Braver Angels: What’s new with Braver Angels in PA

Aired; June 6th, 2025.

Listen to the podcast to hear the full interview. 

In a time of deep political division, two leaders with vastly different backgrounds—one in marketing, the other in human resources—are helping Pennsylvanians find common ground through Braver Angels, a national nonprofit focused on depolarization.

Bill, a marketing professional and the Pennsylvania State Co-Coordinator for Braver Angels (Blue), says his skills have translated directly into this work. “Marketing and communications is really fundamental to this,” he said. “We have to get the message out… and also persuade people that this is an important thing to do. A lot of people are polarized, but they don’t mind. They think it’s okay.”

Dave Wagner, the group’s Co-Coordinator from the Red perspective and an HR veteran, said relationship-building is central to both his professional background and his role with Braver Angels. “It really is about relationships and getting people working together,” Wagner said. “There’s a lot of organizational effectiveness work that happens when you’re trying to unite people with different worldviews.”

Braver Angels was born in 2016 in the wake of an especially divisive presidential election. Since then, the organization has grown significantly across the country and in Pennsylvania. The group now has six active local alliances in the commonwealth with three more forming. “This time last year, we had three alliances,” said Wagner. “Today, we have six, with three more on the way. One of our alliance leaders actually joined after hearing about us on The Spark. Now we have the entire state covered.”