Give Us Your John Hancock!
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No offense, Thomas Jefferson, but your Declaration of Independence had to be revised over several (sometimes angry!) weeks by Franklin, Adams, and other members of the Continental Congress. But you know what never changed? The last sentence. That's where the Founders pledged to work together as they tried to bring to life the ideas they were hashing out together. Their example is what that prompted us to reaffirm our own pledge to Courageous Citizenship in Philadelphia last week-- and now we invite you to click here and add your name. Our dream: first EVERY member signs the pledge, then we challenge the rest of America to stand with us. Help us make it happen!
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All the Convention Fit to Recap
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Yep: you'll be seeing a lot of post-Convention content coming at you in the next few weeks. So if you couldn’t be there in person, buckle up and orient yourself! This week’s episode of How Do We Fix It? makes it easy. Richard Davies has reports from delegates, convention organizers, and conference speakers, including the co-chairs of the Congressional Problem Solvers Caucus, Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). Give him 25 minutes, and he’ll give you a birds-eye view of what you missed. Click here to listen.
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Provide Input on Immigration
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Last month, Braver Network partner CommonSense American (CSA) launched their “Immigration Brief” to solicit feedback on a slate of bipartisan policy proposals. They'll take their preliminary results to a group of US Senators on July 16th. While our own Citizens Commission on Immigration builds common ground meeting by meeting, CSA builds with quantitative analysis. Let's help make their data more robust! Provide your input to their Immigration Brief by July 15th so it goes out in that initial share with congress. CSA has prepared special links to welcome Braver Angels.
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Click here to "Weigh in on Immigration," then provide some demographic information (no fee!), then click through to add your input to the Brief itself.
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Who Flexed in Philly?
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You've heard Maury Giles talk about the importance of building civic muscle--and you've done it, one curious conversation, debate, and workshop at a time. (If the newsletter could embed a sound file, the theme from Rocky would start playing right now!) The Citizen-Led Solutions team captured all that strength training with its photo-op and sticker campaign at the Convention. Now the winner of the CLS Civic Flex photo contest is here! Congrats to all who attended the dinner to talk about their projects-in-process– and we'll see everybody back at the gym this weekend! 💪
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A Braver Way #23:
"Can you still love me?"
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Anne Marie Denman was the “angel” of her conservative Catholic family: obedient, attentive, with plans to become a nun. Then she came out as a lesbian. How do you stay close to people who won’t share your worldview? Can love exist while someone feels rejected? And can you invest in a relationship without condoning the other’s convictions? Anne Marie and her mother, Sharon, wrestled with these questions over the years as they fought to protect a connection that was threatened by their differences.
On this week’s A Braver Way, mother and daughter join Mónica Guzman for an intimate and vulnerable conversation about the ups and downs of that journey — and how to connect without demanding agreement. Click here to listen.
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ONLINE EVENT CALENDAR
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Introduction to Organizing Various dates and times
Required to become a qualified Organizer; helpful for Alliance Co-Chairs and State Coordinators.
Click here for details and sign-up.
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Skills for Disagreeing Better National Workshop July 11, 2-3:30pm ET
Understand the values and concerns of those who differ politically and learn skills for communicating differences and finding common ground.
Click here for details and sign-up.
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Depolarizing Within National Workshop July 25, 2-5pm ET
Become more aware of your "inner polarizer" and learn methods for disagreeing without contempt and ridicule.
Click here for details and sign-up.
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DEBATE CALENDAR
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Debate Resolution Development Workshop July 9 from 7-8:30pm ET
Workshop your resolution to ensure it gives people on both sides something they want to talk about.
Click here for details and sign-up.
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Fall Debate Internships Open Applications Due July 26
Interested in joining the Braver Angels Debate team as an intern? ideal for undergrad or graduate students, or recent graduates with experience or interest in political engagement, depolarization, or civic and political nonprofits. Questions? Email deb...@braverangels.org. Click here to apply.
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Help us crowdsource our resolutions for upcoming national debates!
It only takes a minute to click here and take the poll.
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EDITOR'S NOTE
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You may have heard A LOT happened at the Convention last weekend! We'll be bringing you notes, debriefs, and action items for the next few weeks, so stay tuned. Did you have any "Braver Moments" in Philadelphia? Realizations, wake-up calls, breakthroughs-- maybe breakdowns? Share your story with us at newsl...@braverangels.org and we'll find a way to get you in the news.
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