken were both candidates addressing the other saying "I completely agree," actually made me emotional and hopeful…”
“I thought the Townhall was a very successful way to learn about the two candidates running for Senate. Comparing this to the Presidential Debate was like a breath of fresh air. I was able to be able to really understand and consider what they both had to say.”
“I thought it was an interesting event, I found myself agreeing on many of the points of the candidate opposite of the one I support.”
“I think both of the candidates did an amazing job of keeping the debate calm. They respected their opponent very well. It was the first time I have ever seen people of the opposite party have a civil conversation.”
“I loved coming to this debate and learning the different viewpoints from the candidates. When it came to each topic, they both made points that I would have never thought of before if I did not attend. This was a positive experience that changed my viewpoint on a lot of ideas and also showed me how civil people can be during a debate. “
Campus Debates
Many thanks to CFCC and UNCW for participating in Braver Angels Campus Debates!
These debates are held periodically. Sign up to our newsletter to get updates on future debates for students, faculty, and BA members.
Braver Angels has developed a highly collaborative approach with faculty and students to organize debates around topics and resolutions usually chosen by the students themselves. These debates are immersive and highly participatory, inviting everyone in the room to express themselves freely in a collective search for truth.
Chaired by trained experts, they teach students (and all participants) to express their views, frame persuasive arguments, listen deeply, and engage respectfully around challenging political and social issues.
As of the fall semester 2023, Braver Angels has launched ~200 campus and classroom debates, engaging ~8,500 students from 79 colleges and universities.
National Events calendar
Interested in additional Braver Angels events? Check out the National Events calendar.