Community Problem-Solving: Turning Local Concerns into Constructive Action with Herbert Murphy, Bus '15 (MBA)

Community Problem-Solving: Turning Local Concerns into Constructive Action with Herbert Murphy, Bus '15 (MBA) Header Image

Lifelong Learning LogoCommunity Problem-Solving: Turning Local Concerns into Constructive Action
Instructor: Herbert Murphy, Bus '15 (MBA)
August 25 - September 29 (6 Sessions)
Tuesdays, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM ET 
Virtual via Zoom

Brought to you by Odyssey  

Course Description: Communities often face concerns that are real, emotional, and difficult to solve without a clear method. In this course, participants will learn a practical, nonpartisan approach for moving from concern to clarity, from clarity to diagnosis, and from diagnosis to constructive action.

Through guided discussion, case examples, and a simple Civic Action Map, participants will practice describing community issues clearly, separating facts from assumptions, identifying affected groups, mapping stakeholders and resources, and choosing one realistic next step. The course is designed for adult learners interested in civic life, neighborhood improvement, nonprofit leadership, public service, community engagement, or becoming more constructive participants in their communities.

By the end of the course, participants will have a practical framework they can apply to a neighborhood concern, school issue, nonprofit challenge, public service gap, church project, or local community problem.

Explore the full Fall 2026 Odyssey catalog and discover engaging courses taught by Johns Hopkins alumni, faculty and community experts.

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Johns Hopkins Tuition Remission Policies 
Tuition benefits are available to University faculty, staff, and retirees only. Employees of Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, or the Applied Physics Laboratory should contact your institution’s Human Resources office for information about tuition remission and eligibility:
Select the correct ticket pricing during registration. If we cannot confirm your university eligibility, you will be requested to pay the full registration price for each course. Complete eligibility details can be found here.
Withdrawals & Refunds:
If a course is canceled or closed, the registrant is notified immediately, and a full refund is processed automatically unless another course is requested. Registrants who wish to withdraw from an active course must complete the online Odyssey Refund Request Form. Attach any documentation to support your request (e.g., medical documentation, family crisis documentation, etc.).
  • 100% refund: Prior to the start of the course and after the first class.
  • No refunds: After the first week of each course unless in exceptional cases.
For single-session courses:
100% refundable within two (2) business days of the event.
Please note, refunds apply only to the tuition portion of an Odyssey participant’s charges and are not applicable to any fees or gifts made to the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association. Registrants will be notified by email if a refund is approved within five (5) business days.
ABOUT Herbert A. Murphy, Bus '15 (MBA)
Community-builder, financial business consultant, writer, and adult-learning facilitator

H.A. Murphy is a Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School MBA graduate, community-builder, financial business consultant, writer, and adult-learning facilitator with more than 25 years of experience in youth development, nonprofit leadership, community arts programming, business planning, and organizational problem-solving. His professional background includes 18 years with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America network, where he worked across youth development, community engagement, program design, and partnerships with civic, neighborhood, educational, and public-sector stakeholders. During that time, he initiated a comprehensive arts academy in an underserved community, helping transform an overlooked setting into a structured after-school environment for arts education, youth development, and community possibility. Murphy later co-founded a community arts conservatory that has grown into a regional arts education program serving more than 1,000 students weekly through schools, community centers, university partnerships, and local organizations. He has also delivered business plan writing workshops for the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, along with additional workshops and conference presentations. His teaching approach combines practical frameworks, guided discussion, community insight, and real-world application. 

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 Event Date
Starts:
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
6:30pm EDT

Ends:
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
8:00pm EDT

 Contact
Odyssey
Alumni Relations Lifelong Learning
(800) JHU-JHU1
odyssey@jhu.edu

Ticket Options
$
50% discount. Alumni status will be confirmed.
$
80% discount. Status of university employment will be confirmed.
$
50% discount. Employment status of Spouse/Domestic Partner will be confirmed.
$

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