Initiatives of Change - Philosophy of Life Applied in Action by Robert Corcoran, United States

Twenty-five years ago our family came to make Richmond our home. Now, with our youngest son a college freshman, my wife Susan and I are empty nesters. Last month we began a sabbatical year. It’s a good moment to reflect on our experiences with Hope in the Cities and to look ahead to future developments. We are encouraged by much that we see.

• This month our colleagues in the UK will host a national conference at Liverpool Hope University College entitled 'Reasons for Hope.' It will highlight the need for trust building through addressing the causes and consequences of wounded history; the positive contribution of asylum-seekers and refugees in view of current misconceptions and stereotyping; and the use of dialogue as a tool for strengthening communities (see calendar for details).

• A 'connecting communities' project in Mumbai, India, has involved a structured dialogue with Hindus, Muslims and Christians in an area known for sectarian conflict. The group has also worked together to clean up the neighborhood. This project is one of several programs organized by the Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation, led by Sushobha Barve a long-time Hope in the Cities partner. A further workshop next month will bring together groups from several cities to plan a joint initiative.

• In Richmond we see signs of hope in the growth of Metropolitan Richmond Day as a regional gathering point; the launch of an effort to address the core issues affecting educational opportunities; a dialogue to build bridges between Muslims and evangelical Christians; and a world-class training program for community leaders.

In my view, Hope in the Cites brings three important capacities to the work of racial reconciliation and community building. One is the ability to identify and articulate tough underlying questions without blame or judgment. This allows everyone to take ownership of the problem and work together for solutions. A second is the emphasis on building diverse teams and networks of people representing a wide range of political views, interests and socio-economic backgrounds. The result is long term relationships of trust that provide “glue” for the community.

Third, and most important, is a philosophy of life applied in action. As a program of Initiatives of Change, with its seventy years of work for a “hate-free, fear-free, greed-free world,” Hope in the Cities is rooted in the belief that change in society starts with me, not the other person. Universal values of honesty, purity, unselfishness and love provide benchmarks for personal and collective action. They challenge each of us to accept the inner transformation that is the foundation for the healing of our communities.

During the coming year, Susan and I look forward to visiting with colleagues doing similar work in Europe and South Africa as well as the US. We’re also hoping to document some of the stories of the remarkable individuals we’ve been fortunate to know and work with.

An outstanding team led by Cricket White, our program director, and Sylvester Turner, our community outreach director will continue the work in Richmond during our absence. We are delighted that Dr. Bonnie Dowdy will direct the Connecting Communities Fellowship Program. Don Cowles and Audrey Burton provide inspiration leadership for our board.

We are deeply grateful for the generous contributions from many of you that make this work possible and we hope for your continued support this year.

Best wishes to you all for 2005!