Braver Angels Laramie County Alliance

04/17/2025

Braver Angels Red/Blue Workshop
Are you troubled by the toxic polarization that is dividing our country into rival tribes that don’t understand each other and don’t talk and listen to each other?
Would you like to be part of the solution―to help heal our wounds and bind our country back together?
Then please register by May 5 at https://tinyurl.com/rbwkshp for our Laramie County Braver Alliance’s FREE in-person “Red/Blue Workshop” to be held Saturday, May 10, from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm at the Laramie County Public Library.
Designed to help “conservative,” “red,” or Republican, on the one hand, and “liberal,” “blue,” or Democratic Americans, on the other, begin rebuilding trust and engaging in productive conversation, the Red/Blue Workshop brings together an equal number of participants from each side to engage in structured and moderated discussions. These discussions focus on understanding, clarifying disagreements, listening, and learning―not declaring and debating. The goal is to build the foundational relationships needed to find common ground.
This workshop is an opportunity for participants to make their voices heard, and to listen to others―all in a respectful environment. It is for citizens who are interested in developing a deeper understanding of, and connection with, people whose political beliefs differ from their own.
The workshop will be in two parts. In part one, participants get to know one another and a foundation of trust begins to form. This paves the way for a deeper dive into authentic, respectful and thought-provoking Q & A session among the participants in part two. A free lunch will be provided between the two sessions for advance registrants. NOTE: It is important to be available and committed for both parts!
There will be a limited number of participants, but observers are welcome to attend the workshop. Observers do not participate in the moderated conversations or exercises, but have the opportunity to listen, learn and reflect.
If you would like to be a participant or an observer in the workshop, please register in advance by May 5 to reserve your place at https://tinyurl.com/rbwkshp .
Please invite friends, family, associates―anyone you know who is interested in how to heal our divisions.
To get a sense of what a Red/Blue workshop is like, view portions of the first Braver Angels (then Better Angels) event, a Red/Blue workshop, at https://youtu.be/u6kZpN5T3lU?si=-jTDpgpR3QCrSwRK .
Check out our Laramie County Alliance web page and FaceBook page, addresses below, for more information.
https://laramiecounty.braverangels.org
https://tinyurl.com/BALaramieCo

06/20/2024

https://www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/industry_news/community-members-discuss-if-government-should-provide-free-housing/article_c5b407f4-2f19-11ef-aa00-6722690c5948.html

CHEYENNE — As part of the Wyoming State Museum’s 2024 Civic Season program, community members gathered Tuesday evening to debate and discuss whether the government should provide shelter/housing to everyone

06/20/2024

https://wyomingnews-wy.newsmemory.com?selDate=20240620&goTo=A03&artid=2&editionStart=Wyoming%20Tribune Eagle

This full replica of our printed product provides you the newspaper as you know and love it from the convenience of the web.

06/13/2024

Working in a large city, I got very good at ignoring homeless people,

05/22/2024

02/26/2024

From the book review, it sounds as though this could be a great supplement to a Skills workshop.

The author of ‘The Power of Habit’ returns with a book that aims to reveal ways to forge connections and find common ground.

12/25/2023

Leaders Discussed Racial/Ethnic Relations

The third event in our series on improving racial/ethnic relations in Laramie County was hugely successful. Over 120 attendees heard an uplifting discussion among 12 community leaders.

Police Chief Mark Francisco expressed gratitude for the cooperative relationship the Department enjoys with the Cheyenne community and for the culture of respect here. Judge Ronn Jeffrey emphasized individual responsibility, the need to be open and honest, and the value of learning. Faith community leaders reminded us of our common humanity. Pastor Stephen Latham tries “to get out there and work with different people…to give them the perspective of who I am…and let them know that I’m just like you” except that “my skin may be a little darker.” Nathan Winters spoke of the need to strengthen the family and to have “open and genuine dialogue instead of monologue.” Rabbi Moshe Halfon advocated for interfaith activities and said he enjoys speaking and participating in worship services at various congregations. Pastor Tom Perea urged us to “lay down our differences at the foot of the Cross….Without God we will never solve this problem.”

We heard about steps being taken in the schools, in the public health, business, and legislative spheres. Colonel Johnny Galbert, Wing Commander, 90th Missile Wing, said that It all “comes down to our airmen and their families being treated with dignity and respect.” He is working to make the Base more open, and the military there more engaged in the community. Pastor Latham concluded that he sees “hope everywhere.”

The panelists graciously (even enthusiastically) agreed for the event to be recorded, so if you missed it you can watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hVeUKF7YN0&t=4s .

09/23/2023

The third event in our series on racial and ethnic bias will be a panel of community leaders (see below) who will present their solution-focused thoughts, and answer questions, on how to improve racial/ethnic relations, foster better communication and understanding, and help prevent acts of prejudice, discrimination, bullying, and violence.
This free event will be held on Thursday, October 5, from 6-8:00 pm in the Cottonwood Room of the Laramie County Library. Arrive at 5:30 for socializing over cookies and lemonade, and stay until 8:30 for informal conversation.
You must register in advance at https://tinyurl.com/BraverPanel. We are expecting a very large attendance, so please register early to assure yourself a place.

Panelists: Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins; Chief of Police Mark Francisco; Col. Johnny L. Galbert, Wing Commander, 90th Missile Wing, F.E. Warren AFB; Rabbi Moshe Halfon, Mount Sinai Congregation; Judge Ronn Jeffrey, Cheyenne Municipal Court; Pastor Stephen Latham, No Greater Love of God in Christ Church, Branch President, NAACP; Pastor Tom Perea, D.Min., Lead Pastor, Restoration Fellowship Int’l; Amy Spieker, DrPH, Director, CRMC Community Health and Analysis, and Executive Director, Laramie County Community Partnership; Dale Steenbergen, President and CEO, Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce; Pastor Nathan Winters, President, Wyoming Family Alliance; Chris Zimny, Violence Prevention Facilitator and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Laramie County School District 1; State Representative Dan Zwonitzer, District 43, Laramie County.

08/22/2023

Wyoming Independent Citizens Coalition (WICC), one of the organizations that has been partnering with us for our series of events on reducing racial/ethnic tension in Laramie County, is hosting an inaugural “Not in Our Town” event. Please see the flyer below. The Mayor will be reading a proclamation. WICC will be distributing T-shirts, door decals, and buttons. It will be held Friday, August 25, 4:00 pm in the Cottonwood Room of the Laramie County Library.

Laramie County Braver Angels does not implicitly endorse any specific position promoted or policy advocated by any organization with whom we partner or cooperate. Our mission is “Develop skills, and provide public forums, to discuss issues with civility, clarity and regard for differences, in search of understanding and ways to work together.” https://laramiecounty.braverangels.org/