Lead with Respect, Heal the Divide

Workshops & Debates for Colorado Springs Residents  

The location and debate resolutions will be published when we open the RSVPs in May.

Join us this summer for a series of interactive workshops and community debates designed to help local residents bridge divides, foster civil discourse, and strengthen our shared community. These events, hosted by Braver Angels and Reclaiming Civility, provide practical tools for navigating disagreements with respect while creating space for meaningful dialogue across differences.  

• Each workshop offers skill-building opportunities, from preserving family relationships in polarized times to learning how to disagree constructively.

• Following the workshops, we’ll share a community lunch. 

• Then, during the afternoon, our moderated community debates will allow participants to engage in structured, respectful discussions on pressing issues, promoting a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives. Each session will feature a debate on a different resolution. If you’re a newsletter subscriber you’ll be asked to weigh in on which resolutions are of most interest to you. We will publish the selected resolutions in May. 

Schedule

June 21:

9:00 a.m. until noon: Family and Politics Workshop 

12:00 until 1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Community Debate  

July 19: 

10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.Disagreeing Better Workshop 

12:00 until 1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Community Debate  

August 16: 

9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.LAPP (Listen, Acknowledge, Pivot, Perspective) Skills Development Workshop 

12:00 until 1:00 p.m.: Lunch

1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Community Debate  

Check out Braver Angels’ YouTube debate channel to see some debates and get a feel for how they’re different from traditional debates. 

• They are participatory - everyone who wishes to speak or ask questions will likely get a chance.

• The purpose is not to win, score rhetorical points or change anyone’s mind - it’s to deepen our own knowledge of a topic and better understand other perspectives.

So, whether you’re looking to improve your communication skills or engage in well-managed, informative conversations about today’s challenges, these events are for you. Together, we can lead with respect and heal the divides in our community.