Urban Specialists To Present Conversation On Police Reform In Atlanta

Some high-profile Black celebrities, athletes and activists will be among attendees at a conversation on advancing police reform in metro Atlanta.

Based on a news release, The  Heal America Tour: A Course Correction Conversation on Race, Citizenship & Humanity will occur August 26 at House of Hope in Decatur, Georgia. The event is being presented by Urban Specialists in partnership with Stand Together.

The conversation will be moderated by Bishop Omar Jahwar, CEO and founder of Urban Specialists, a nonprofit group focused on ending senseless violence and reviving urban culture. The talk comes as the nation is facing a critical moment regarding policing and race relations.

“The Atlanta community is in need of healing and solutions following the tragic acts of police violence in Georgia, Minneapolis, and Louisville. All sides must rally together around a defined call to action that examines racial injustices across our society and elevates viable solutions to improve police interactions in communities and beyond. We must stand united and seek justice, equality, and fruitful productivity from each one to another,” Jahwar stated in the release.

“Although we’ve come a long way, this great country is waiting and ready for continued change after centuries of injustice and brokenness for the marginalized. The Heal America Tour vows to be there every step of the way with real solutions that restore hope.”

Heal America has conducted events in Dallas and Minneapolis, drawing thousands tuning in. Now heading to Atlanta, the group aims to elevate solutions through live, on-stage conversations about police reform among victims of police violence, business leadership, law enforcement, public figures, and lawmakers.

Panelists are expected to include:  Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (Invited); T.I. Harris, Artist and Entrepreneur, Grand Hustle; Alice Marie Johnson, Author & Criminal Justice Reform Advocate; Deion Sanders, NFL Hall of Famer and Entrepreneur; Titus O’Neil, WWE Superstar; along with activists, police shooting survivors, and others.

Organizers hope some solutions or policies on police reform that surface from the livestream event help:

Transform police culture to prioritize transparency and accountability with the public
Remove structural barriers to good policing by changing bad incentives
Eliminate unnecessary criminalization so that law enforcement can focus resources on preventing and solving serious crime, rather than having to address societal problems they are not best suited for.

Evan Feinberg, senior vice president of Stand Together, publicly stated, “The recent tragic killings in Minnesota and Georgia bring home the importance of the work needed to address the injustices holding people back. Too many policies that disproportionately harm minority communities serve as unnecessary barriers. The Heal America event is about bringing a diverse group of people together to bridge divides and drive change on meaningful solutions to eliminate injustice by transforming policing policy. At the heart of this work is a commitment to equal rights and a belief in the inherent dignity of every person. Stand Together is proud to partner with Urban Specialists to elevate these solutions and drive change together.”

Register here for the livestream. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, the event will only allow 50 individuals in person. The event is free and open to those who have registered and want to view online.