Let’s talk about the state of civil discourse in this country. Many of us would agree that the “civil” part is frequently lacking. Enter the Better Angels organization. This bipartisan citizen’s movement was launched in 2016 with the goal of unifying a divided nation by bringing blue and red Americans together in a working alliance.
The Better Angels Capital Region NYS Alliance will be holding a series of programs with the library to encourage more people to find new ways to talk to one another, participate together in public life, and influence the direction of the nation. The first information session will be held Monday, March 4, at 6 p.m., with a second information session scheduled for Friday, March 15, at 2:30 p.m.
On Monday, April 8, at 6 p.m. the group will hold a skills workshop to give participants a communication toolkit to help them better navigate the polarized political discussions that are all too common today.
Anyone interested in improving communication with people on the other side of the political aisle is welcome to attend any or all of these sessions. Visit www.better-angels.org for more information about the Better Angels Alliance.
A battle to remember
In the summer of 1777, British troops threatened to capture Albany and cut off New England from the other colonies. A detachment sent to capture stores in Bennington were expecting little in the way of resistance, but instead met with a decisive check by militias from Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
The Battle of Bennington marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War, and local historian David Pitlyk will be at the library Tuesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. to discuss this pivotal engagement and how it has been commemorated over time.
Women in history
Celebrate Women’s History Month with us as we present a pair of programs that highlight the achievements and struggles of notable women and those who would help them in their quest for equality.
On Wednesday, March 6, Lorraine Weiss from the Shaker Heritage Society will discuss some of the key women in the Watervliet Shaker Community, a group that was ahead of its time in treating men and women as equal. “In Her Rightful Place: Women in Shaker Society” will take place from 1-2 p.m.
On Sunday, March 24, at 3 p.m., author Brooke Kroeger will discuss her book “The Suffragents: How Women Used Men to Get the Vote,” which details how powerful New York men were influential suffrage allies. This event is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Albany County.
— Kristen Roberts
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