Gabriella Timmis

“We’ve pushed the envelope a little bit – particularly with developing new workshop ideas – and had to negotiate with the powers that be in order to have quality control and ensure it’s a positive Braver Angels experience. But that is what we do.”

For years, our country’s all-consuming political conflict has made it harder for us to recognize each other’s humanity. But Red/Blue workshops challenge participants to go beyond politics and see each other as people.

“Abortion has been one of the biggest drivers of politics in this area for decades,” Carolyn said. While Jessamine County used to be a reliably Blue area, the association of abortion with Democrats turned Evangelicals in the area into single-issue Red voters, she explained.

According to the United States Census Bureau, close to 60 million people – or one in five Americans – live in rural areas like this one. Here’s how they stay glued together.

Ted said “when you put trust back into democracy, you can face difficult problems,” because a tightly-knit society is harder to penetrate. “This is how you prevent foreign governments from pushing buttons, elevating extremism, and driving people further apart.”

“Being exposed to someone with totally different values and trying to see the world through their lens is invigorating,” David said.

The key to the Central Texas Alliance’s success is its flexibility. “We try to be responsive and meet our members’ needs,” Norman said. “That’s how we keep people engaged.” And they’re always brainstorming ways to reach out.

If we gave working-class people a bigger voice in our political discussions, these conversations would sound “more real,” Annette Ritter, a member of We the People’s Project, said.

Braver Angels, which is fueled by 10,000 members paying twelve dollars in annual dues, allows people to donate directly to an on-the-ground solution.

Political discussions are hard to have over a holiday family meal. However, is avoiding the conversation really the answer?