CHAMPAIGN – Nearly 300 people gathered in Champaign to learn how to hold productive political discussions.
On the night of February 15, Central Illinoisans came to the I-hotel to hear advice on how to calmly discuss politics with their strong-willed neighbors and family members.
The town hall was organized by Braver Angels. The national organization holds workshops to get conservatives and liberals together to understand each other.
William Doherty is a co-founder of Braver Angels. He says America’s survival depends on reducing political polarization.
“We have to engage each other. I’m a family therapist and divorce is not an option. Republicans and Democrats cannot all move to Canada. So we have to figure out a way to work together,” says Doherty.
According to Pew Research, nearly 6-in-10 US adults say it’s stressful and frustrating to talk about politics with people they disagree with.
Doherty also says disagreements affect more than presidential races.
“This polarization has gotten into schools and school boards and discussions about critical race theory and gender identity. So, unfortunately the problem is not going away,” says Doherty.
Champaign residents will select a mayor and candidates running for city council during the April 4 municipal election. They’ll also decide school board races in Champaign Unit 4 Schools.
The co-chairs of the Illinois chapter of Braver Angels are ‘red-leaning’ Matt Hausman and ‘blue-leaning’ Chuck Stone. In 2022, Hausman ran for the Republican primary race to represent Illinois 13th Congressional District. He lost the primary to Regan Deering. Democrat Nikki Budzinski won the general election to represent the 13th.
Stone attended law school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Later, he practiced law in the Chicago area. He continues to teach at DePaul University.
The two men talked on Illinois Public Media’s The 21st Show in November 2022 as part of our ‘Building A Better Democracy’ series. Click here to listen to their interview.