/news-archive/tag/braver-angels/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Wed, 03 Nov 2021 13:17:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2021/11/03/chatham-carpenter-selected-for-national-position-in-braver-angels/ Wed, 03 Nov 2021 13:17:16 +0000 /news/?p=80238 ... Chatham-Carpenter Selected for National Position in Braver Angels]]> Department of Applied Communication at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the former state co-coordinator for , has been selected to serve as co-director of field communications for Braver Angels National. 鈥淎lthough I usually prefer working at the grassroots level, sometimes opportunities come along that allow you to serve and learn from leaders at a different level,鈥� Chatham-Carpenter said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what happened here. I want to learn from the folks at Braver Angels National and do what I can to help further the mission of depolarizing America.鈥� Launched in 2016, Braver Angels is an organization that brings together red (conservative-leaning) and blue (liberal-leaning) Americans in a working alliance. Recent polls show that a majority of Americans feel the country is more divided than ever. Through programs and workshops, Braver Angels creates opportunities for meaningful discussion among members of opposing political parties. As director of field communications, a volunteer position, Chatham-Carpenter will work to empower Braver Angels leaders throughout the country and improve the way information is communicated to them, as well as disseminate success stories of their work. 鈥淭his is a huge honor for April,鈥� said Glen White, co-coordinator for Braver Angels of Arkansas. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been lucky to have her involvement and expertise in our local organization for more than two years, and we know she will do great things in her new position with Braver Angels National.鈥� Her professional background as applied communication chair at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock makes her uniquely qualified to serve Braver Angels National in this capacity. She also accepted the position because she believes so strongly in the mission of Braver Angels and wants to make a difference. 鈥淚 believe that the work of Braver Angels helps bridge the political divide we face in our relationships and communities and is so important,鈥� Chatham-Carpenter said. 鈥淭he mission of Braver Angels is consistent with my department鈥檚 mission to foster the co-creation of better social worlds through positive communication.鈥� Chatham-Carpenter feels comfortable stepping away from her role with Braver Angels of Arkansas because another qualified volunteer, David Childs, is already slated to take her place as red state co-coordinator. He has served as membership chair for Braver Angels of Arkansas since early 2021 and is excited to move into the red state co-coordinator role. Braver Angels is a citizens鈥� organization composed almost equally of conservatives (reds) and liberals (blues), along with some independents (purples). The organization鈥檚 goal is for citizens and politicians alike to be willing to hear one another and work toward compromises where common ground can be found. Through workshops, debates and other programs, Braver Angels members learn to discuss potentially volatile issues such as politics and race in a way that is civil and productive. A recent national Braver Angels debate about election integrity drew 2,000 attendees. Leaders participating in the debate discussed the issue of voter fraud and voter suppression civilly for two hours, while observers watched, listened and learned.]]> /news-archive/2021/07/09/chatham-carpenter-to-moderate-discussion-on-teaching-race-in-public-schools/ Fri, 09 Jul 2021 16:14:20 +0000 /news/?p=79347 ... Chatham-Carpenter to Moderate Discussion on Teaching Race in Public Schools]]> Braver Angels of Arkansas is seeking participants for a new workshop coming to Arkansas to discuss teaching about race in public schools.听 The 鈥淐ommon Ground Workshop鈥� will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 17, via Zoom. The event will bring together liberals and conservatives to seek common ground on a specific issue. Braver Angels of Arkansas will work through the issue of teaching critical race theory, the 1619 project, and the history of race in the country through civil dialogue.听 Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter, chair of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Department of Applied Communication, will co-moderate the event. Chatham-Carpenter serves as state co-coordinator of Braver Angels of Arkansas along with Glen White, a local psychologist. They, along with a seven-member executive committee, volunteer their time organizing local Braver Angels events every other month. They also speak to a variety of civic groups, churches, school groups, and other organizations about the Braver Angels mission and strategies for decreasing polarization.听听 Those who would like to attend the workshop as a participant or observer may . ]]> /news-archive/2021/04/02/media-polarization/ Fri, 02 Apr 2021 20:57:21 +0000 /news/?p=78700 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock professor to lead April 5 panel on Media and Polarization]]> A University of Arkansas at Little Rock professor will lead a panel discussion on how members of the media affect the polarization of politics.听 Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter, chair of the Department of Applied Communication at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, will moderate the 鈥淢edia and Polarization鈥� panel discussion held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 5, via Zoom. The panel will feature Philip Martin of the Democrat Gazette; Donna Stephens, journalism professor at the University of Central Arkansas; Gwen Moritz, editor of Arkansas Business; and Wesley Brown, publisher of the Daily Record. The panelists will share their views about the media鈥檚 influence on political polarization. Attendees will then have an opportunity to ask questions. The panel is sponsored by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Department of Applied Communication, the Main Library of the Central Arkansas Library System, and by Braver Angels of Arkansas, a nonprofit organization Chatham-Carpenter co-leads along with Glen White, a semi-retired psychologist who will also serve as a moderator for the panel. 鈥淚 chose to get involved in Braver Angels because the mission of the organization is consistent with my 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock department鈥檚 mission to 鈥榗o-create better social worlds through positive communication,鈥欌�� Chatham-Carpenter said. 鈥淎s a member of this organization, I am dedicated to working towards depolarization within relationships, and recognize that the news we consume plays an important part in what we believe about the other side. Americans are increasingly divided into bubbles and echo chambers with limited exposure to the other side, consuming news that confirms their opinions and stereotypes. I am hoping that this panel will help bring to our level of awareness what we can do as citizens to better educate ourselves about these issues.鈥� Launched in 2016, Braver Angels is an organization that brings Red and Blue Americans together in a working alliance. Recent polls show that a majority of Americans feel the country is more divided than ever. Through programs and workshops, Braver Angels creates opportunities for meaningful discussion among members of opposing political parties. 鈥淥ur goal is not to push an agenda or change participants鈥� minds, but rather, to encourage respectful discussions among those who value our country and its people over a political party,鈥� White said.听听听 The event is free and open to the public. Please visit the to register for the panel discussion.]]> /news-archive/2020/09/08/braver-angels-difficult-political-conversations/ Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:35:31 +0000 /news/?p=77457 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Braver Angels to host workshop that teaches people how to hold difficult political conversations]]> The workshop, which is also sponsored by the Central Arkansas Library System, will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14. The 鈥淪kills for Bridging the Divide鈥� workshop will teach participants how to navigate discussions with empathy and openness while avoiding demonization and contempt. These skills will help people have more respectful conversations that clarify differences, search for common ground, and affirm the importance of the relationship. Prior to the event, those registered can participate in a 40-minute online training. After a brief review of these skills at the online workshop, participants will have the opportunity to pair with a person with a similar political affiliation to practice their conversation skills in difficult political conversations. 鈥淩ecent polls show that a majority of Americans feel our country is more divided than ever, and increasingly view members of the opposite political party as not just wrong鈥攂ut bad people,鈥� said Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter, chair of the Department of Applied Communication. 鈥淎t the same time, Americans are increasingly divided into bubbles and echo chambers with limited exposure to 鈥榯he other side,鈥� consuming news that confirms their opinions and stereotypes.鈥� Launched in 2016, Braver Angels is a bipartisan citizen鈥檚 movement that works to help bridge the political divide between 鈥渞eds鈥� and 鈥渂lues鈥� in our nation. By bringing red and blue Americans together in a working alliance, Braver Angels are building new ways to talk to one another, participate together in public life, and influence the direction of the nation. 鈥淚n today鈥檚 polarized environment, political conversations often turn angry and counterproductive,鈥� said Glen White, state coordinator of Braver Angels Arkansas. 鈥淏raver Angels helps people listen and understand without arguing, to build trust, clarify disagreements, and find common ground based on common values and humanity.鈥� Those interested can register at . For more information on joining or observing the workshop, contact Glen White at gwhite@braverangels.org or April Chatham-Carpenter at axchathamca@ualr.edu.]]>