An Urban Specialists Initiative

CourseCon™

A concise version of the Course Correction Conversation™, Urban Specialists™ began a National Tour in 2018 to take the conversation directly to cities in need.

Tour stops included:

Baton Rouge, LA
Oakland, CA
Atlanta, GA

CourseCon™ leverages our unique ability to navigate the complexities of urban culture and lead the way for activating solutions to disrupt the culture of violence. This moderated forum provides an opportunity for residents, community stakeholders and key influencers to engage in in-depth conversation about shared community interests and solutions to stop senseless violence.

CourseCon™ Baton Rouge was a unique and historic night, as it featured the unveiling of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s never publicly seen hearse. This presentation was a powerfully emotional one as it marked 50 years since Dr. King sacrificed his life in a non-violent pursuit for civil rights and freedom; and was coupled with a bold statement from Martin Luther King III about the power to love your enemies and press toward change.

CourseCon™ Atlanta: Leveraging Opportunity to Transform the Community was a conversation with Atlanta’s urban community and key influencers about urban renewal opportunities and eradicating violence and poverty in our neighborhoods.

THE CALL FOR COLLABORATIVE ACTION

A Message from our Visionary

Dear Citizens and Stakeholders,

In the last 20 years of work negotiating peace with gangs, comforting victims of violence, and mediating conflict between law enforcement and the community, I have witnessed that dialogue creates shared values. In an effort to combat the toxicity of anger and blame, we begin conversations to promote the unifying idea of citizenship.

Citizenship invokes responsibility and this process of transformation maintains civility. It does not feed into irrational ideas or prey upon exposed vulnerabilities, but protects the vulnerable and strengthens the character of those to act as citizens, not as predators or victims. Through this process, we can restore the belief that peace, in the midst of extreme circumstances, is possible.

You must join us in healing this great divide.