With Norse Viking Spirit we create safer, stronger communities for animals & children
With Norse Viking Spirit we create safer, stronger communities for animals & children
We are a grass root 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Christian Schoyen with the goal of bridging COP with urban communities to create a safer environment for children and pets. True positive long term change for these communities is accomplished by unique modern day vikings taking on our Neighborhood Rescue Challenge as the success of a community is 100% linked to its leadership. Our initiative is privately funded and uses zero government dollars.
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
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.
- Abraham Lincoln
The idea for Neighborhood Rescue of America began in 2010 as the Corporate Social Responsibility program of Executive Search Research (ESR), where Christian Schoyen toured low-income USA with the "Change Your Life- Change the world" workshop, which laid the groundwork for how to change entire communities.
In 2012, after evaluating hundreds of struggling cities, Christian decided on Las Vegas, which had the worst conditions, where he traveled to validate the 10-step blue print created to transform entire low-income urban communities and cities. The entire blueprint was detailed in his Neighborhood Rescue 101 manual.
The project (2012-2015), which took place over 21 field days included Christian and Neighborhood Rescue recruiting an elite team, and introducing the essential Viking spirit through Leif Erikson day. As the Project Director, he lead the transformation of the most dangerous community in the city. Everything was documented in the feature documentary Vegas Vikings.
As a result of the hard work put in from Neighborhood Rescue of America and our partners, Sierra Oeste saw a 75% reduction in crime, and in 2015 Christian was recognized with an honorary award from Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman.
Following the success of our work in Las Vegas, other communities began following in our footsteps and in 2018, members of the Community Oriented police force in Clermont, Florida lead by David Colon took on the Neighborhood Rescue challenge, and saw a 90% reduction in crime.
The initiative of empowering low-income, ethnic communities and the goal to break down racism has spread across the nation. With our intern program training social change advocates in over 27 states, and manuals read by +50,000 people, the goal is that others takes on the commitment to make a true impact.
The success of neighborhoods is 100% linked to the leadership of these communities. With the right leaders, together with our proven blueprint for community transformation, victory can be achieved in any city.
With brave individuals stepping forward to take on the Neighborhood Rescue of America Challenge we can transform one neighborhood at a time and create the future all children deserve, regardless of their skin color and economic status.
Copyright © 2022 Neighborhood Rescue. Neighborhood Rescue of America is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit headhunting organization, which is 100% privately funded by (ESR) Executive Search Research.