OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE STRONGER, SAFER AND BETTER URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS

If I look back in history, one of the most defining moments in my life’s history, was me as a teenager intensely watching on television in my home country of Norway, and witnessing the horrendous and abusive mistreatments of African-Americans. As this plagued my mind, I made the decision to attend California State University, Northridge in 1988 to become a student at their African-American Department to learn the true history and learn about the change that had to be made. 

During my college studies, my well thought through decision to make a contribution and do my part to fight racism and assist in rebuilding the African-American communities was made. 

The first opportunity to make a difference came with me traveling the country during the weekends as an activist and speaker to listen, motivate, and hands on act with many of the struggling communities in 2010. Each time I was faced with the realization that these lost and long suffering communities lacked the real resources needed to actually move forward and thrive. In combination with being victims of racism for over 400 years to date. 

I have witnessed entire communities trapped in this vicious unyielding cycle. I realized back then, that it was then and still currently is now, essential to transform entire neighborhoods with the focus being on children and young adults who are still open to being taught that there is a way out of this “generational curse” of “systematic racism and oppression”, on a grand scale to make a true difference. 

With a lifetime as a professional headhunter I know from first-hand experience that no matter if it is a company, or in this case a community, the same rules for success always applies, which is that the success or failure is always linked to its leadership. To next validate the blue print I had created for rebuilding low-income ethnic communities I randomly chose a city in the US, where I had no ties to, to make the challenge even greater. By proving that I could succeed,  then the model I introduced could be easily be duplicated by others  across the U.S. 

The city faced with the worst conditions for children that I randomly chose was Las Vegas, Nevada. I recruited an amazing team consisting of extraordinary people within local non-profits and community oriented policing to help accomplish this goal. After traveling from Norway to Vegas for over two years, a total transformation of the most dangerous community in the city was achieved, with a momentous 75% of crime reduction obtained. The project was privately funded and was done without using any tax money or city and state funding. 

I also documented everything in the form of a documentary that went on to be a multiple award winning film. The documentary, and books that I went on to write, have now gone on to be proven manuals for transformation teams and residents; which I have made freely available for others to use.  It is my goal to ensure as many people as possible have the ability to take on, use, and learn from the  “Neighborhood Rescue Challenge” I created. 

I to this day still travel throughout the country as a speaker/activist/trainer on the topic of neighborhood restoration and pride for urban neighborhoods .

With the tools made available on this website I hope that you find it just as important to make a true commitment to transform African-American communities and end the cycle of racism. With myself flying across the planet to from ground zero, without a network, next to a full-time job as an international headhunter and succeed I see no reason why this cannot be duplicated a 1000 times over. It is not rocket science to give people the respect they deserve, recruit the right leadership team to strategically transform communities, collaborate, take the politics out of the equation and be willing to put in the required time.  As proven with the Las Vegas and Clarmont transformation by David Colon it is also not a question about funding as both initiatives were volunteer based. With this the great news is that there is nothing stopping anyone from making an impactful difference.  

I look forward to hear from those of you who take on the Neighborhood Rescue Challenge to share your story to again inspire others. With this a true change is fully possible in the low-income African-American communities as they have been overlooked for far too long!

Christian Schoyen

Founder/CEO