City Council will meet Tuesday to receive $9.3 million in grants for street safety improvements and discuss potential updates to mobile home rent control rules.
Chani Beeman and Rich Vandenberg, organizers from Braver Angels, stand in front of Riverside City Hall, fostering dialogue and unity in the community. (Brenda Flowers)
Riverside residents are invited to a free workshop designed to improve political conversations across party lines. Hosted by Braver Angels Riverside, the training session will take place on February 15, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon at Hunt Park's Renck Community Center.
"Many Americans feel our country is deeply divided, often seeing those with opposing views not just as wrong, but as bad people," explain organizers Rich Vandenberg and Chani Beeman in an official co-authored statement. "We live in echo chambers, consuming news that reinforces our beliefs."
The workshop will equip participants with practical skills for navigating political conversations respectfully. Attendees will learn techniques for active listening, understanding diverse perspectives, and identifying common ground – even amidst disagreement. Organizers emphasize that the goal is not to change minds but to improve communication and strengthen community bonds. "Our life experiences shape our political perspectives," explains Vandenberg. "It doesn't mean one is right and one is wrong; it simply means we believe different things for different reasons."
Vandenberg and Beeman, who come from different political backgrounds, are proof of what's possible. They have built a strong relationship based on their love of Riverside. Braver Angels, a national non-profit founded in 2016, works to reduce political polarization by bringing together conservatives and liberals. Their research-based approach highlights how face-to-face interactions can increase empathy and mutual understanding.
"The goal of Braver Angels is not to change what people believe but to change how they see one another. Our views are shaped by the diverse experiences that define our lives, and it's natural for those experiences to lead us to different conclusions," says Vandenberg. "We should passionately defend what we believe to be right and just, but true strength comes when we have the courage to listen to opposing perspectives. By seeking common ground where it exists, we don't weaken our convictions. We strengthen the very fabric of our city."
The Riverside workshop is supported by Ward 5 Councilmember Sean Mill and the Inland Empire Braver Angels Alliance. Organizers stress that the event is about improving communication, not changing minds or promoting specific viewpoints.
This workshop offers Riverside residents the chance to develop tools for meaningful dialogue, helping bridge divides and strengthen democracy at the community level. The hope is that where consensus exists, action may be taken.
The People's History Conference is returning for its second year at CSUSB, aiming to enhance the resolution and perspectives of the Inland Empire's historical record.
