Can you resonate with these sentiments?

• You often feel drained by the pervasive anger, fear, and constant stress that seem to dominate today's political landscape

• You've noticed how politics has had a detrimental impact on your relationships, family dynamics, and your sense of community

• You hold concerns about the direction in which our nation is currently heading

If these feelings sound familiar to you, then you've come to the right place. The Braver Angels Alliance of the Sandhills was formed by a small group of individuals who share these same sentiments. We are a local chapter affiliated with Braver Angels.

In contemporary America, politics has taken on an intensely personal dimension. Many individuals view those with differing political beliefs as untrustworthy, morally compromised, or even dangerous. These notions are frequently reinforced by the media, social platforms, and politicians themselves, further deepening the divisions among Americans. We see this political polarization as one of the most pressing issues of our time, posing a significant threat to the stability of our democracy and our nation's capacity to address the challenges we confront.

Our love for our country runs deep, and we firmly believe that America can only reach its full potential when we stand together, united.

But there is hope. 

Braver Angels has demonstrated that the seemingly insurmountable political polarization can be overcome, one conversation at a time. When individuals with diverse political perspectives come together in face-to-face discussions, they often discover that their shared values and common ground far outweigh their differences.

Our local chapter, the Alliance of the Sandhills, is a part of a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the political divide. We provide people from across the political spectrum with the opportunity to connect, engage in respectful dialogue, refine their communication abilities, and genuinely listen to one another's viewpoints, even when disagreements arise.

The results are tangible and heartening. In a relatively short span of time, we've witnessed conservatives, liberals, progressives, Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, and independents from the Sandhills region coming to understand one another better, forging common bonds, and referring to each other as "friends." When we move beyond the realm of hostility and animosity, we realize that common stereotypes no longer hold sway. Together, we can collaborate and discover cooperative solutions to address the challenges that lie ahead.

Skeptical that it works? We were too, at first.

We wondered: 

• “How can conservatives, liberals, and independents get together in a room without having a shouting match?” 

•  “There must be some underlying political agenda. They must be trying to convert us.”

•  “Is it possible to find any common ground when our beliefs are so different?"

•  “There's NO way this will help me reconnect with the friend/family member/loved one I lost over politics.”

We participated and our doubts disappeared. 

We encountered individuals from diverse backgrounds engaging in respectful discussions and debates.

We discovered an organization committed to equipping us with the necessary skills to communicate effectively with those who hold different political beliefs.

It became evident that our commonalities far outweighed our differences.

We encountered conservatives, liberals, and independents, all united by their love for our country, working hand in hand to strengthen America. (It's worth noting that at Braver Angels, leadership positions are evenly distributed among individuals from various political affiliations, including both "blues" and "reds," as well as many Independents.)

Genuine friendships blossomed across the political spectrum, rekindling hope for reconnecting with friends we had drifted apart from due to political disparities.

And we are not alone in this journey.

Across the nation, more than 44,000 individuals have engaged in Braver Angels workshops, debates, one-on-one conversations, town hall meetings, and online discussions. They have acquired the skills they need to foster better understanding between different political perspectives and to be heard themselves.

Don't take our word for it.

We invite you to join us and see for yourself. We think, like us, you'll find that we can bridge the political divide, exchange ideas respectfully, and move forward together.

What Braver Angels Is—and Isn’t

Braver Angels exists to bridge divides. That’s the simplest way to put it. We are here to bring Americans together across political, ideological, and cultural lines to listen, to understand, and to find common ground where it exists. But in today’s hyper-polarized environment, where many organizations have explicit political leanings or hidden agendas, we know that Braver Angels is often misunderstood.

People come to us from different backgrounds, at different moments, and with different expectations. Some think we’re here to change minds. Others assume we exist to water down the differences between left and right. Still others believe we’re secretly advancing one side’s agenda under the guise of bipartisanship. None of that is true.

So, let’s clear up some of the biggest misconceptions about Braver Angels—and set the record straight about who we are and what we do.

1. We Are Not Here to Change Your Mind

Braver Angels is not about persuading you to abandon your political beliefs or adopt new ones. We are not in the business of converting conservatives to liberals or vice versa. Our goal is not to make everyone agree but to help people understand each other better.

What does that look like? It means giving people the tools to have meaningful, productive conversations with those who see the world differently. It means recognizing that disagreement doesn’t have to lead to dehumanization. And it means holding space for complexity, allowing people to refine their views based on honest dialogue rather than partisan talking points.

If you walk away from a Braver Angels event with the same political beliefs you had when you arrived—but with a deeper respect for those who think differently—we consider that a success.

2. We Are Not Centrists—or Trying to Find the "Middle Ground"

Braver Angels is often mistaken for a centrist organization, but that’s not quite right. Centrism is a political position, just like conservatism or progressivism. It assumes that the best answer is always somewhere in the middle.

We don’t take that approach. We recognize that sometimes one side has a stronger argument on a given issue. Sometimes, compromise isn’t possible. And sometimes, the most important thing isn’t to agree but to learn how to live with deep differences without tearing our communities apart.

We are not here to tell you that the right answer is always “somewhere in between.” We are here to help you hear the best version of the argument you disagree with—and to engage with it in good faith.

3. We Are Not Just About "Kumbaya"

Yes, we believe in civility. Yes, we believe in treating others with respect. But that doesn’t mean we expect people to sit in a circle, hold hands, and pretend that their differences don’t matter. Braver Angels is not about avoiding conflict—it’s about engaging with it productively.

We encourage people to bring their full, authentic selves into these conversations. That means you don’t have to sugarcoat your beliefs. You don’t have to pretend you don’t care about important issues. You don’t have to “just get along” for the sake of getting along.

What you do have to do is listen. And be willing to share your perspective in a way that invites others into dialogue rather than pushing them away. That’s the real challenge.

4. We Are Not a Political Trojan Horse

Braver Angels is not secretly advancing one political party’s agenda. We are intentionally structured to ensure ideological balance, with leadership, moderators, and event participants reflecting a mix of perspectives. Our goal is not to promote a specific policy agenda but to create space for constructive conversation across divides.

We recognize that people are wary of organizations claiming to be “nonpartisan” while subtly pushing one side’s narrative. We work hard to make sure Braver Angels is not one of them. That means holding ourselves accountable, ensuring balanced representation, and fostering an environment where all voices—conservative, progressive, libertarian, socialist, independent—are truly welcome.

If you come into Braver Angels looking for proof that we lean one way or the other, you may find individual voices that resonate more with your worldview. But step back, and you’ll see the full picture: a diverse movement committed to political depolarization, not partisan advantage.

5. We Are Not Trying to Pretend Everything is Fine

Let’s be clear: American democracy is in trouble. Polarization is deepening. Trust is eroding. People are afraid to speak openly, and politics is increasingly defined by hostility rather than problem-solving.

Braver Angels is not here to downplay those realities. We are not naive. We understand the stakes. But we also believe that the solution is not to double down on outrage or retreat into ideological bubbles. It’s to rebuild the civic fabric that allows us to function as a society, even when we disagree.

This work is hard. It’s frustrating. Sometimes, it feels impossible. But it’s also necessary. And we believe it’s worth doing.

What We Ask of You

If you’re here, we hope you’ll approach this work with the same values that drive us:

• Curiosity: Engage with people who think differently, not to “win” but to learn.

• Humility: Recognize that you don’t have all the answers—and that none of us do.

• Courage: Be willing to have hard conversations, even when they’re uncomfortable.

• Commitment: Show up, stay engaged, and help build a better way forward.

Braver Angels is not for everyone. But if you believe that this country is worth fighting for—not through division, but through dialogue—we hope you’ll join us.

We’re in this for the long game. And we need you with us.