On Tuesday March 2, 2021 the Grinnell Rotary Club gathered via zoom for their weekly meeting. The Rotary Club's guest speaker was Dr. Christopher Peters, Iowa State Volunteer Coordinator for Braver Angles. This organization was started shortly after the presidential election in 2016. Their goal is to bring people together from both the red/blue political parties with the goal of depolarizing of our country.
Dr. Peters shared that this organization works to depolarize groups through workshops that create opportunities for dialogue that will aide in the healing of the political divide. He shared the history of political polarization in our country since 1879. This organization works with community groups to re-build public trust in government. Dr. Peters explained that the organization is a grassroots effort to afford opportunities from both sides of politics to get to know each other and try to understand each other points of view even if there is no agreement. “It is a lesson in civility and they hope to assist in the healing of our country”. Activities for group participation include workshops, book reviews, and discussions in local community settings. The gathering is purposeful. A trained mediator facilitates the workshops and events that may entail difficult conversations about various views with the hope of bridging the political divide through discussions, active listening and understanding. For more information on how you can participate in an event or learn more you can go to www.braverangels.org.
Submitted:
Janet M. Stutz
