Skip to Main Content

Braver Angels Discussion

Location: Friendly Tap, 6733 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn,

Braver Angels

Braver Angels: Building Community & Talking Across Divides 

Neighbors exploring ways to depolarize communities and the nation.

This event is co-sponsored by the NIC Advocacy Partners (Part of the ARTF) and Braver Angels of Illinois.

Two Options

  • Western Suburbs

    • Thursday, August 1
      6:30 - 8 p.m. 
      Friendly Tap, 6733 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn
      Thank you to those who participated. See the recap below.

  • Rockford Area

    • Thursday, August 29
      6:30 - 8 p.m. 
      Garrett’s Restaurant & Bar, 1631 N Bell School Rd., Rockford
      Online Registration

Join us to socialize and share your concerns and hopes for your community and the nation with neighbors from the community.

*Tickets are Free
Donations Help. Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. Donations beyond the free ticket support Braver Angels, a 501(c)3.

The Program:

  • 6:30-7:00: Socialize with neighbors and discuss why you are attending the gathering and your hopes and concerns for the nation and your community.
  • 7:00-7:45: Learn about Braver Angels methods of bringing people together, our American Hope Campaign, and Illinois planning around the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Q&A throughout.
  • 7:45-8:00: Meet neighbors, find common ground, discuss the problem of toxic politics and what we can do about it as individuals and a community!

Invite an Elected Official or a friend who differs from you politically – let’s bring people together for a chance to experience the broader community.

We can turn our locations into a bipartisan café for one night, listening to each other respectfully and expressing ourselves without trying to convert others to any viewpoint. You will leave knowing new neighbors and actionable ideas for changing our toxic politics – you will leave with hope for your community and nation.

Braver Angels is a volunteer organization active in all 50 states with a mission to depolarize our bitter political culture.


August 1st event in Berwin

On Thursday, August 1st, the Advocacy Partners, a sub-group of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church Anti-racsim Task Force, partnered with Braver Angels of Illinois to host a gathering at Friendly's in Berwyn. We turned Friendly's into a bipartisan space for one night, listening to each other respectfully and expressing ourselves without trying to convert others to any viewpoint. We left knowing new neighbors and having actionable ideas for changing our toxic politics – as well as hope for our community and nation. 

News & Announcements

Quilt Presentation With Bishop

Quilt Presentation Celebrates Diversity and Creativity

At the 2025 Northern Illinois Annual Conference, the NIC Anti-Racism Task Force unveiled the Arts & Culture Quilt—a powerful symbol of unity, justice, and cultural pride.…

Budget Presentation Kim And David

Conference Council on Finance and Administration – Updates from Annual Conference

Members of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference approved the 2026 conference budget and a simplified apportionment formula during their Jun…

Oma Banner03

2025 One Matters Award Winners

The Northern Illinois Conference recognized five churches with One Matters Awards. The United Methodist Church’s Discipleship Ministries created this award in 2015 to encourage congregations that…

Derick Mckinney W8kl19hcrya Unsplash

Help for International Garrett Students

As we continue to look for ways to support international students, the Immigration Team of the NIC Conference Commission on Religion and Race has been presented with an urgent need.

Print