January 17, 2023
Courage Beyond Bravery
Watch this 2 minute video to learn how to be courageous in civic situations.
There’s a particular type of courage that’s absolutely essential for anyone in a position of community leadership or who is responsible for gathering consensus among a diverse group of people. It's the courage to be open-minded - the willingness to say "Tell Me More" and be genuinely interested in what follows, even if you disagree with it.
In my
FROM CONFLICT TO CONVERSATION
presentation, I challenge community leaders to bring that specific type of courage to their community interactions.
Ilryong Moon came to the United States from Korea at 17. He didn’t speak much English. His family had little money. His parents, both undereducated, worked long hours to support their children in a new and unfamiliar country. Ilryong repeated a year of high school just to learn the language. From there, he went on to graduate from Harvard, build a successful law career, and eventually serve for decades on the school board of one of the nation’s largest—and most diverse—school districts.
Last week, local leaders from across the country came together for a 90-minute virtual conversation about the words we use, the values we hold, and the challenges we face. Mayors, council members, and civic officials shared candid insights—not just about policy, but about how everyday language now feels risky, and how they stay grounded in community service. Here’s what they shared.
Empathy isn’t just a personal trait—it can be a process. When communities create space for difficult conversations, real change is possible.