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Devin: What is your superpower?
James: Facilitating dialogue.
America’s future depends on our ability to come together in meaningful dialogue, especially during times of division and crisis. On today’s episode, James Copple, the President of Servant Forge and founder of The Freedom Fast, is a leader committed to fostering unity through actionable change. James’s work in police reform and civic engagement offers a blueprint for addressing systemic issues and healing divides within our communities.
James shared a compelling example of how his work has impacted the nation. Six months before the murder of George Floyd, James and his team produced a report in Minnesota on police use of deadly force. “It was about policing procedure and protocol,” James explained, sharing how their research highlighted the urgent need for de-escalation training. Following Floyd’s death, James and his team were invited back to help implement their recommendations, working with policymakers to improve training and minimize future tragedies.
One of James’s newest initiatives, The Freedom Fast, aims to address the country’s growing polarization. Inspired by historical calls for national fasting during the Continental Congress, the Freedom Fast encourages Americans to pause, reflect, and engage in acts of service. “We’re calling for a sacred pause for civic renewal,” James said. “It’s about recapturing the values that brought us together as a country and influenced our civic discourse.”
James’s vision is rooted in the belief that dialogue is key to progress. “Getting people in the same room, even when they don’t agree, is essential,” he shared. This approach—proximity and listening—has been central to his work, from police reform projects in Minneapolis and Kenya to initiatives aimed at reducing gender-based violence in East Africa.
If you’re inspired by James’s vision and want to be part of the solution, visit TheFreedomFast.us to learn more. By taking part in this initiative, we can collectively work toward a more unified, compassionate, and equitable future.
tl;dr:
James Copple reveals key insights from his work on police reform and de-escalation training.
The Freedom Fast calls for Americans to pause, reflect, and engage in acts of civic renewal.
James emphasizes the importance of bringing people together to solve problems through dialogue.
Stories from Kenya and Minneapolis illustrate how dialogue can drive meaningful change.
James shares tips for fostering civility and connection, including listening and creating proximity.
How to Develop Facilitating Dialogue As a Superpower
James’s superpower lies in bringing people together to solve difficult problems through dialogue and understanding. As he explained, “Getting people in the same room and getting them to agree to have the conversation” is vital. He emphasized the importance of listening, saying, “Listening is a form of fasting… to surrender my own principles and values for a few moments to listen to another person’s perspective.” This ability to foster connection and encourage open discussions has been central to James’s work in both the U.S. and globally.
James shared a powerful example from his work in Kenya, where 70% of women believed men had a right to hit them. He brought together male leaders from universities and businesses with women’s advocacy groups to discuss gender-based violence. This dialogue led to concrete solutions like including women in decision-making processes and leadership roles. James’s ability to create proximity and facilitate understanding directly contributed to meaningful change in a community struggling with entrenched cultural norms.
Tips for Developing the Superpower:
Engage and Be Present: Show up for conversations, even when topics are difficult or divisive.
Listen Actively: Dedicate time to truly hear others’ perspectives without judgment or interruption.
Foster Proximity: Create opportunities for people with differing views to engage in the same room.
Sacrifice for the Greater Good: Be willing to let go of time, comfort, or preconceived notions to achieve progress.
By following James’s example and advice, you can make facilitating dialogue a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
James E Copple (he/him):
President, Servant Forge/The Freedom Fast
About Servant Forge/The Freedom Fast: Servant Forge works with organizations to build their capacity to secure funding to help fulfill their mission. The Freedom Fast is a new initiative focusing on the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Website: sai-dc.com and servantforge.org
Company Twitter Handle: @jamescopple
Biographical Information: James E. Copple has a long and distinguished career in youth work, education, substance abuse, crime and violence prevention, trafficking prevention, and police/criminal justice reform. A nationally recognized facilitator, speaker and writer in this field, Mr. Copple facilitated the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing for the Department of Justice in 2015, achieving consensus on all recommendations and action steps. He helped to write the final report to the White House, authored the Implementation Guide and the One Year Report on progress toward implementation of the recommendations.
Mr. Copple served as the Founding President of Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Crime Prevention Council in Washington, D.C., President of the International Institute for Alcohol Awareness, Senior Policy Analyst for the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation and most recently, the Founding Partner of Strategic Applications International, LLC.
He has delivered major addresses in every state of the union and spoken in thirty different nations, including a major facilitation between the nation of Israel and the Palestinian Authority on youth substance abuse and violence prevention at the request of the State Dept.
Mr. Copple recently receive the Towel and Basin award from Nazarene Theological Seminary for his years of humanitarian work in global service and mission.
He has published five book and over 70 monographs on the relationship of faith to service and community mobilization to prevent crime and violence.
LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/james-copple-42a7001
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