Braver Angels Central Texas In Action
In 2025 Braver Angels Central Texas is continuing its mission to bring people together across differences, fostering respectful conversation and courageous listening. From thought-provoking events to meaningful community workshops, we are creating spaces where people can connect, challenge assumptions, and practice the art of disagreeing better. This page highlights events we've done so far this year, with more to come by checking out our Events Page. These are the moments and voices that are working to shape a more united Central Texas — one conversation at a time.
Coming Together
Alliance Meetings
These periodic hybrid meetings (held both on Zoom and in person) offer an opportunity to connect with others who share the mission of depolarizing political discourse and uniting Americans. Attendees learn about current BACT initiatives and, most importantly, contribute ideas for what BACT should be doing—and explore how they might get involved.
February 1, 2025
September 13, 2025
February 1, 2025
September 13, 2025
How Ya' Doing
These are informal Zoom gatherings where we check in, catch up, share what’s on our minds, and listen to fellow Braver Angels as they offer ideas and experiences that might inspire or support the rest of us.
January 30, 2025
January 30, 2025
Beyond Politics
Taking a break from politics, the topic of this meeting was what moments of pure joy have you experienced recently. The focus was on joyful moments in our lives that we want to share with each other. We get to know each other - beyond our politics.
October 16 via Zoom
October 16 via Zoom
Skills Workshops
Braver Angels Skills Workshops are designed to help participants learn and practice techniques for engaging in respectful, productive conversations across political and ideological divides. These workshops provide tools to listen with genuine curiosity, speak with clarity and respect, and navigate disagreements without polarization. Whether you're talking with family, friends, or community members, the goal is to foster understanding and connection—even when you don’t agree.
- Depolarizing Within- Participants develop strategies for engaging in politics without demonizing the other side, and constructively intervene in conversations with like-minded peers.
- Families and Politics - Family relationships are becoming casualties of our toxic polarized environment. If you want to preserve important family bonds while still being true to your values and political beliefs, this workshop is for you!
November 8 at Calvary Episcopal Church in Bastrop
- Red/Blue Workshop - A small, balanced group of Reds and Blues engage in exercises to help clarify disagreements, reduce stereotyped thinking and discover common values.
- Skills for Disagreeing Better - Participants learn about the values and concerns of those who differ from them politically as well as the essential skills for communicating across differences and finding common ground.
May 29 for Leadership Austin
June 22 in Schulenburg
Finding Common Ground
Single Issue Fishbowl Discussions
The Single Issue Fishbowl is a unique Braver Angels workshop designed to foster understanding across political and ideological divides—one issue at a time.
In this structured, respectful format, participants from differing viewpoints take turns sitting in a “fishbowl” circle, responding to two key questions:
Observers are welcome and encouraged to reflect on what they heard during the discussion. Each session closes with participants sharing personal takeaways—insights they hope to carry forward in their communities and conversations.
The Fishbowl is not about changing minds—it’s about opening them. It’s a powerful way to reduce polarization, deepen understanding, and strengthen our shared civic life.
Fishbowls held at University of Texas:
February 3 : Should TikTok be banned?
April 3: DOGE: Mostly good or mostly bad?
In this structured, respectful format, participants from differing viewpoints take turns sitting in a “fishbowl” circle, responding to two key questions:
- Why do you believe your position is best for the country or community?
- What concerns or reservations do you have about your own position?
Observers are welcome and encouraged to reflect on what they heard during the discussion. Each session closes with participants sharing personal takeaways—insights they hope to carry forward in their communities and conversations.
The Fishbowl is not about changing minds—it’s about opening them. It’s a powerful way to reduce polarization, deepen understanding, and strengthen our shared civic life.
Fishbowls held at University of Texas:
February 3 : Should TikTok be banned?
April 3: DOGE: Mostly good or mostly bad?
Texas Abortion Law Project
Launched in February, this series of meetings had two purposes:
1. Provide information to create an understanding of the current law in Texas. This session covers a number of relevant statutes (some dating back to the mid 1800's), several recent court cases, guidance from the Texas Medical Board, experiences of Texas physicians, and comments and proposals of legislators.
2. Provide a space for open discussion about what each person thinks about the laws, and in particular, focusing on:
March 13 with the TCU "Silver Frogs" via Zoom
April 12 via Zoom
1. Provide information to create an understanding of the current law in Texas. This session covers a number of relevant statutes (some dating back to the mid 1800's), several recent court cases, guidance from the Texas Medical Board, experiences of Texas physicians, and comments and proposals of legislators.
2. Provide a space for open discussion about what each person thinks about the laws, and in particular, focusing on:
- FIRST, clarifications, if any, that could be beneficial in achieving the objectives of the current laws;
- SECOND, changes to the current laws, if any, that participants may want to raise; and
- FINALLY, A consideration of who should decide the policy for Texas: A woman and her doctor, the Texas legislature, the people of Texas (through consideration of an amendment to the Texas Constitution), some combination of these, or some other possibility.
March 13 with the TCU "Silver Frogs" via Zoom
April 12 via Zoom
Immigration Common Ground Workshop
In 2024 delegates at the Braver Angels National Convention launched a bold new initiative: the Citizens Commission on Immigration—a two-year effort to find shared values and realistic solutions to one of America’s most pressing issues.
On August 30, BACT hosted one of the Commission's Common Ground Workshops in New Braunfels. Five red and five blue participants went through a structured process which identified areas of agreement on values, concerns, and solutions or policies. Click here to see the areas of agreement. These areas of agreement were sent to the Commission. Ultimately the results from workshops all around the country will be shared with Congress.
On August 30, BACT hosted one of the Commission's Common Ground Workshops in New Braunfels. Five red and five blue participants went through a structured process which identified areas of agreement on values, concerns, and solutions or policies. Click here to see the areas of agreement. These areas of agreement were sent to the Commission. Ultimately the results from workshops all around the country will be shared with Congress.
Braver Angels Music Team Common Ground Songwriting Workshop
June 7- 8 in Austin The Braver Angels Music Team brought musicians with different political beliefs to collaborate on a song about immigration. The new song was performed at a concert on June 8. Listen here to Who Will Pick the Blueberries? Me!
Special Events
October 25: A hybrid meeting featured Dr. Becca North, researcher, teacher and writer in the field of psychology who is currently teaching at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Her background is interdisciplinary—with a Ph.D. in Psychology from The University of Texas, a Master’s in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and an AB in History from Princeton University.
Dr. North presented information to help us
- Discover how our view of interpersonal conflict affects the way we engage in dialogue across divides.
- Dispel myths about what it means to engage constructively in such dialogues.
- Understand the potential benefits of engaging successfully in these dialogues.
- Develop new tools for engaging in constructive dialogues across divides and leveraging diverse perspectives to effect positive change in society.
Watch Recording of this meeting.
NOISE AND NEWS
The March 2026 party primary elections and November 2026 general election are close at hand. We will once again be inundated with advertisements, articles, and social media posts supporting and in opposing to issues and candidates. Voters need reliable information to make decisions. We all want to be informed and educated voters, but can we trust everything that comes to our eyes and ears? So much depends on knowing what to look for and what to avoid.
A diverse group of Braver Angels Central Texas members have been hard at work designing a monthly series of presentations to help us wade through the noise in hopes of finding the worthy news.
Topics to be explored are:
Truth in the Age of AI November 18 at 7:30 Register Here
Trustworthy News
Bias in the News
Social media – is it toxic or beneficial
What is Substack and why did it emerge?
Be sure you have signed up for our newsletter so you can join these monthly presentations.
Community Service Projects
April 5, 2025 Braver Angels teamed up with Tree Folks for a community service project. TreeFolks, a local nonprofit, has engaged thousands of volunteers to plant more than 3 million trees in Central Texas. Planting season was over, so volunteers performed maintenance on trees at McBee Elementary in North Austin. Over 30 volunteers from Braver Angels and the community weeded and then composted and mulched to give these young trees a good shot of success. The volunteers also learned a little bit about caring for trees.
We hope you will join us on a future service project in our community. If you have a worthy volunteer project, please let us know. We hope to make service projects a regular part of Braver Angels of Central Texas.
October 4 Volunteers experienced a day of giving back at Community First! Village, an Austin community that serves more than 470 formerly homeless neighbors. Twelve volunteers from Braver Angels completed a service project at Community First Village. We planted native shrubs and vines in a newly developed phase of the village. Community First provides thousands of affordable homes for the formerly unhoused. The Village creates a community with essential services, job assistance and hope for those who were previously on the streets of Austin. Braver Angels worked side by side with residents of the village and learned a little about them. After our work we toured the Village and learned more about this innovative community in Central Texas. Of the 12 volunteers three were new folks who heard about the project and wanted to help- we shared the work of Braver Angels Central Texas and invited them to join us in the future. We will continue to find opportunities to serve the community. Next up we plan to cook meals for the Ronald McDonald House. Stay tuned for that opportunity sometime in November or December.
Grants that Support Our Work
CT has received grants from the Sumners Foundation to cover activities conducted each year since 2022. The purpose of the grants is to help promote our depolarization efforts throughout Texas via workshops and other activities for the general public, for colleges and universities, and for high schools. We are so grateful for the continuing support of our mission by the trustees of the Sumners Foundation. The Sumners Foundation describes the focus of its work as follows:
The Sumners Foundation promotes the teaching, study, and practice of the fundamental principles of American self-governance, and encourages responsible lifelong civic engagement.
In addition, Braver Angels Central Texas is the beneficiary of a grant from the Webber Family Foundation, based in Austin, TX, to promote civil discourse and depolarization activities in area high schools. We are grateful to the Webber Family Foundation for their support.
The Sumners Foundation promotes the teaching, study, and practice of the fundamental principles of American self-governance, and encourages responsible lifelong civic engagement.
In addition, Braver Angels Central Texas is the beneficiary of a grant from the Webber Family Foundation, based in Austin, TX, to promote civil discourse and depolarization activities in area high schools. We are grateful to the Webber Family Foundation for their support.
Notes from a Braver Angel
Since 2023 Mary Powell, Braver Angels Ambassador has been writing bi-monthly articles for the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Her goal is to show readers that it is possible to discuss difficult topics without anger. She focuses on finding reliable sources, talking issues rather than personalities, and finding common ground.
Click on the links below to read some of her articles.
A Timeless Connection - October 24, 2025
My Search for Common Ground - August 22, 2025
In Search of Common Ground - June 27, 2025
Click on the links below to read some of her articles.
A Timeless Connection - October 24, 2025
My Search for Common Ground - August 22, 2025
In Search of Common Ground - June 27, 2025