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We host regular discussions on civic issues and leadership challenges, often drawing from stories published in The Journal, our national award-winning civic issues magazine. Explore our calendar below, register for an event, and take the next step on your leadership journey with the Kansas Leadership Center.
September
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October
Wichita Public Library - Rockwell Branch5939 E 9th St N
Good communities don’t avoid hard conversations. They make room for them.
Join the Kansas Leadership Center, The Journal, the Wichita Journalism Collaborative and the League of Women Voters of Wichita Metro for a Braver Angels Debate exploring the USD 259 bond issue. Through a structured, moderated conversation, participants speak, listen and ask questions—not to win an argument, but to better understand one another.
The Resolution
To be announced.
The resolution is a prompt designed to frame the discussion. Participants may speak for or against it, ask questions or simply listen.
Event Details
What? Braver Angels Debate on the USD 259 Bond Issue
When? Thursday, October 22, 2026. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; the debate begins promptly at 6 p.m.
Where? Wichita Public Library – Rockwell Branch,
5939 E 9th St N, Wichita, KS 67208
(map)
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to help us create a thoughtful, balanced conversation and plan for the best possible experience.
This event is hosted by the Kansas Leadership Center, the Wichita Journalism Collaborative and the League of Women Voters of Wichita Metro and is not a program of the Wichita Public Library.
Take part in a structured conversation designed to encourage respectful engagement across differences.
Inside a Braver Angels Debate
Every Braver Angels Debate is different, but each follows the same proven format. These photos from previous Kansas Leadership Center debates offer a glimpse of what to expect.
About the Event
You probably haven’t experienced anything quite like a Braver Angels Debate. It is a highly structured conversation in which people think together, listen carefully to one another and engage with ideas across differences.
A Braver Angels Debate is not a traditional political argument or panel. Some participants prepare short speeches, others ask questions through the Debate Chair, and many simply listen and reflect. The focus is on ideas, not individuals, and on listening as much as speaking.
You do not need to be an expert to take part. All that’s required is curiosity, an open mind and a willingness to engage respectfully.
This format has been used in communities and classrooms across the country to model what healthy civic dialogue can look like. Whether you speak or simply observe, you’ll leave with a better understanding of the issue and a reminder that disagreement doesn’t have to divide us.
This resolution does not represent the Kansas Leadership Center’s stance on the issue. We will alternate between speeches in support of and against the resolution.
The registration form includes a few additional questions about perspectives and participation. These questions help our Debate Chair understand the range of viewpoints in the room and support a respectful, constructive conversation. Your answers are confidential and used only for event planning.
