Braver Angels to meet Jan. 22

The Marion County Public Library Headquarters is at 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

Braver Angels is a national organization with a mission to strengthen democracy through civil discourse. The recently launched Ocala/Marion County Braver Angels alliance will meet at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Marion County Public Library Headquarters at 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.

“We envision an America where courageous citizenship is the honored norm, renewing civic culture and building trust across political differences,” the Braver Angels website states.

According to Buddy Oswald of Ocala, “They have a variety of activities designed to promote civil discussion across the political divide.”

Oswald has been working with Chuck Tyler, the Florida coordinator for Braver Angels. The group first hosted a Navigating Difficult Conversations workshop in mid-November 2025. The group also met in mid-December.

“For me, courageous citizenship means putting country before party, ego, or comfort. It’s about showing up for democracy — even when conversations get hard — and remembering that service to one another is the highest form of patriotism. That’s why I see my work with Braver Angels as a continuation of my Army service; both are rooted in protecting what unites us as Americans,” Tyler said via email in an earlier “Gazette” article.

“I joined the national Braver Angels organization several years ago when I became discouraged by the lack of civility and our inability as a community to discuss our differences. I believe in an American identity rooted in the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and that it is the responsibility of each generation to preserve that identity. Anyone who agrees with the last sentence should join us. I don’t have an official role with Braver Angels and hope we can encourage and inspire younger generations to take the lead,” Oswald stated previously.

To learn more, go to braverangels.org or email [email protected]