*Please note: this workshop is an in-person only workshop.*

Depolarizing Within

In our current political climate, much of our conflict stems not from healthy disagreement over policies, issues, or philosophy. Instead, it’s created by the often emotional, rancor-escalating, and highly polarizing conversations that we typically have with others. Braver Angels has created our Depolarizing Within Workshops to build your skills around lessening the probability and magnitude of polarization in your conversations when differences inevitably arise - as well as to help you reframe how you view the other side in the face of disagreements around politics.

This workshop teaches you:

• How to become more aware of your own ‘inner polarizer’ in conversations.
• How to disagree with others without demonizing, dismissing, or stereotyping large segments of our nation’s population.
• Strategies for intervening constructively in social conversations with like-minded peers when those conversations veer into contempt and ridicule for people who hold opposing political views.

Successfully ‘taming’ our inner polarizer starts with recognizing our tendencies around harmful generalizations about the other side. This requires acknowledging how we often attribute negative intent and motivations to the other side without first trying to understand them. It also involves recognizing how we unrealistically over-idealize our own side in the equation. This workshop facilitates growth in our ability to:

(a) challenge our existing stereotypes and default ‘labels’ about our political opponents;

(b) distinguish between people and their respective positions;

(c) differentiate between the policies and the deeper core values of the other side;

(d) become more realistic and honest about our own side’s deficits; and

(e) look for positive aspects of the other side in our conversations and interactions.

 This approximately three (3) hour workshop will be moderated by two trained Braver Angels volunteer moderators.

Anyone interested in more fully exploring polarization and the remedies for it can enroll. The workshop is also ideal for organizations such as communities of worship, social clubs, or educational institutions.

Braver Angels is a citizens’ organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America. For more information visit https://braverangels.org/

Building Bridges Maine is a Braver Angels Alliance organization. For more information visit https://www.buildingbridgesmaine.org/