Irvine, Calif. – The JAMS Foundation’s 12th Annual Warren Knight Distinguished Service Award was recently presented to Braver Angels, along with a $25,000 grant. The award recognizes the work Braver Angels has done to bring liberals and conservatives together across the nation to build a working alliance to depolarize America.
Named in memory of the founder of JAMS, the Warren Knight Distinguished Service Award and grant recognizes the work of extraordinary individuals and organizations in advancing collaborative forms of dispute resolution and the peaceful resolution of conflict.
Braver Angels, formerly known as Better Angels, is a national grassroots citizens’ organization that was launched after the 2016 presidential elections to reduce political polarization in the United States. The mission of the organization is to bring liberals and conservatives together to understand each other beyond stereotypes, forming red/blue community alliances, teaching practical skills for communicating across political differences, and making a strong public argument for depolarization.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has caused Americans stay home to protect their fellow citizens, Braver Angels is now bringing people together online and helping to find ways to come together even in these challenging times.
Braver Angels is doing remarkable work to unite people and recognize the common humanity that we all share despite having differing political beliefs. This organization supports principles that bring us together rather than divide us, which is both heartening and especially critical at this time in our country’s history.
- David Brandon, JAMS Foundation Managing Director
Instead of asking people to change their minds about key issues, the organization gives all Americans a chance to better understand each other, to absorb the values and experiences that inform political philosophies, and to ultimately recognize their common humanity. Since the beginning of the movement, Braver Angels has provided workshops to teach skills for engaging in political conversations and civil debates while respecting others’ views, promoting mutual understanding and collaboration among people across the political spectrum.
We are honored to have received this generous award from the JAMS Foundation. Not only will this help to support the programs we offer, but it can help us increase awareness of our organization and the important work we do. We thank the JAMS Foundation for recognizing Braver Angels and are committed to continuing our efforts to bridge the divide between red and blue.
- David Blankenhorn, President/Co-Founder of Braver Angels
Hon. H. Warren Knight (Ret.) was the founder of JAMS, which he created in January 1979. Judge Knight was considered a pioneer in the ADR and legal communities and was instrumental in introducing and furthering ADR, including mediation and arbitration, within the legal community in California and throughout the United States.
About the JAMS Foundation
The nonprofit JAMS Foundation was established in 2002 by JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. The mission of the JAMS Foundation is to provide financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national and international impact and to share its dispute resolution expertise for the benefit of the public interest.
The Foundation is funded entirely by contributions from JAMS neutrals, executives and associates, and by a substantial annual donation from JAMS. To uphold the company’s core value of neutrality, the Foundation accepts no donations outside of JAMS. The Foundation currently boasts 300 principal benefactors and has provided more than $9 million in grant funding since its inception.
About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. JAMS successfully resolves and manages business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways to overcome barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized dispute resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, top-notch facilities and highly trained panelists.
With a roster of nearly 400 neutrals and 28 locations, JAMS resolves thousands of the world’s important cases every year. JAMS also offers remote dispute resolution through videoconference and other platforms. JAMS neutrals are adept at managing the resolution process whether they are conducting in-person or virtual hearings.
More information is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and our JAMS ADR blog.
