Walk A Mile In My News - Sonoma County - Kickoff Meeting (Braver Angels)

Note: This *FREE* event is to be attended online. (Promo code: BRAVER). You will not need physical or virtual tickets in order to attend this event.

Event Dates

Kickoff meeting - Sunday, May 18th, 10AM - 11:30AM.

Reunion meeting - Sunday, June 8th, 10AM- 11:30AM.

Note: Registering will automatically include you in both the Kickoff meeting and the Reunion meeting. You will receive Zoom links to each meeting in advance.

DESCRIPTION

Our news sources impact how we see the world. As a result, staying within our own opinion "echo chambers" may limit our understanding of complex issues and may contribute to polarization. In the spirit of depolarizing our community and bringing people together, we invite you to “Walk a Mile in My News".

This exciting, Braver Angels experience pairs Blue-leaning and Red-leaning individuals for a three-week journey to share news sources and information about mutually agreed-upon subjects. The goal for participants is to:

1. Explore subjects with a red/blue partner by exchanging news sources and engaging in respectful dialogue.
2. Better understand how people with different political perspectives form their views and opinions.
3. Explore potential bias in our own news sources.
4. Build relationships with people of different political views.
5. Discover areas of commonality.

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

Register to participate in the program. You will be asked to fill out a short survey to help us match you.

Attend the Kickoff meeting. At the Kickoff, you will be introduced to your Walk A Mile In My News partner, review the program guidelines, and ask questions. Attendance at the Kickoff is required.

Have conversations with your partner: The pairs will meet between the Kickoff and the Reunion. Together, you decide what schedule works best, the topics to cover, and how much time to spend together. Guidelines are provided, and reviewed during the Kickoff, to help facilitate your meetings. If you happen to live within geographic proximity and want to meet in person, by all means do! Otherwise, your meetings will take place by phone or video conference that you arrange.

Attend the Reunion meeting. Attendance at the Reunion is optional but strongly encouraged. Pairs will have an opportunity to share inspiration, challenges, learnings, and potential commonalities.

If you know someone on the opposite side of the partisan divide who you think would like to join you in this experience, please invite them, and also let us know below that you would like to be paired with them.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?

We ask each participant to commit to about 5 hours, in 4-5 sessions, to meet with your partner between the Kickoff and the Reunion.

This program is guided but self-directed. Its success depends on everyone following an agreed upon code of conduct. We know opinions and viewpoints will differ, sometimes strongly. Given this, we ask everyone to take the WMMN Pledge:

I will approach my partner’s views with curiosity, striving to understand their opinions and reasoning.

I will respect my partner’s dignity at all times and recognize their right to hold the viewpoints that they do.

I understand that any exchange of views contains some degree of advocacy, but I will not seek to convince the other person to change their mind. The purpose of this program is understanding, not persuasion.

*Tickets are Free, Donations Help As a spam prevention measure, you must use promo code BRAVER during registration to secure your spot in the workshop. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, 501(c)3.

Questions? Contact pschwebel@braverangels.org

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT US!

This is a free event brought to you by Braver Angels as part of our mission to depolarize America. Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. We invite you to consider a gift to Braver Angels; all donations are tax deductible. Your support will allow us to offer more workshops and debates with the ultimate goal of uniting America.