Braver Angels Oregon
Working together in Oregon and SW Washington to depolarize our country
About Us
Braver Angels Oregon is working in our local communities by holding workshops, debates and public presentations designed to bridge the polarizing political divide we experience in our country. These events allow conservatives and liberals to get past the destructive stereotypes so we can have civil conversations about real issues that lead to productive problem-solving.
Since our inception in 2018, we’ve hosted events – in person and online. These events have included Red/Blue Workshops, Skills Workshops, Town Halls and several other public presentations. See our events calendar for upcoming local events.
Oregon State Coordinators
Our State Coordinators are here to help you learn more and get involved with Braver Angels in Oregon. In addition to fielding various types of inquiries, they also are responsible for supporting existing and facilitating the formation of new Alliances, helping new volunteers get involved, and being a conduit between our local efforts and those at the national level, among many other things!
“Blue” State Coordinator
Bruce Borgerson
“Red” State Coordinator
Dimitra Giannakoulias
For questions or more information, please contact our Oregon State Coordinators at or-coordinators@braverangels.org
OUR LOCAL ALLIANCES
Think of “Alliances” as you would “Chapters” of other organizations. What is unique about Braver Angels Alliances, is that they are led by Red and Blue Co-Chairs who work together to bring Braver Angels content to their area.
By paying as little as $12 a year to join Braver Angels, you qualify to be a voting member of your local alliance. Membership also allows you to get involved as a volunteer and help bring change and understanding to your local community.
Even if you choose not to become a member at this time, we encourage you to subscribe to receive notification of our events, as all events are open to the public. Everyone is welcome to join our programs and workshops, always free of charge.
We also welcome clubs, organizations, churches, etc who are interested in hearing from us, securing a presentation from one of our leaders, or who simply support our mission.
Below are our active Alliances in Oregon & SW Washington.
NW Willamette Valley Alliance
Serving Washington and Yamhill counties in Oregon, the NW Willamette Valley Alliance provides an enjoyable opportunity to understand and affect our own political climate. Covering a very large geography, we hope to inspire members to join our online debates and workshops while coming together in person to discuss matters of local interest on which we can then take action. Please join us with your experiences, your voice, your friends and family, and your hopes for the future. Together we will be a positive force in Oregon. We regularly host events, which you can find on the event calendar.
“Blue” Alliance Co-Chair
Sue Staehli
“Red” Alliance Co-Chair
Elizabeth Christensen
For questions or more information, please contact the NW Willamette Valley Alliance at nw-willamette-valley@braverangels.org
Southern Willamette Valley Alliance
Covering Eugene, Springfield, and surrounding areas in Lane County, we work to bring people of different political perspectives together for communication workshops, discussions, and public presentations designed to bridge the polarizing political divide we experience in our country. These events allow conservatives and liberals to get past the destructive stereotypes so we can have civil conversations about real issues that lead to productive problem-solving. We hope you will join us! We meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 6-8PM at Oakshire Public House, 207 Madison St in Eugene. Learn more about us and all of our upcoming events on our Alliance webpage.
“Blue” Alliance Co-Chair
Luke Grossmiller
“Purple” Alliance Co-Chair
Mary Miller
“Red” Alliance Co-Chair
Grant Johnson
For questions or more information, please contact the Southern Willamette Valley Alliance at southern-willamette-valley@braverangels.org
Columbia Gorge Alliance
Our bi-state Alliance, serving Hood River and Wasco Counties in Oregon, as well as Skamania and Klickitat Counties in Washington. Launched in July of 2023, our members are serious about practicing true curiosity, and we all readily admit that we’re not yet proficient, which keeps us coming back to practice. Not surprisingly, one of the benefits for those who attend regularly is that we’ve developed new friendships, including with those of different points of view. Our Alliance meets monthly at rotating locations through the four counties we serve. Our in-person meetings have included a picnic and a pub visit. During the winter months, we use Zoom for keeping in contact and practicing our divide-bridging skills. Please contact us via the email address below to learn more and join us.
Tom Aspitarte, “Blue” Co-Chair & Doug Roof, “Red” Co-Chair
For questions or more information, please contact the Columbia Gorge Alliance at columbia-gorge@braverangels.org
Braver Angels of Salem
Born in the heart of our state capital, Braver Angels of Salem serves Marion and Polk counties with conversations, workshops and other events. What had started as a sometimes-challenging friendship between a Republican and a Democrat in the summer of 2024, has morphed into a local movement that includes men and women of all ages and experiences committed to bridging the political divide. Given the mid-Willamette Valley’s diverse voter profile, and home to municipal, county and state governments, our plans include bringing the Braver Angels mission to both residents and elected officials alike. We hold regular events, including monthly “Coffee Talks” at Ike Box Café, where you will get a chance to have thought provoking conversations with people across the aisle.
Join us for “Coffee Talks” at IKE BOX Cafe at 299 Cottage St NE, Salem, OR 97301. No registration needed, just show up!
“Blue” Alliance Co-Chair
Tim Buckley
“Red” Alliance Co-Chair
Satya Chandragiri
For questions or more information, please contact the Braver Angels of Salem Alliance at salem-or@braverangels.org.
Oregon Rural/Urban Project
The Oregon Rural/Urban Project (‘ORUP’) is a statewide project which began in 2022 with the goal of addressing and bridging the serious divide between rural and urban Oregonians. We bring everyday Oregonians together in Town Halls and Moderated Discussions throughout the state to talk about the Divide, find common ground, and offer constructive suggestions from both the urban and rural perspectives. We are simultaneously building bi-partisan relationships in the State Legislature, and working with Braver Politics to prepare Legislators to receive our final report. That report will include all the issues, points of agreement, and suggested solutions to improve the policy making process in Oregon to ensure effective participation by all Oregonians.
To learn more, please visit our ORUP website.
“Blue” Alliance Co-Chair
Steve Radcliffe
“Red” Alliance Co-Chair
Elizabeth Christensen
For questions or more information, please contact the Oregon Rural/Urban Project at Oregon-Rural-Urban-Project@braverangels.org
Get Involved
Would you like to get involved in reducing the polarization that is gripping our country and our communities? First things first: Become a member for only $12 per year!
Not ready to join but want to informed of upcoming Oregon events? Subscribe to our email list instead!
Upcoming Oregon Events
Braver Angels Meets Toastmasters!
In 2022, longtime Braver Angels Oregon volunteer, Jeff Spitzer, competed in the Toastmasters International Speech Competition with his Braver Angels inspired speech, “Depolarizing Within”. Jeff advanced through the first four levels of the contest, winning the District 7 Championship before coming up just short in the Regionals. See his speech below.
In some internet browsers, the video will not appear above. If you don’t see it, you can access it directly via this link.
Newsletter
To keep informed of local and national Braver Angels news, subscribe to our email list or consider becoming a member for only $12 a year.
