From Mark Metzger, Braver Angels Convention Director

In the summer of 1776, our Founding Fathers convened in Philadelphia to determine the future of the 13 colonies. Together, in the Pennsylvania State House, they drafted a Declaration that would sever ties with the British Empire and start a new nation, soon to be known as the United States of America. And in support of this Declaration, they made a pledge to each other:

“We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

These are the words—the promise—that have held our new nation together for the past 250 years. Through wars and peacetime, depressions and prosperity, division and reconciliation, this commitment to each other has been the foundation of our democratic republic. 

So in honor of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of our nation, we will be convening on hallowed grounds in Philadelphia to look back, understand this historical moment, and renew our Founders’ pledge. It will also be an opportunity for us, on our 10th Anniversary, to begin the next chapter of Braver Angels.

We will explore courageous citizenship and understand how we, as courageous citizens, can take action at the individual, local, and national levels. We will look at the progress made thus far by the Citizens Commission on Immigration, our national initiative that emerged from the votes of our delegates at our 2024 National Convention. And together, we will develop a new pledge, one that is rooted in our history and made by us, the people, for this moment.

So we ask you, on this momentous occasion: Will you join us in Philadelphia?

You’ll get to hear from elected officials like Rep. Tom Suozzi and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick about their work leading the Problem Solvers Caucus and how they’ve connected with their constituents through our Constituents Conversations program.

You’ll get to debate some of our most pressing and controversial issues, the Braver Angels way. To start: Is the Founders’ Vision for America Outdated?

You’ll get to hear about how we brought together national immigration leaders who strongly disagree with each other to break bread for a year and start finding common ground solutions on one of the nation’s most contentious issues, and then you’ll get to hear them debate it.

You’ll get to be in the room for the relaunch premiere of A Braver Way podcast and watch Mónica Guzmán interview Yuval Levin, renowned political analyst,  academic, and journalist.

You’ll get to participate in workshops that’ll hone your skills in courageous citizenship, like A Braver Campus Dialogue for All, and How to Organize and Run a Constituent Conversation.

You’ll get to engage with new programs that are emerging in the next chapter of Braver Angels, like Citizen-Led Solutions, Braver Workplace, and The Civic Scholars Council.

You'll get to hear directly from the leaders of the National Constitution Center and the Museum of the American Revolution. Then, throughout the convention, you’ll be able to hop on a bus and head down to Independence Square, and actually get to “be in the room where it happened.” Both museums are offering free admission to Braver Angels convention delegates. While you’re there, you can also take a guided tour of historical Philadelphia, led by Temple’s own Dialogue Institute.

And, of course, you’ll get to meet new friends and old from all across the country and of all different political persuasions, in equal numbers of red and blue. There’s nothing quite like it.

The first slate of our program is now live on our website, with still more to be announced. Check it out here. It’s an event you won’t want to miss.

Join us for the 250th Anniversary of our founding in the place where we began, renewing our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor once more.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY