Saline event precedes upcoming Manchester workshop

Courtesy of Braver Angels

by Sara Swanson

Last week we ran an article about The Braver Angels Alliance of Washtenaw County Workshop, which will take place in person at Sharon Township Hall, located at 18010 W Pleasant Lake Rd, on October 12, 2025, from 1 to 4pm. If you are on the fence about attending but would like to get a feel for the organization in a less-structured setting ahead of time, you can attend “Families, Friends and Politics” from 6pm to 8pm on September 10, 2025, at Stony Lake Brewing Company, 447 E Michigan Ave, in Saline.

Ellen Abramson, one of the organizers, states, “Many of us have experienced strained relationships with family members or friends due to political differences. Some of us have even lost relationships. The program will provide an opportunity to share these experiences. What impact have we and our families experienced? What ways have we found to address the challenges presented by political differences among family members and friends?”

Braver Angels is the largest grass-roots, cross-partisan organization in the country working to decrease fear and hate between ordinary people with differing political opinions. The goal is to disagree while listening to each other’s viewpoints with respect and curiosity. Their goal is to understand the experiences, information sources, and values that underlie each other’s positions. They believe that disagreement is essential in a democracy and that demeaning and demonizing those who vote differently undermines civic life. For more information, please go to https://washtenaw.braverangels.org/

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.