FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 13, 2023
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Braver Angels Launches “Rise for America” Campaign at Annual National Convention to Bring America Together 

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – Braver Angels this week launched the Rise for America campaign. What does it mean to rise for America? Taking action to bridge the political divide and bring a spirit of goodwill to American politics. The announcement was made at the organization’s 2023 Braver Angels Convention, which took place July 5-8 in Gettysburg, PA. 

Nearly 700 convention delegates—equally divided between those who lean left and lean right— gathered to launch a national civic renewal movement, clarify ideological differences, find common ground where it exists, and strengthen the nation. A number of national leaders attended the convention, including U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), who referred to Braver Angels volunteers as his “heroes,” and Governor Spencer Cox (R-UT), who promised to elevate Braver Angels’ work in his post as Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA). 

Governor Cox also took a moment to comment on the upcoming 2024 election in an interview with the Daily Caller. 

“I am willing to work with President Trump if he would adopt the Braver Angels concepts,” Cox said. “And if he were willing to disagree better and understand healthy conflict, I think he would win by 20 points.”

Convention delegates participated in debates—confronting controversial questions, such as “Is America a Racist Nation?” and “Should We Abolish DEI?” They also attended panels that explored such issues as whether the media could go from being the problem to the solution, and how the public health community—including panelist and former National Institutes of Health Director, Dr. Francis Collins—can regain the trust of the American public after COVID-19. Finally, they participated in a number of workshops, which equipped them with the tools needed to bring the Braver Angels principles to their everyday lives.

“At our recent Braver Angels National Convention in early July in Gettysburg, more than 600 delegates—linked to more than 200 organizations—committed to lead a movement for civic renewal,” said David Blankenhorn, Co-Founder and President of Braver Angels. “Never before in our history have Red, Blue, and Independent Americans come together in such numbers determined to heal our divisions and protect America’s promise.”

The Rise for America campaign offers citizens the chance to get involved and take action to help build bridges between opposing sides. By fostering respectful dialogues and engaging in deep listening, individuals can resolve divisive conflicts and create connections that change relationships to strengthen our democratic republic. 

Participants in the fall 2023 campaign have the option to take at least one of five different actions designed to depolarize our political conversations. Braver Angels will act as a resource providing supporting materials and guidance to everyone who undertakes these initiatives. The five actions include:

Hosting a Braver Angels documentary party in your home, neighborhood, or organization, using a link and discussion guide provided by Braver Angels.

Bringing family and friends to attend a Depolarization Within workshop hosted by Braver Angels, which teaches individuals how to examine attitudes and beliefs from their own and others’ perspectives.

Coordinating an introduction to Braver Angels through an Ambassador-led presentation for local groups in your community.

Training to become a Debate Chair for community, high school, and college debates, encouraging critical thinking and civic engagement among Americans, organized by BridgeUSA and Braver Angels.

Creating a unique event or action of their own personal interest, which they feel would be most effective for engaging people in their own community.

“Rise for America is the most important next step we can all take to scale our growing movement, remake our politics from the ground up in a spirit of goodwill, and build the muscle needed to hold America together in 2024,” said Ciaran O’Connor, Chief Marketing Officer at Braver Angels.  

At the time of publishing, the Rise for America campaign had over 200 actions committed, split nearly evenly between Americans leaning Red, Blue, and Independent. 

Political polarization is rapidly becoming a crisis for the nation. Americans are so divided that they don’t just disagree with each other, they actively dislike each other and can’t even talk to one another. The lack of dialogue between sides is compromising the capacity for self-governance. Braver Angels is working to bring together people from multiple sides to make a difference and hopes the Rise for America campaign raises the level of awareness of solution-oriented processes.

Through Braver Angels, thousands of Americans have already begun to bridge the partisan divide in their communities. Braver Angels’ grassroots work made headlines during a recent PBS NewsHour episode in which they ran a 13-minute segment on volunteers in Northeast Ohio.

Those interested in participating in the Rise for America campaign to bridge partisan divides are able to sign up on the campaign’s website.

Braver Angels is a membership-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All Americans are invited to participate and get involved on their website.