Hope in the Cities (a program of Initiatives of Change) offers an integrated approach to constructive community change based on its nationally and internationally recognized trustbuilding work. The programs, offered in several formats, increase the capacity of communities to overcome divisions of race, culture, economics and politics by creating a network of change makers who strive to:

• Live in a way that creates trust and encourages creative risk taking
• Offer courageous, accountable leadership that fosters collaboration
• Build communities of hope and opportunity for everyone

Trustbuilding Workshops

Trustbuilding presentations and workshops are scheduled when requested for corporate and community groups. These workshop draw upon the well researched material in Rob Corcoran's book Trustbuilding. They can be custom designed for 2-hours, half-day or day-long workshops for a variety of audiences.

Trustbuilding Leadership Campus Program

Using a methodology built through years of practice in the field, this experiential, hands-on workshop will give emerging leaders an in-depth look at trust, an understanding of how it can be cultivated and the skills to build it effectively. Students will also have the opportunity to reflect on how their values influence their leadership capacity and style while pursuing concrete next-steps on their leadership pathways.

Community Trustbuilding Program

This program, offered in several modules spread over several weeks, provides specific tools to help leaders from diverse backgrounds address issues of critical importance to communities and work creatively together to build shared visions for reconciliation and justice. Through a combination of teaching, dialogue and experiential learning participants learn to:

• Connect theory with practice, and "inner change" with change in society
• Participate in "honest conversation" and examine how acknowledgment and healing of painful history can be tools for reconciliation and building new partnerships
• Engage "hard to reach" sectors in the process of community change through the building of diverse teams and networks
• Appreciate diversity with shared vision, reconciliation with justice and personal skills and qualities for constructive action in the community
• Develop multi-sector teams

The programs are led by a faculty of facilitators, practitioners and teachers with national and international experience. The modules build on each other to form a complete curriculum  and training experience based on the methodology of Hope in the Cities. The format uses experiential and innovative learning methods as well as selected local, national and international case studies.

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