Since its founding in late 2016, Braver Angels has held thousands of workshops, trainings, and debates across the country that bring ordinary citizens together across the political divide, and measurably reduce polarization.

In 2019, Braver Angels began adapting and piloting its programs with elected officials, candidates, and political staff at all levels of government, including:

January 2019. Braver Angels sponsors “Skills for Bridging the Political Divide” workshops for about 30 Minnesota state legislators.

November 2019. Braver Angels co-founder Dr. William Doherty facilitates a Red/Blue Workshop with the staffs of Congressmen Dean Phillips (D-MN) and Pete Stauber (R-MN). The offices of the two representatives put out a joint press release celebrating the occasion.

October 2020. Representatives Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) and Dean Phillips (D-MN) sign the Braver Angels “What we will do to hold America together” public letter.

October 2020.  Braver Angels is formally endorsed by the Association of Former Members of Congress (AFMC) and begins conducting joint podcasts with AFMC.

2020-2021. Braver Angels sponsors four “Skills for Bridging the Political Divide” workshops for Minnesota county commissioners.

January 2021. Braver Angels sponsors a national Braver Angels Debate on election fraud and voter suppression in the 2020 elections.

March—April 2021.  Braver Angels and Issue One agree to partner on outreach to Congress.

March 2021. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Elaine Luria (D-VA) join Braver Angels for a conversation entitled “How Citizens Can Bridge the Congressional Divide.”

March 2021. A podcast and national Braver Angels Debate on voter fraud and voter suppression give rise to a prospective red-blue commission to pursue common ground.

June 2021. Representatives William Timmons (R-SC) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA) participate in a Braver Angels forum, “Reforms to Foster Bipartisanship and Civility in Congress.”

June 2021. Braver Angels co-founder Bill Doherty testifies before the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress on the Braver Angels model as a means of influencing.

August 2021.  Bill Doherty facilitates a Common Ground Workshop involving Rep. Dean Phillips and a diverse group of his constituents, with Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) observing. This event was featured on ABC Good Morning America.

October 2021. Braver Angels leads a series of “Skills for Bridging the Divide” workshops for Congressional staff, held in the Capitol, co-sponsored by Faith and Law, a faith-based association of Congressional staff.

November 2021. At the invitation of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress,  Braver Angels co-founder David Blankenhorn presents the “Braver Politics” initiative to interested Congressional staff members.

November 2021. Bill Doherty holds a moderated 1:1 conversation between William Timmons (R-SC) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA).

December 2021. Braver Angels brings together a bipartisan group of officials in the New Hampshire state legislature for a red/blue workshop.

March 2022. Braver Angels holds a “Skills for Managing Difficult Conversations” with a bipartisan group of City Managers from across the country.

March 2022.  Braver Angels holds a “Skills for Managing Difficult Conversations” with 16 election officials and the Secretary of State’s Legal Counsel in New Hampshire.

April 2022. Bill Doherty to hold a series of workshops with a bipartisan group of members of the Problem Solvers Caucus in the U.S. Congress.