Below is a link to an interview with Monica Guzman, one of the prime movers in this effort to build bridges. We invite you to watch it when you can and then join us for a discussion WITH MONICA! on Monday, March 24 at 5:30pm where we will also continue planning for regional in person meetings.

Do you want to approach people who might have different views but not sure how?

Is there a family member or friend that you’ve fallen out of touch with over politics?

Do you find yourself wondering how to engage with people?

Watch the less than an hour interview here Mónica Guzmán—I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY - with Jonathan Rauch - YouTube

REGISTER FOR THE MEETING ON THE 24TH HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-discussion-i-never-thought-of-it-this-way-me-state-registration-1269355108299?aff=oddtdtcreator&discount=BRAVER

Greetings, this month we’re inviting you to watch a movie at home and then join us on Monday, Feb 24 at 5:30pm for a discussion. We live in challenging times and we all need more coping skills.

Go here to watch ‘Undivide Us’

MPT Presents | Undivide Us | PBS

and register for the zoom BELOW (or click the Register box)

https://braverangels-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/0mWb9H6YQzmog2JAIewn_g

We will send out discussion questions prior to the zoom. Please invite friends and relatives be they Red or Blue to watch the film and then join the group on

Monday, Feb 24 at 5:30pm

UPDATE: Opening speaker comments here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/72gxsd2k2zo4ahh/Lobbyist%20panel.mp4?e=1&dl=0

Greetings, this month's session will be about lobbying and we’re fortunate to have  lobbyists from the non profit and private sectors

Have you lobbied in Augusta (or Washington DC?). What was/is your experience? What is the lobbying process? Is it a mostly public effort or more private conversations? Some media stories suggest there are cash payments or tradeoffs involved, what’s the reality?  

Our speakers this month will be Megan Hannah, Ex.Dir of Maine Community Action Partnership and Katie Harris the lead lobbyist for Maine Health (Maine’s largest hospital group). Join us for a lively discussion on what really happens in the halls of politics.

This month we are looking back and sharing memories of Building Bridges/Better Angels - from how we got involved, to memorable online or in person meetings. We invite you to share your experiences out in the world building bridges with family members, friends, and strangers, and share memories of Building Bridges meetings that particularly resonated with you. Ultimately, it’s what we do in reaching out, sharing experiences, and recalling why we’re making efforts that makes a difference. If we have time we’ll also look ahead so please bring your ideas for subjects we should schedule for 2025.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alliancemembers-meeting-a-look-back-a-look-forward-me-state-registration-1104455589399?aff=oddtdtcreator

This month we welcome two legislators who will preview the upcoming session, talk about the way they reach across the aisle and what they see for the future of their parties. House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham and Rep. Anne Graham will share their views and will join our breakout rooms.

PLEASE REGISTER HERE:

 Legislative Leaders and the Upcoming Session Registration, Mon, Nov 18, 2024 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite You can use the promo code BRAVER for a free ticket.

Special Event: Film Preview!

This month we are previewing a new film, A Road Trip Across a Divided America, a film that asks, “How did we lose connection with our neighbor, and more importantly, how do we get it back?” This timely film will be screened online and you can watch from home on Mon Nov.11 at 5:30pm. Here’s a quick preview: A Road Trip Across a Divided America - A New Film by Joseph Sim

PLEASE REGISTER HERE:

 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-screening-a-road-trip-across-a-divided-america-maine-registration-1053999172899?aff=oddtdtcreator  You can use the promo code BRAVER for a free ticket.

Thank you and keep building bridges!

How Do Legislators Build Bridges Over Partisan Divides?

The impression many of us have is that our legislators operate in separate partisan realities. Legislators don't really talk across the aisle. Everyone is too far apart. All issues are colored by national politics. Socializing between political views and party affiliation no longer exists. Lobbyists have too much power.

But, what's the reality? What goes on behind the scenes, and what are some examples of compromise and bridge building?

Our speakers this month, State Sen. Peggy Rotundo (D) and Rep Sawin Millett (R), promise a conversation that looks beyond partisanship and at the reality of governing in today’s political climate.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

RESCHEDULED TO JUNE: Roles of Classical and Technical Education

We apologize that but due to technical difficulties, we were unable to hold the meeting. We will plan to reschedule for June.

Best,

Building Bridges Maine

In this month's topic we are exploring the value of and contributions of a classical Liberal education and CTE, a Career and Technical Education. What are the costs and benefits of each education, is education a subject where we can find grounds for agreement and what do other countries do?

Our speakers will be Trish Riley, Board Chair of the University of Maine College system and former legislator and Richard Bray an educator with 30+ years teaching Industrial Arts, Technology Education, & Video Production. He is on the board of Region 10 Technical High School in Brunswick, Maine. Their thoughts will be followed by participant breakout sessions.

What’s your experience with the current education system. Do you have kids or grandkids in school? What do they think?

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

The Cost and Availability of Housing: What's Going On?

Why have housing costs risen so much faster than incomes and what, if anything, can we do about it? We want to get at the reasons rents have skyrocketed, lack of affordable housing, deteriorated housing, and the NIMBY factor.

We will have speakers with great backgrounds and knowledge of housing issues. We hope you will share your thoughts about affordable housing, resistance to more housing, and potential solutions. What are your thoughts on the subject? Have you worked with a developer to bring more housing to your community or been part of a group that feels that more housing in your area is not a solution? I

Please register below and please invite your friends and colleagues to join us on Monday April 22 at 5:30pm

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Guns and Mental Health: Community Steps

Our February meeting will build on January’s robust conversation on what we can do to reduce mass shootings and explore steps that can be taken at the community level that could be widely supported.

Legislative efforts to restrict gun ownership have been defeated repeatedly due to concerns for 2nd amendment and individual rights. While legislative initiatives will continue, we are hopeful that other, non-legislative, community based strategies might be more successful when they are generated in collaboration. On Monday, Feb 26 at 5:30pm we will have three speakers from the mental health, gun ownership, and law enforcement communities. Please join us to take part in this meaningful and, hopefully, fruitful discussion.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Guns and Mental Health

Video of the speaker presentation from this event can be watched at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lqs-BVR4_hek9FVZOE9--mwiInQ8zKFV/view?usp=drive_link .

Given the recent event in Maine, the relationship of guns and mental health is front of mind for many of us. Join Building Bridges Maine to hear multiple perspectives from experts on the subjects:

• Prof. Michael Rocque, Sociology, Bates College

• David Trahane, Sportsmen Alliance of Maine

• Margaret Groban, Maine Gun Safety Coalition

Your participation will enhance the conversation and the understanding of this issue to improve our ability to mend this divide.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Families and Politics Around the Holidays

With politics as polarized and divisive as ever and the holiday season approaching, many of us will have difficult interactions with problematic family members. Does calling out your problematic family members benefit you or our political climate? Or does it do the opposite -- worsening familial relationships and political climate?

Our speaker this month will be Sandra Birckhead. Sandra has done the Families and Politics program a number of times. She has been a moderator since 2019 and is a member of the Braver Angels National Training team. No better opportunity to invite a friend or family member to join this conversation. Please note we are holding our monthly meeting on the third and not fourth Monday of the month.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Upcoming Utility Referendum: Come Hear Both Sides

When Mainers head to the ballot box in November, there will be a few referendum questions to vote on. One of them will ask you, "Do you want to create a new power company governed by an elected board to acquire and operate existing for-profit electricity transmission and distribution facilities in Maine?"

This referendum has generated a fair amount of information, much of it controversial, so we have invited leaders from both sides of the referendum to join Building Bridges on Tuesday, Sep 26 at 5:30 pm. You will have the opportunity to hear the speakers and share your opinion in our breakout sessions.

To learn more about each side before the event, you can visit the citizen initiative organization at Home - Pine Tree Power and the organization representing the current situation at  Maine Affordable Energy

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Church and State: Where are the boundaries?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

These two clauses from the First Amendment - establishment & free exercise - provide the foundation for the separation of church and state. But the application of that separation fuels a fierce debate these days, as expressions of personal values and individual freedoms conflict.

Join us on Monday, July 24th at 5:30 pm to discuss what these clauses mean and how they are interpreted in the courts. We will use the 2022 Supreme Court ruling on the Carson v Makin case involving Bangor Christian Schools to help frame our discussion.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Meeting Topic

Join Building Bridges Maine via Zoom on Monday, June 26th at 5:30 to discuss the the challenges and benefits of asylum. Are those seeking to stay in America a burden or opportunity? Speak with some of the key figures on this issue including Kristen Dow who is in charge for the city of Portland. What questions do you think need to be answered to solve the issues around asylum seekers?

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Meeting Topic

Join Building Bridges Maine via Zoom on Monday, May 22nd at 5:30 in a discussion about younger voters with younger voters. Let’s challenge the perception that young adults are disengaged and learn about the reality of their involvement.

• What does the data tell us about voter participation?

• Why does it matter?

• How can we better engage younger voters and build cross-generational involvement?

Joann Bautista, Maine’s Deputy Secretary of State, and Allyson Gardner, Director of Maine Students Vote, will share their knowledge and experience as we hear from students about their perspectives, engagement, and attitudes towards voting and political involvement. After remarks and a short Q&A session, we will have the opportunity to explore these issues in smaller breakout groups then reconvene to share our thoughts.

Please bring your thoughts and experience.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Join us for an Evening with True Story Theater

True Story Theater’s mission is to promote social healing through theater by building empathy, respect, and understanding in the honoring of true life stories. Volunteers from the audience are invited and helped to share what’s important in their lives. Actors listen deeply then spontaneously transform the stories into theater, portraying the heart of what they heard using dialogue, movement, music and song.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

There's a lot of talk about protecting the election process and making sure every vote is counted correctly. Plan to join us as our speakers review Maine's process of access, verification, and challenges. How exactly are our votes counted and how do we know tallies aren't manipulated or fraudulent votes are included? How is access to voting by all eligible voters by mail-in, early voting, same day voting handled?

Critics have claimed that voting machines have been hacked, voting totals altered, that immigrants without voting rights are allowed to vote in significant numbers, and that there is very little control over who votes and where. Accusations are volleyed between the parties. By talking with people directly involved in elections, we are on a fact-finding mission.

We are pleased to welcome Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and two local clerks, Tody Justice, Town Clerk of Scarborough, and Kathy Montejo, City Clerk of Lewiston to discuss this hot topic.

Register Here https://braverangels-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rfuusrTgrEtVhXOU9bDz95TbtOVkpO517

Education is a hot topic these days. There are questions swirling around what topics and at what age they are taught to children. Some school board meetings have become contentious around topics such as book banning, racial history, and gender identity. Joining us on Monday Oct 24 at 5:30pm will be former state senators Debra Plowman and Doug Thomas, Grace Leavitt, President, MEA and former teacher and ED of Equality Maine Gia Drew. As always we will have breakout rooms so please register below, Thank You

Register

Bridging the Divide with US Sens. Susan Collins & Angus King - YouTube

Click the link above to see Maine’s Senators in their first public joint forum in many years.

Maine’s U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I) will participate together in an in-depth on-line conversation—the first of its kind--on finding new ways to bring bipartisanship back to Congress. The live Zoom meeting will be hosted by the Maine Alliance of Braver Angels, a national non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the partisan divide and strengthening our democratic republic.

 The meeting between the senators will be held next Tuesday, September 27 from 5:30 to 6:30pm (EDT), and can be seen via Zoom (https://braverangels.org/event/building-bridges-maine-forum-with-senator-collins-and-senator-king/8 ). Those wishing to view the conversation Must Register through this link. Registration is limited on Zoom so please register ASAP.

 “The unusual qualities of our two U.S. senators who embody the uniqueness of our state, especially their mutual bipartisanship, make them the perfect political figures to discuss this vital American topic,” said Karla Doremus-Tranfield, Braver Angels Maine moderator who will direct the discussion. “We thank them for taking the time, and appreciate their willingness, to have the political courage to be champions of bipartisanship even in the most difficult times.”

We hosted the editor of the Lewiston Sun Journal, Judy Meyer, who led a great discussion on how reporters check facts, the rise of disinformation and ways to verify social media stories. We then had breakout rooms where we shared how we verify information and shared tips. There doesn’t seem to be a way to insert the slides Judy used but if you would like a copy please email pbailey@braverangels.org and you will receive then within a day.