Braver Angels
Braver Angels is a national grassroots organization dedicated to depolarizing America. The level of division we are currently experiencing in the US is negatively impacting our country. To heal this divide, widespread involvement is required to foster change, bridge divides, and strengthen our democratic republic.
What does Braver Angels do?
Braver Angels offers skills training to facilitate civil conversations across this political divide. This training can equip you and your group members to engage in constructive dialogue and contribute to bridging the gap. You are invited to become part of the Braver Angels initiative to create a Civic Renewal Movement, working towards reweaving the social fabric of our country.
For a comprehensive overview of Braver Angels and the skills training they provide, please visit the Rotary District 5960 Braver Angels website or contact them directly here.
Ed Marek and Bruce Morlan are members of the Northfield Rotary Club. They have served as Braver Angels Ambassadors since 2019 and have presented to over 50 Rotary clubs across 7 Districts and 4 states.
Ed Marek
A Chicago native, Ed Marek came to Minnesota to earn an MBA from the University of Minnesota. The majority of Ed's professional career was in nonprofit fundraising and management, most notably with the American Red Cross and the Minnesota Environmental Fund. During his time with the Red Cross, he served on numerous national disaster assignments traveling throughout Minnesota as well as Louisiana and Missouri.
Ed has been a member of four Rotary clubs: Shakopee, Eden Prairie, St. Paul Sunrise and now Northfield. Ed served as 5960 District Governor in 2020-21.
In addition to serving as a Braver Angels Ambassador, Ed is also a Braver Angels Network Liaison for Rotary District 5960.
Bruce Morlan
Bruce Morlan is a native of Minnesota – having been born and raised in the southern farm country near Rochester. He left Minnesota to become a career Air Force Officer, serving as a launch officer, then moving on to become a military mathematician. First as a staff officer, then as an instructor, his career focused around being an analyst and a translator. In his second career Bruce conducted clinical trials as a statistician, and did data mining for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Bruce joined Rotary late in life, in 2015. He has been an ambassador without portfolio for Braver Angels since it first formed, and attended the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Braver Angels Convention (in 2019, 2023 and 2024) as a Red. He is part of the Red Caucus in BA.
Ed and Bruce have traveled widely, physically and virtually, to have conversations aimed at building bridges. Listed here are examples of the many groups and clubs that have hosted Ed and Bruce and their Braver Angels presentations. Contact them directly to set up a presentation for your club or group.
Group |
Date |
City |
| Hudson Noon Rotary | 5/22/25 | Hudson, WI |
| Minneapolis Uptown Rotary Club | 5/8/25 | Minneapolis |
| Rotary District Make Peace Visible Conference | 5/2/25 | Prior Lake |
| Brainerd Noon Rotary Club | 4/29/25 | Brainerd |
| Fridley Columbia Heights | 4/2/25 | Fridley |
| North Central Rotary President Elect Training | 3/13-15/25 | Eagan MN |
| North Central Rotary President Elect Training | 3/15/25 | Eagan MN |
| North Star Youth Exchange | 3/1/25 | White Bear Lake |
| Cambridge Isanti Rotary | 2/20/25 | Cambridge |
| Ann Arbor Rotary | 2/19/25 | Ann Arbor MI |
| Edina Morningside Rotary Club | 11/19/24 | Edina |
| Stillwater Sunrise | 10/29/24 | Stillwater |
| Excelsior Noon Rotary Club | 10/15/24 | Excelsior |
| River Falls - American Association of University Women | 10/8/24 | River Falls |
| Northfield Rotary | 9/26/24 | Northfield |
| Owatonna Noon Rotary | 9/16/24 | Owatonna |
| New Brighton/Mounds View Rotary | 8/6/24 | New Brighton |
| Greater Mankato | 7/31/24 | Mankato |
| Lake Elmo Rotary Club | 7/10/24 | Lake Elmo |
| Faribault Rotary | 6/19/24 | Faribault |
| Apple Valley Rotary | 6/5/24 | Apple Valley |
| Albert Lea Rotary | 5/29/24 | Albert Lea |
| Elk River Rotary | 5/16/24 | Ostego MN |
| Rotary District 5960 Annual District Conference | 5/4/24 | Hudson, WI |
| Minneapolis South Rotary Club | 4/16/24 | Minneapolis |
| Searching for Service 950 KTFN | 4/7/24 | Eden Prairie |
| Barrington Rotary Club | 4/4/24 | Barrington, IL |
| Prior Lake Rotary | 3/27/24 | Prior Lake |
| Aden Hills/Shoreview Rotary Club | 2/27/24 | Arden Hills |
| Lakeville Rotary Club | 2/22/24 | Lakeville |
| Rochester Risers Rotary Club | 2/13/24 | Rochester |
| Rotary District 5960 Mid Term Conference | 1/6/24 | St Paul |
| Rotary District 5960 Mid Term Conference | 1/6/24 | St Paul |
| Stillwater Noon | 12/14/23 | Stillwater |
| Cannon Falls Rotary | 12/12/23 | Cannon Falls |
| White Bear Lake Rotary | 12/6/23 | White Bear Lake |
| North St Paul/North Oaks/Maplewood Rotary Club | 11/17/23 | Maplewood |
| Greater Rochester Rotary | 11/8/23 | Rochester |
| Bloomington Noon Rotary | 10/23/23 | Bloomington, MN |
| Waseca Rotary | 10/19/23 | Waseca, MN |
| Rotary District Conference | 10/14/23 | Northfield, MN |
| Rotary District Conference | 10/14/23 | Northfield, MN |
| City wide celebration held in central Park with speakers, music and dance performances, food trucks and booths with a number of local organizations including Rotary, Faith groups, Carleton College and St Olaf College student groups, League of Women Voters and others. | 9/22/23 | Northfield UN International Day of Peace Celebration |
| U of MN employees who are training trainers in various locations including Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. | 9/14/23 | U of MN - Education dept |
| Northfield Rotary Club is the home club for Ed Marek and Bruce Morlan | 8/24/23 | Northfield Rotary Club |
| North Star Youth Exchange serves Rotary Districts 5950 and 5960, giving youth the opportunity to spend a year at a high school overseas. They also bring in students from foreign countries to spend a year in our country and schools. | 5/15/23 | North Star Youth Exchange |
| Rotary Tri-District Conference | 4/29/23 | Maddens Resort on Gull Lake |
| Rotary Tri-District Conference | 4/29/23 | Maddens Resort on Gull Lake |
| Anoka Rotary | 3/23/23 | Anoka |
| Brooklyn Park Rotary | 3/8/23 | Brooklyn Park |
| Waupaca Rotary Club | 2/15/23 | Waupaca WI |
| Owatonna Early Edition Rotary Club | 1/18/23 | Owatonna |
| Rotary Club of Waupaca | 12/14/22 | Waupaca WI |
| Searching For Service | 12/9/22 | Eden Prairie |
| Rotary Club of Long Grove/Kildeer/Hawthorn Woods | 12/6/22 | Long Grove, IL |
| Maple Grove Rotary Club | 11/29/22 | Maple Grove |
| Rosemount Rotary | 3/4/2020 | Rosemount |
| Roseville Rotary | 1/6/2020 | Roseville |
| Le Sueur Rotary | 10/15/2019 | Le Sueur |
These are states where non-Rotarian Braver Angels ambassador conversations have taken place. During these conversations:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Utah
- Wisconsin