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We equip local leaders to positively impact urban communities
Urban Specialists exist to identify and activate a network of change makers who transform communities through powerful, local leadership. Our primary aim is to recruit, train, and deploy change makers from various backgrounds, and across a variety of pathways to be forces for good in their communities.
Our Vision
To disrupt the trends of violence and poverty by recruiting, training, and deploying changemakers from various backgrounds to positively impact urban communities.
How We Work
Through invading the most influential segments of Urban Culture, we can disrupt toxic trends. On a personal level, we intrude with transformative life experiences that are a healthy alternative to the destructive mainstream.
Meet Our Directors
Our organization is deeply committed to serving our community, and we have a proven track record of being a reliable and established entity in the industry. We take pride in our long-standing history of providing exceptional service to our customers, and our team is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. Our passion for making a positive impact in our community is the driving force behind everything we do, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence.
President
Antong Lucky
Chief Operations Officer
Candace Fleming
Director of Strategy & Partnerships
Corey Cleghorn
Director of Victim Services
Amanda D. Hall
Director of BOSOE
Varonika Wilson
Content Manager
Tileyah Lucky
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Urban Specialists are committed to executing our programs partnerships and key decision making based on these guiding principles
01
INTEGRITY
Work with integrity and tenaciously follow activities through to completion. Always strive for excellence. Practice good stewardship over resources and time.
02
TRANSPARENCY
Be accountable by operating so the effort and actions taken are clearly visible and easy to follow. Communicate openly.
03
AGILITY
Think and understand quickly to make meaningful, sound decisions. Be fluid and able to adapt to changing conditions.
04
CULTURE
Be a Culturalist. Understand Urban Culture and stay relevant. Be a positive agent of change and influence. Translate the Urban experience to outsiders and visitors. Invade Urban Culture, be compassionate, honest, connected and vigilant.
05
REDEMPTION
Believe in and hope for redemption. Support opportunities to give people another chance. Be patient and show empathy
06
COLLABORATION
Promote team work and shared learning. Build together and support each other. Leverage resources and knowledge to produce viral change.
07
INNOVATION
Be inspired and creative. Understand technology as a tool to build the future. Lead Urban Culture in setting positive technological trends and creating opportunities for innovation
08
SPIRITUALITY
Live in a manner directed by a moral compass. Believe in God. Fervently pursue wisdom, truth and justice.
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Since 1997
The Urban Specialists™ (US) is a nationally recognized 501(c)3 organization, headquartered in Dallas, TX. US was founded by Bishop Omar Jahwar, the voice of urban Dallas communities, most notably as it relates to social change and eradicating senseless violence.
US is built on the proven experience of over 23 years promoting strong families, helping to strengthen communities, and advocating for peace by working diligently we ensure that change makers are equipped with the necessary tools to curb the violence plaguing urban communities.
Explore the fascinating history of Urban Specialists by taking a journey through our timeline, which highlights the key moments that led to our success. Discover how it all began and the significant milestones we've achieved along the way. Explore our timeline and learn more about our rich history.
Our History
THE BEGINNING
1997
Achievement Against the Odds Award
Omar Jahwar received the Achievement Against the Odds award from the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE).
THE VISION
1998
Vision Regeneration
Vision Regeneration is created to utilize Urban Specialists™ for violence prevention, gang intervention, and youth rehabilitation in South & East Dallas.
2000
Achieving Peace
Successfully negotiated the first gang truce in Dallas, TX between the “Crips” and “Bloods”.
2002
Community Beautification
Begin job training program to train and employ Urban Specialists™ to plant “Grass, Trees, and Shrubs” and renovate houses in the Frazier Court area.
2008
Capacity-Building
Awarded the Communities Empowering Youth (CEY) Federal capacity-building grant, while serving in 18 Dallas ISD schools in the area of youth violence prevention and gang intervention.
2009
Finding the Solution
Hosted the 1st Solutions Conference, connecting community leaders, ex-gang leaders, judicial, law enforcement and corrections leaders – to distill the best practices for ending youth violence and changing youth culture.
2010
The Invasion
Positive Xchange is launched in the Dallas area as an information resource and social networking opportunity for urban youth.
THE EXPANSION
2015
The Power Movement
Urban Specialists™ form the US Power Movement to transform Urban Culture, end generational poverty and stop irrational violence.
2017
International Humanitarian Award
Urban Specialists™ receive the International Humanitarian Award in Dallas, TX. Urban Specialists™ launch a US Chapter in Atlanta, GA and Baton Rouge, LA.
2019
OGU
Urban Specialists™ launch OGU in Dallas, Atlanta, and Baton Rouge to train catalytic citizens that have the influence to positively impact their community.
Bishop Omar received the Rise and Shine Award from WFAA (Dallas ABC News Affiliate)
US kicked off the Heal America Tour in Dallas, Texas reaching over 70k people
2020
Healing America
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, US helped to secure over 4k applicants across Dallas, Atlanta, Baton Rouge to receive an available $10M.
The Heal America Tour stopped in Detroit, MI, Dallas, TX, Minneapolis, MN, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, and Jackson, MS to discuss citizenship and racial justice.
THE BEGINNING
1997
Achievement Against the Odds Award
Omar Jahwar received the Achievement Against the Odds award from the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE).
THE VISION
1998
Vision Regeneration
Vision Regeneration is created to utilize Urban Specialists™ for violence prevention, gang intervention, and youth rehabilitation in South & East Dallas.
2000
Achieving Peace
Successfully negotiated the first gang truce in Dallas, TX between the “Crips” and “Bloods”.
2002
Community Beautification
Begin job training program to train and employ Urban Specialists™ to plant “Grass, Trees, and Shrubs” and renovate houses in the Frazier Court area.
2008
Capacity-Building
Awarded the Communities Empowering Youth (CEY) Federal capacity-building grant, while serving in 18 Dallas ISD schools in the area of youth violence prevention and gang intervention.
2009
Finding the Solution
Hosted the 1st Solutions Conference, connecting community leaders, ex-gang leaders, judicial, law enforcement and corrections leaders – to distill the best practices for ending youth violence and changing youth culture.
2010
The Invasion
Positive Xchange is launched in the Dallas area as an information resource and social networking opportunity for urban youth.
THE EXPANSION
2015
The Power Movement
Urban Specialists™ form the US Power Movement to transform Urban Culture, end generational poverty and stop irrational violence.
2017
International Humanitarian Award
Urban Specialists™ receive the International Humanitarian Award in Dallas, TX.
Urban Specialists™ launch a US Chapter in Atlanta, GA and Baton Rouge, LA.
2019
OGU
Urban Specialists™ launch OGU in Dallas, Atlanta, and Baton Rouge to train catalytic citizens that have the influence to positively impact their community.
Bishop Omar received the Rise and Shine Award from WFAA (Dallas ABC News Affiliate)
US kicked off the Heal America Tour in Dallas, Texas reaching over 70k people
2020
Healing America
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, US helped to secure over 4k applicants across Dallas, Atlanta, Baton Rouge to receive an available $10M.
The Heal America Tour stopped in Detroit, MI, Dallas, TX, Minneapolis, MN, Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL, and Jackson, MS to discuss citizenship and racial justice.
Our Founder
Bishop Omar M. Jahwar
1973-2021
The Founder of Urban Specialists, Bishop Omar Jahwar was an internationally renowned community leader and advocate. His pipeline from the Hood to the White House was filled with a host of historically “unusual” partnerships and alliances that extended to his shared network. Bishop Omar is widely known all over the world for his results-driven approach to interrupting senseless violence and bringing about positive change in communities with increased crime, and high poverty rates. He was committed to revitalizing urban communities to ending the culture of violence.