This pre-symposium for 2026 was hosted at Morehouse School of Medicine.

Violence is framed not as an isolated act but as a reflection of broader conditions requiring thoughtful, sustained engagement. This pre-symposium for 2026—hosted by Morehouse School of Medicine and the 100 Black Men of Atlanta and led by committee leads Larry Johnson, Richard Byrd, and Joshua Byrd—sets the stage for an interactive symposium focused on open, honest conversation about violence prevention. The discussion emphasizes organizing compelling power to strategically make a difference, and defines non-violence as a love-centered way of thinking, speaking, acting, and engaging that begins with personal transformation before societal transformation, addressing the “heart mind regulation” that is missing.