Braver Angels from First Parish and Christ Church
Christ Episcopal Church and First Parish in Needham, Unitarian Universalist, are proudly co-sponsoring a Needham-based Braver Angels Series: Bridging Partisanship & Strengthening our Democratic Republic. Braver Angels workshops support civil civic engagement, which is especially important during this contentious election year. Each workshop will be facilitated by a trained Braver Angels moderator, with the goal of “bringing Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic” (the Braver Angels mission).
- “Depolarizing Within,” Sunday Oct 27 at 1 pm (Christ Church, 1132 Highland Ave)
- “Skills for Disagreeing Better,” Thursday Nov 14 at 7 pm (Christ Church) details & registration available below!
- “Family & Politics,” Sunday Nov 24 at 4 pm (First Parish, 23 Dedham Ave) details & registration available below!
Skills for Disagreeing Better (Nov 14 at 7 pm at Christ Church):
In this polarized time, we can 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. 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, accurately seeing where we differ and where we share common ground.
Through this workshop with trained facilitator Julien LaFleur, participants will develop:
- More understanding of the values and concerns of people who differ 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
Register at uuneedham.info/DisagreeingBetter2024. All are welcome! Childcare will be available!
Family & Politics (Nov 24 at 4 pm at First Parish):
Family relationships can become casualties of a toxic political environment. Family members are having bitter political arguments, avoiding each other, or even cutting off lifetime relationships. If you want to preserve important relational bonds while still being true to your values and political beliefs, this in-person workshop is for you. Although the focus is on family relationships, you can use learnings 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!
Through this workshop with trained facilitator Julien LaFleur, participants will be offered:
- Insight into why family differences over politics are uniquely challenging
- Common roles that family members play in political conversations
- Strategies & skills for constructively handling family political differences
Register at uuneedham.info/FamilyPolitics2024. All are welcome! Childcare (and pizza dinner for kids) will be available!
Our first workshop, “Depolarizing Within,” was Sunday October 27 at 1 pm at Christ Church.
Braver Angel’s “Depolarizing Within” workshop teaches participants to look at their own attitudes towards the political “other” and develop strategies for engaging in politics (without demonizing) and constructively intervening in conversations with like-minded peers when those conversations stereotype or demonize “the other side.”
Through this workshop with trained facilitator Julien LaFleur, participants will be able to:
• Become more aware of their own “inner polarizer”;
• Critique opposing viewpoints without stereotyping, dismissing, ridiculing, and holding contempt for the people with whom they disagree; and,
• Develop ways to speak up in polarizing conversations with peers about people “on the other sided”
Braver Angels envisions an America with respectful embrace of political disagreements, where civic friendship flourishes and competing perspectives strengthen our nation. Embracing values of respect, humility, honesty, and responsible citizenship, our goal is not to change people’s views of issues, but to change their views of each other. No matter where you are on your journey, you are welcome to participate in a workshop to build your skills and engage in conversations with those with whom you disagree — using the Braver Angels Way. Learn more at ma.braverangels.org.