FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2025
Daryl Davis, Who Convinced Klansmen to Leave Hate Behind, joined Former Neo-Nazi Leader Jeff Schoep in an Unforgettable Dialogue on Unity and Transformation in Central Florida
Orlando, FL – What happens when a Black musician befriends members of the Ku Klux Klan—and convinces them to turn in their robes? What happens when a former neo-Nazi leader dedicates his life to undoing the hate he once spread? Central Florida is finding out firsthand.
As part of the Orlando Magic’s Social Justice Month, the Courageous Conversations series launched this week, bringing to the stage two men whose unlikely friendship has become a national symbol of hope and healing: Daryl Davis, an award-winning Black musician and racial reconciliation advocate, and Jeff Schoep, the former commander of one of the largest neo-Nazi groups in the United States who has since renounced extremism and now works to promote peace. Together, they are leading a series of events across the region designed to challenge assumptions, break down barriers, and spark meaningful dialogue around race, hate, and humanity.
The initiative is organized by the Peace and Justice Institute, in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Central Florida Pledge, the Orlando Magic, and a coalition of faith-based, civic, and nonprofit partners.
“This is more than a speaking tour—it’s a soul-shifting experience,” said Rachel Allen, Director of the Peace and Justice Institute. “Daryl and Jeff show us that transformation is possible—even in the most unlikely of places. That truth has the power to change communities.”
A Morning of Unity and Impact
The series kicked off Tuesday, June 17, with an invitation-only Community Leaders Brunch at Judson’s Live at the Dr. Phillips Center, hosted by Alan Ginsburg, Dr. Joel C. Hunter, and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. More than 100 leaders from across the region came together to hear Davis and Schoep share their extraordinary journeys and the healing that can come through courageous, respectful dialogue.
“We need these conversations now more than ever,” said Alan Ginsburg, Chairman of the Ginsburg Family Foundation. “It was powerful to watch our community come together to witness what reconciliation looks like in real time. It gives me hope.”
A Public Call to Listen and Lead
Later that evening, a public forum at UCF Downtown invited residents from all walks of life to join the conversation. Davis and Schoep explored the deep personal cost of hate—and the redemptive power of connection—with attendees encouraged to lean into discomfort and possibility alike.
Contact: Paula Wyatt – Paula@AnythingIsPoshAble.com – 321-946-6565
