Leading with Courage: Building a Future Rooted in Community

On the first week of June, more than 1,000 leaders gathered in Atlanta, GA, for the Social Innovation Summit, a conference with the goal of sparking partnerships that redefine what’s possible in social impact. The summit unites leaders across sectors and locations to exchange ideas, build trust and learn directly from fellow changemakers shaping the future.

At a time when rapid technological advancement, political polarization and social uncertainty are reshaping our world, the need for principled leadership has never been greater. During the panel discussion “Moral Leadership in a Defining Era”, Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF, reflected on the values, relationships and courage needed to create lasting social change. He was joined by Dr. Bernice King, CEO, The King Center, and Emma Bloomberg, founder & CEO, Murmuration

Dr. Lomax highlighted that progress is never achieved alone; it is most often built through partnerships, shared values and a commitment to the common good. He emphasized the important role allies have played in every movement for progress and challenged today’s leaders to not only seek allies but to become allies themselves—standing alongside others, even when doing so may be unpopular or difficult.

Drawing from his experiences growing up in Los Angeles, CA, during the post-World War II era, Dr. Lomax reflected on the powerful alliance between Black and Jewish communities. Together, these communities challenged discrimination, expanded opportunity and transformed the city of LA.

“One of the things that I always counted on as a Black person was that there would be allies who would stand with my community and support us,” Dr. Lomax said. “One of those allies that is having a very challenging time in this country today is American Jews. When the Black and Jewish communities came together in LA, we were able to challenge restrictive covenants that didn’t allow Blacks or Jews or Mexicans or Asians to buy homes in certain communities. We took that all the way to the Supreme Court.”

For Dr. Lomax, this commitment to allyship is an expression of courage. Meaningful change often requires people from different backgrounds to work together toward a shared vision of justice.

Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF, highlighted the importance of true allyship to expand educational opportunity and produce real progress.

“To be an advocate takes a level of courage; you’re often going counter to what is the prevailing view in your own community,” Dr. Lomax said. “For me, it’s about entering into the fray, into the tension that exists in this time and being able to not be drawn into the violent tactics or violent language, being able to hold the humanity of people in those moments.

“Nonviolence is a lifestyle that isn’t seeking to defeat anyone, but you’re seeking to defeat the injustice,” he continued. “Being able to stand in that tense moment, but being grounded in a place of love, so that you can speak truth in a manner that does not demean and diminish the dignity of another person. That takes courage.”

Referencing Marvin Gaye’s enduring message that “only love can conquer hate,” Dr. Lomax described love not as sentimentality, but as a commitment to respect, accountability, integrity and human connection. Love means affirming the dignity of others and recognizing our shared responsibility to one another, he explained.

Love is a powerful force for leadership and social transformation. In a world where division and hostility often dominate public discourse, Dr. Lomax argued that love should not be mistaken for weakness—it is a powerful, practical tool for building stronger communities and creating sustainable change.

“The voices of hate are so much louder than the voices of love,” Dr. Lomax observed. He challenged leaders to ensure that love remains central to how they engage with the world and with one another.

At UNCF, that courage and deep understanding of partnership is reflected in the organization’s work every day. Through collaboration with HBCUs, corporate partners, donors and communities nationwide, UNCF continues to expand educational access and opportunity for underrepresented students.

For more than two decades, Dr. Lomax has led UNCF’s mission to increase educational opportunity, support HBCUs and help students realize their highest potential. Character, purpose and commitment to shared values are developed through experience, mentorship and example. Young people are shaped by the leaders and type of leadership they observe.

As UNCF continues its work to build better futures through education, Dr. Lomax offers a timely blueprint for leadership. In moments of uncertainty, moral courage matters. In times of division, partnership matters. And in a rapidly changing world, the values we pass to the next generation may be our most important investment of all.