02-05-2025
Braver Angels events in Willmar, Minnesota, provide pathways for tough conversations
May 2---- The
"Reduce the Rancor" bus tour stopped in Willmar earlier this week to conduct workshops for elected officials and the public.
The purpose of the tour is to strengthen communities and democracy.
Braver Angels conducted a Monday morning skills workshop for elected officials to enhance their effectiveness across divides, and then hosted a luncheon with an interactive discussion for elected officials and community leaders on building community beyond differences.
A handful of Willmar residents participated in an open house event that took place Monday afternoon at the
to learn how to turn discord into dialogue.
The discussion was led by Minnesota Braver Angels co-chairs Scott Schluter, who politically leans Republican, and Melinda Voss, who leans Democrat.
"We're not out to change their points of view, but to hear the points of view on the other side," Voss said.
Schluter explained that Braver Angels encourages using the
in conversations — listen to understand what someone is saying; acknowledge what was said to make sure it was understood; pivot the conversation by assessing whether it's OK to offer another point of view; and share a different perspective in a way that is not telling the other person that they are wrong.
"One of the things that Braver Angels has taken on is polarization," Voss said. She said that polarization is toxic and leads people to view those with differing beliefs as crazy or evil. " ... This isn't just happening because of one one elected official or one one political party or anything. The factors that have given rise to this toxic polarization we're experiencing have been ongoing trends for the last 40 years."
She explained that Braver Angels offers an opportunity to express oneself and also to listen — with the goal of finding the stories, the reasoning and the thinking behind what is leading someone to think differently and to support different things.
Wilk Wilkinson, who hosts the
joined in on the conversation. He said he was recruited by the national Braver Angels organization and has been a member since 2021.
"As somebody who is on the conservative side of the spectrum, they said, 'We need more voices like yours,'" Wilkinson said of his recruitment. "'We have this kind of imbalance within our organization, and we like to be balanced, and we like to bring people in who are not afraid to speak freely, fully, without fear.'"
He said through his work with Braver Angels, he has learned to try to see the humanity in all people, understanding that people want the same things — clean air, clean water, warm beds, a roof over their head and children to be educated — but just have different ideas of how to get there.
"We're going to listen intently, not with the intention of just responding, but with the intention to actually understand what that other person is saying," Wilkinson said about Braver Angels discussion techniques.
Braver Angels held a second public event Monday night. Dozens attended to discuss their hopes and concerns surrounding the administration of President Donald Trump.
"The people who come are predisposed to have the conversations; they often have very strong views, so it's not like they're all centrist," said organizer and Braver Angels co-founder William Doherty in an interview after the event at the Willmar Senior High School.
"Our theory of change is that those people influence the others who also have strong views, but who at this point are not open to the conversation, " Doherty continued. "So they go home, and they go to their friends and they say 'you know, those people are not as crazy as you thought.'"
Organizers used the "the fish bowl" exercise, titled
on the Braver Angels website, breaking volunteers into two groups and arranging them in two circles — those that were hopeful standing in an inner circle facing those who were concerned in an outer circle.
Each group shared their thoughts on the current administration as the moderators helped showcase the agreements between the two groups.
"With the right structure, the right container, they almost always benefit from it. They almost always find some common ground and feel more hopeful than if you brought them together without the right structure," Doherty said.
Established in 2016,
is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to reducing polarization.
