Hope-Dealing: Father and Son

Hasan Davis is a self-proclaimed ‘hope-dealer’, who has dedicated his life to engendering purpose, confidence and determination in young people across the United States and the globe. His son, Malcolm, himself an aspiring young leader, took part in this year’s Caux Scholars Program. Hasan, who is a Rockerfeller Fellow, spoke at the Caux Forum’s Towards an Inclusive Peace (TIP) conference on the importance of personal and community resilience in the face of violent extremism.

As a Caux Scholar, Malcolm facilitated some of the TIP sessions and so the pair had the chance to work, learn and grow together at the Caux Forum. This cross-generational collaboration was encouraging, at a time when intergenerational disparity and disillusionment are rife.

Hasan is committed to reforming the US juvenile prison system (achieving a monumental piece of legislation in his home state of Kentucky in 2014) and to the training and education of young people and their teachers and mentors. He sees the Initiatives of Change core values of honesty, love, purity of intention and unselfishness, along with the vulnerability which accompanies their application, as the cornerstones of his work. He promotes education programmes which offer young people the space to explore their idiosyncrasies, strengths and weaknesses in a safe and accommodating environment. The values fostered throughout the Caux Forum are fundamental to constructive intergenerational dialogue, Davis says, as they are founded upon trust and openness.

As Malcolm sits cross-legged on the floor looking up at his father addressing the Forum’s plenary, you can see the gleam of admiration in his eyes. Hasan is grateful that his son has made his own choice to work towards inclusive peace in his community, and is delighted at the way the Caux Scholars Programme has reinforced his sense of confidence and purpose. The mutual trust and respect which underpin their relationship was inspiring to see.

Text: Emma Beuster

Photos: Paula Mariane, Emma Beuster