About the Alliance

Luke is a mediator with Lane County Courts where he does small claims, and a restorative justice practitioner at The Center for Dialogue and Resolution. As a case manager in the Diversion program, he assists those charged with crimes to carry out a reparations agreement to address the impacts of their actions in lieu of standard court proceedings. 

Originally from New Hampshire, he has lived in Eugene since 2008, and is a nonviolence practitioner following after the example of Jesus, Gandhi, King,  Marshall Rosenberg, and Miki Kashtan. He considers himself a liberal, far left, democratic socialist. He has been an activist supporting many causes including campaigning for Bernie Sanders, the environment, Black Lives Matter, standing up with indigenous people at Standing Rock, and generally transitioning from patriarchy and imperialism toward systems that serve the needs of all.

Luke immediately found alignment with the Braver Angels mission when he first heard about them.  He recognized that working with Braver Angels, provided an opportunity to do something much more fundamental and consequential than just “fixing politics.” In uprooting the assumptions that we hold and learning to tell a different story about others (and ourselves), we are able to form perspectives that support more constructive behaviors (choices) and relationship outcomes. 

Joining Braver Angels is a way Luke is able to share this message with others. He likes being part of a movement that is shifting the kind of societal attitudes and communication norms which lead to disfunctional relationship.  He believes that there is no more important task at this time than helping people to see the good in one another, and to develop additional communication tools that build and restore trust. 

Grant is a native of Oregon where he has recently returned and become active in the Republican party of Lane County. As a Constitutional Conservative, he believes in the core republican principles versus the current republican platform, and stands firm in the constitutional principles set forth by the founders.  He particularly emphasizes that the US is a constitutional republic as stated in Article 4 of the constitution and believes that the separation of church and state is not constitutional.  He believes that too much government is the problem and can become tyranny.  “People elected to serve are to serve, not rule over us.”

Grant entered the Air Force after high school, serving 20 years in active duty until his retirement in 1998. He then served as a human resource manager for two family-owned companies before being recruited back to the Air Force for civil service as the Dover Air Force Base Training Manager for another 20 years. 

Grant reached out to our local Braver Angels group after finding a poster about Braver Angels at the Lane County Republican office.  He found the Braver Angels mission to be in alignment with a personal vision that Americans would fare better if in closer unity and communication with others who think differently, rather than continuing the divide that causes the downfall of the American experiment.

Grant understands that Braver Angels does not promise solutions to all social ills, but what it does provide is a choice and the inspiration for every individual to choose to step away from social media and major news outlets, deep dive into the subjects, and share thoughts and insights with fellow Americans in a non-threatening environment. He believes that there is a price to pay when we think in terms of “we” vs. “I”.  He believes that Braver Angels offers not only the open door to enter, but also the skill-building opportunities to help us to restructure our posture as Americans

A facilitator, mediator, and conflict resolution specialist, she has presented at national and international mediation conferences and has trained over 2,000 mediators.   

Professionally, Mary provides consultation services in the nonprofit arena and facilitates meetings and retreats where emotions may be high and where tracking the details is important.  For over 30 years, she has delivered a variety of soft skills courses, such as interpersonal, conflict resolution and management skills in the non-profit and business world, traveling throughout the US and internationally.

In 2013 as part of a Beyond War group, she organized and co-facilitated a Guns Rights/Gun Control workshop for the public in Medford – two months after the Sandy Hook shootings - which generated a group of conservatives and liberals who met monthly for several years.  

Feeling increasingly disturbed by the intensity of feelings in the political divide, she deliberately set out to research a national organization dedicated to bridging the political divide where her experience and skills could be best utilized.  Three years ago she discovered Braver Angels and since then has volunteered her time as an Organizer of national online workshops, a workshop Moderator and, more recently, as the Purple Co-Chair of the local Alliance which she was instrumental in founding. 

Mary believes in discovering the Good in all souls and in helping others to bring their better self forward. She finds for herself that tapping into one's higher self is an ongoing project and she still works on being non-judgmental.  Ah – but they say you teach that which you most need to learn!  Mary has lived in Eugene for ten years.

Camille Mullins-Lemieux leans blue. Since her undergrad, Camille has lived in multiple communities, including a zen monastery and a jungle eco 'town'. These experiences spurred her interest in understanding of why conflict happens and how to get through it skillfully. This eventually led her to earn her Masters in Reconciliation from the University of Winchester. Her most important values are being kind, being authentic, and creating beauty everywhere. She is the Compassionate Listening Project's Managing Director. She channels her passion into both her nonprofit work and her artful Youtube creations. Outside the realm of her work, Camille loves spending time with her new husband and her two cats.

Debbie Bosche leans red.

Dave McLean, who now leans purple, was a registered Republican since 1980. Very involved with the Republican party of Lane County since 2018, he was elected a Precinct Committee Chairperson, and onto the local Republican Executive Board. He was also elected as an Alternate Delegate for Oregon to the 2020 Republican Convention. Some weeks after January 6, 2021, Dave resigned from all his Republican positions and changed his party affiliation to Independent. He has been actively working with Republican Voters Against Trump, this year recording a testimonial for their website, and being interviewed by the British, online newspaper, The Independent. Dave has spent 15 years as a Minerals Geologist and 23 years as a Financial Advisor. Over the past 40 years, has served on the boards of various nonprofits.