[Partner Event] The Braver Angels Approach to Depolarization in the US

Let's join our friends at the United Nations Association - Orange County Chapter.

Braver Angels is a national, grassroots movement bringing Americans from all walks of life together to help turn down political rancor and strengthen our democracy. We offer carefully designed workshops (and other events) that create a space for productive and respectful conversation across the political divide and reduce our own internal polarization. The focus is on learning to listen with empathy and curiosity about how life experiences have shaped those with sometimes very different ideas to ours, and developing respectful relationships. The key is offering perspectives rather than needing to change another's mind on issues that are important to them. BA also offers a variety of events such as finding common ground on difficult issues, community town halls, and candidate debates.

Speakers:
Robert (Bob) McDuff, Braver Angels Moderator and Ambassador
Bob is a 3-year Braver Angels member and volunteer with the Greater SoCal Super Alliance and is trained as an Ambassador and Workshop Moderator. He lives most of the time in Mid-City Los Angeles but part time on Mill Creek Rd near Aspen Glen Picnic Area. Bob is a Council Member and Treasurer for Central Lutheran Church Van Nuys where his wife is the Pastor. He is also a member of the Big Bear Lake ELKS. His professional career included time as a radar systems engineer, a finance manager for a top 10 bank, a corporate treasurer for the top international credit card processing company, and six years teaching high school math to urban students.

Susan Rico, Braver Angels Organizer and Ambassador
Susan is a 4-year Braver Angels member and volunteer, currently working on organizing in-person events around Southern California. She lives in Long Beach with her husband and is mostly retired from an optical engineering career. She was on the Board of Directors of the Optical Society of SoCal for many years, which included STEM outreach to young people. Of her work with Braver Angels, she says, "This has been a time of deep growth for me. It has improved the way I interact with others, not just in politics, but in all aspects. I'm now less likely to try to 'win' and more likely to try to 'understand'."

Also join us to learn more about the great work UNA-OC and UNA in general are doing and how you might be able to get in involved. Let's figure out how we can make a difference to make the world a better place for all.

UNA-OC Monthly Meetings will be held on the third Saturday of each month. Meetings are open to all UNA-OC members and interested guests.

United Nations Association - Orange County Chapter
www.una-oc.org

UNA-OC Mission:
To inform, inspire and mobilize the Orange County community to support the ideas and vital work of the United Nations.

UNA-OC serves the community at large, by bringing awareness about humanitarian issues both on the local and global scale.

UNA-OC is a local chapter of the United Nations Association (UNA-USA) and a program of the United Nations Foundation.

AS PART OF UNA-USA’S GRASSROOTS NETWORK, ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER IS WORKING TO ADVANCE THE GOALS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS:

We identify local Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) champions—from mayors to business leaders, to innovators and volunteers—and celebrate their efforts through awards and public events.

We volunteer with and help elevate local partners and programs that support the goals, such as food banks and refugee resettlement organizations.