With WK “Big Kenny” Alphin and Dr. Randy Wykoff, I am launching #Conversation2015, a look at the opportunities we have to make dramatic changes through compassion and caring. Read the introduction to the project here and the overview of creative freedoms here. Then join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook: #Conversation2015

Creativity and freedom of expression are essential to dialogue and truth, and these are essential to democracy. The ability to express your ideas, critiques and concerns should be a basic right, but even in 2013, 70 journalists were killed and over 200 were in jail—murdered or imprisoned because their free thought represented a threat to those in power. Over the past five years, over 400 journalists worldwide were forced into exile.

Fear of expressing an opinion—for whatever reason—threatens the very fabric of our world.