UrbanEx www.urbanex.org

1. Urban Excursions are an arts, culture, & social justice experience. Teams of youth, university/college students, adults, social agencies, media, corporate executives, artists, etc. come from all over the world to Toronto to experience a week in other peoples shoes.

Amidst a world full of people, somehow many, from the bank executive to the homeless man, are dying from loneliness and isolation. We all need to be re-sensitized, aware, and active to offer what we can when we see the moment of need. UrbanEx creates space for people to live and process life intentionally, to see themselves for who they are, and to see others as the unique and beautiful people they are. Through intense hands-on experiences teams learn to embrace adversity, examine their character, and face many of their fears and prejudices. Participants are transformed to go back a more loving & more engaged member of their own communities, understanding themselves and others and how those beautifully intertwine.

2. UrbanEx Advocacy networks agencies, corporations, communities, and individuals together. As community advocates we create new opportunities to facilitate effective social conflict resolution strategies.

3. UrbanEx conducts speaking and mobilization seminars, presentations, and training exercises. We provide leadership to share knowledge, ideas, and experience to see our entire community actively engaged with each other resulting in effective change.

UrbanEx is pretty intense because you can't measure its worth by tasks accomplished, rather you must reflect upon how deeply it reforms your heart and through the process you will learn that in order to change the world you must first change how you occur in it.

Come and journey.


Em Johnson : Founder & Director of UrbanEx. em@urbanex.org

Alan Waugh: Founder/Associate Director alan@urbanex.org




(See below for Urban Ex alumni reviews)...................

Em and UrbanEx has shown me how to engage a culture that has been longing for humans to occur authentically. - Brian Anderberg (South Dakota)

Thanks for your time and helping our students have new eyes for the Kitchener downtown. - UW Inter-varsity Group

Thanks for inspiring me more than you know and for showing me that love really is the first thing we need. I'm not bold or outgoing. But I know it's not bad now to smile at someone who is passing or waiting. I think I'm not as shy when talking and more willing to have a conversation. That doesn't mean I know how to start one but I kinda know how to keep it up.- Abigail (South Dakota)

I will never be the same. Before going to Toronto for UrbanEx I had been experiencing life in a one-sided sort of way. Everything that happened I wanted to control and allow through my view of how I should experience life. After UrbanEx I realized that living in a controlled environment is very limiting. Through the people of UrbanEx--who come from ALL walks of life--I have allowed my life to become experienced in a more uncontrolled, moment by moment way. - Natalie Noble (Oklahoma)

I think that my whole mind set has changed about how to approach people. I'm definitely not so judgmental but more loving. I loved what I learned there.This trip made me realize how much people no matter who you are need love and compassion. - Alison (South Dakota)

While on my trip with urban Ex.......i realized just how important DIGNITY is to all people no matter what state or condition they are in. Dignity is an important part of everyone's life...and we as people need to remember and respect that. I have a story about after I returned home from UrbanEx..I was in Caro, Michigan...sitting by a river about two weeks ago and this traveler came up and began looking for items in the trash....I remembered I had some snacks with me so I gave them to him....he cried! I still felt the need to do more...he did not want to tell me his name because of fear I would report him to the police....so I just let it go....but I still wanted to do more, so I packed up my items after he left and drove to the nearest gas station and just filled a bag with snacks and beverages and sandwiches just anything i could think and looked up this gentleman.......His reply when i handed him the bag was"why are you doing this?" People don't do things like this anymore? - Sarah Proffitt (Michigan)


I went into my first Urban Ex experience with my usual skeptical sensibility... I came out realizing those I'd ignored for so long are no different than you or I - it's all about the curve balls life throws us - and that all people are really wanting is a kind word, a gentle touch, their dignity restored and recognized... I find myself looking in the dark recesses of life I used to shun. My eyes are now aware of that wooden palette someone used for a bed under the overpass last night or where I might find the best place to seek shelter from the elements on a cold day... I start each day now wondering about the people I've met and I'm proud to call them my friends... Thanks for all you do, Em, to open the eyes of so many...- Ron Trumble (Oklahoma)




"Urban Excursion made me think deeply. As a person who is also very passionate about giving a voice to the voiceless, and being an advocate to anyone in need and offering dignity to everyone I meet I found this experience still transformed me. We encounter moments of truth everyday. Its up to us what we do with those opportunities. And there were so many........My two highlights were: Sitting on the sidewalk on a hot sunny day with a soap carver , so many busy people raced by , I sat with this artist as he shared great wisdom and got to know me , then created some beautiful pieces for me and as I sat there and engaged with him I just felt so centered. The second highlight: A person who had no money for food asked me for $2.67 to buy a Hot Dog, I stopped and engaged and gave him $5.00. He wanted to give me the change I said 'no buy a drink or something' , he was very grateful. Later that evening as we were winding down for the night he was walking by and excitedly called out my name, and came over to say thank you again. He introduced me to his girlfriend who was having a really rough time just out of detox. He told her I gave him the money they got the hot dog with.She asked if I could buy her one & I was upset cause we had given all our money away. So then I risked what I learned from Em as a value taught in Urban Excursion regarding the power of intentional connection ( ie, hugs, listening, eye to eye contact, etc.) I said 'I am so sorry I have no money left but what I do have is a hug. Can I hug you?' Well we embraced and I teared up as she did as well and she said 'You know what? If people would just give more hugs it would help me feel better & maybe I would do less crack.' And then everyone started hugging, it became a hugfest on Queen St.......To me Urban Excursion is the most effective and efficient life changing , team collaboration experience I have ever participated in. To think that every urban community is essentially the same. What a wonderful way to start making effective change in our world by flying in a group of executives, youth groups, university students , any group or team from anywhere in the world to experience Urban Excursion and go back to whence you came transformed and ready to change your world starting with where YOU are!" - Alan Waugh (Kitchener, ON)