Braver Network State Rep
We are seeking Braver Angels members to serve as State Reps to help strengthen Braver Network at the field and state level. We aim to have at least two Reps per state (e.g., one Blue, one Red, and even one Other), and larger states may have regional reps (e.g., NorCal/ SoCal).
Braver Network brings together organizations from across the political spectrum, large and small, national and local, all committed to doing their part to help bridge the partisan divide. Some have bridge-building as part of their mission, but many have goals completely separate from politics. They include congregations, companies, civic groups, and colleges, to name a few.
Learn more about the mission and vision of Braver Network.
Prerequisites
- Membership: You must be a Braver Angels member. Please sign up to become a member.
- Desire to connect with and engage people from organizations in your geographic area: Braver Network State Reps’ primary duties are to connect with liaisons from organizations already in Braver Network in the state you represent, and engage them with resources in Braver Angels locally (alliance level) and nationally. Reps may also help with outreach to new organizations in the state. We will train you on ways to be successful!
- Interested in reaching out to new organizations in your state or region to grow the network.
- Enjoy being a connector between local alliances (the field), other BA initiatives, other organizations in Braver Network, and Braver Network leadership.
- Enjoy building personal relationships with Braver Network organizations that are in your state or region
- Ensure that each Braver Network organization in your state has a personal point of contact from Braver Angels: Either you (the State Rep) or another Rep (Partner Rep)
- Connect the organization to their local alliance (if one exists).
- If the organization is interested in hosting events or collaborating with other BN organizations, you will help them get connected to the resources they need.
- Occasionally, Braver Network will need your help with outreach to your organizations for various campaigns (like the convention, debates that may interest them, etc.).
Time Commitment
Weekly commitment: 1 -2 hours
There are optional Bi-weekly meetings for all Braver Network reps on Fridays at 10am PT/ 1pm ET via zoom.
Term commitment: 1 year, with the option to continue
Directory Map
Training Process
Step 1: Sign Up
Step 2: Complete the eCourse and 1-hr live (or recorded) training
Step 3: Start reppin!
FAQ
State Reps: Braver Angels members who work to engage Braver Network organizations based on geographic location. They represent a whole state or smaller region (ie. SoCal/ NorCal) and are automatically assigned new organizations that join Braver Network in Braver Network to oversee. They act as “account managers”—ensuring every Braver Network organization has a BA rep to engage with.
Partner Reps: Braver Angels members who work to engage Braver Network organizations based on a previous relationship. Often the organization will come to Braver Network and identify a BA member as a Point of Contact, whom we assign as the Partner Rep. Sometimes the State Rep may recruit a Partner Rep for new organizations.
Braver Network Liaison: A person from an outside organization that has joined Braver Network. All Braver Network organizations have at least one liaison, and many have 2 (one Red, one Blue), or up to 3. The liaison is our point of contact for an organization in Braver Network.
We still need you! Help us by outreaching to new organizations in your state.
The State Rep should connect with Field leaders to let them know about resources Braver Network has that the field may benefit from, and to find out what resources local alliances have that Braver Network organizations may benefit from. A State Rep is an additional volunteer role, not an extra duty for any field leaders (unless they’d like to take it on as another position).
We require an equal number of Red and Blue leaning liaisons across Braver Network (with an option for “other” or “exempt” leaning). The liaison’s personal leaning does not reflect that of their organization for our count. We don’t count the leaning of organizations themselves, as most organizations wouldn’t consider themselves partisan. For this reason, sometimes there is a waiting period for organizations who apply with one liaison before official registration into Braver Network (i.e. an organization applies with just a Blue liaison, and we don’t have a Red liaison to balance the count).
There is no binding rule that organizations must abide by to join Braver Network. We only ask that the organization believes in the mission of Civic Renewal and Depolarization, even if it may not be (and in many cases is not) a primary mission of the organization. If there is any question about the organization’s motives, we simply ensure that they would be willing to engage “the other side,” respectfully. If they say they would, there is a place for them in Braver Network.
