Depolarizing Drives Hope in Irvine, California

Citizen-Led Solutions (CLS) is a program where citizens come together across differences to foster trust, forge common-ground solutions to local problems, and follow through to implement those solutions. The program grows out of Braver Angels’ enduring faith in the capacity of everyday Americans to overcome divides and rise to the challenges of our time.

Who They Are
City council meetings in Irvine, CA (population ~300,000) had become heated. Police had to be present because council meetings were gridlocked by vocal conflict about a highly divisive international issue.
As local issues piled up, residents grew extremely frustrated.

What They Did
Two civic entrepreneurs decided to find a solution despite heated and even dangerous protests. Using Braver Angels’ LAPP depolarizing skills, and other skills, they spearheaded a grassroots movement, met with City Council members and spoke respectfully at Council meetings. The result: the council voted to focus on local issues that most mattered to residents. The protests have stopped, the gridlock was broken, the community has begun to heal, and there is a return to local problem solving at the City Council level.

What It Proves
Even in a large city, calm, respectful voices can have an impact by talking face-to-face with city leaders and establishing relationships; by building a grassroots movement of the community and composing civil, problem-solving letters and actions.

What We Can Learn
A few citizens, using the right depolarizing skills, can ignite a grassroots movement even on highly divisive issues as well as renew focus on solving local challenges for the community.

Join us at https://braverangels.org