CCI Grassroots Events
The Citizens Commission on Immigration (CCI) needs you to help us gather input from a wide variety of perspectives on immigration throughout our country. There are (at least) 5 types of Grassroots events you can host or participate in. Each has its own special features that may fit you and your group best. You can learn more about all of them on this page – use the links on the right to go to a specific section, or keep scrolling to see them all.
- Common Ground Workshop on Immigration
- Constituent Conversation (following a Common Ground Workshop)
- Community Forum on Immigration
- Debate on Immigration
- Alliance meeting with Immigration Topic
If you are a trained Braver Angels volunteer or Alliance leader, you may already know what to do to get started for each of these event types. If not, we will help you. Regardless, please use the “Get Started” button to fill out a short form to let us know you intend to plan event. And use the link for Event Planning Resources to get more details for each event type.
Planning an immigration event?
Finding Common Ground on Immigration
Common Ground Workshop on Immigration
The Common Ground workshop, an out-growth of Braver Angels signature Red/Blue workshop, allows the Citizen’s Commission on Immigration to bring equal numbers of Red and Blue participants to delve into the values, concerns and policies and remedies about Immigration. Two Braver Angels Moderators work together to deliver this workshop. Unanimous Points of Agreement are identified at these workshops, which are taking place across the country. Goals for this workshop include:
- Delve into the issue of immigration where citizens differ, and learn how each side sees the problem
- Delineate areas of common ground and points of agreement
- Discover insights that might be helpful to others in our community and the nation
Constituent Conversation following a Common Ground Workshop
The Constituent Conversation takes the Common Ground Workshop results one step further. Workshop participants take action by sharing their experience and shared points of agreement with their Member of Congress at an in-person meeting. A Braver Angels Moderator facilitates the conversation. Constituents describe what’s at the heart of the immigration issue for them and share their points of agreement with the Member. The Member listens, asks questions of the constituents, briefly shares his or her own ideas about what can be done to address immigration, and briefly responds to questions from the constituents about how to address immigration. Goals for this workshop include:
- Constituents have the opportunity to share their experience of looking for common ground on immigration.
- The Member becomes aware of points of agreement on immigration among politically diverse constituents.
- Constituents learn the thoughts of the Member about the areas of agreement.
Community Forum on Immigration
Born out of the Citizens Commission on Immigration, the Community Forum on Immigration is a 90-minute gathering that creates space for reflection, storytelling, and connection across diverse experiences and viewpoints. Goals for this workshop include:
- A 90-minute gathering that creates space for reflection, storytelling, and connection across diverse experiences and viewpoints.
- Led by any Braver Angels member who completes the self-training to become a facilitator (or a trained moderator)
- Everyone is welcome to attend regardless of political identification, including Reds, Blues and Independents.
Debate on Immigration
Braver Angels Debates are a great way to learn about different viewpoints around the issue of immigration. The debates team has created 16 resolutions on immigration in their resolution bank. Or you can make up your own! A Braver Angels Debate Chair will moderate the discussion.
Alliance Meeting with Immigration Topic
Many alliances have started their involvement in the immigration project through an alliance meeting. This can be a great way to introduce our project and gauge interest for other events like a forum, debate or workshop. Some ideas for alliance meeting topics on immigration include:
- Watch Immigration 101 together
- Play Immigration 101 Jeopardy followed by a moderated conversation
- Choose an immigration topic for discussion