Stronger Communities Begin with Better Conversations
In times of division and distrust, leadership means more than decision-making—it means building connection and strengthening trust.
Matt Lehrman is a keynote speaker, civic facilitator, and public leadership coach who helps communities move from conflict to conversation and from disengagement to shared purpose. His presentations model collaborative dialogue and equip participants to lead with courage, clarity, and care. Drawing on deep experience, real-world insight, and interactive participation, Matt guides groups to listen fully, engage meaningfully, and lead with courage.
If you're planning a conference, leadership summit, or governance retreat, Matt offers keynotes, workshops, and facilitated conversations that inspire trust, spark collaboration, and lead to durable progress.
“The future is unknowable, but it’s incredibly malleable,” says civic facilitator Matt Lehrman. He inspires community leaders to move past division, overcome cynicism, and foster the trust, collaboration, and dialogue it takes to shape a future we can believe in—together.
Meet Matt Lehrman
Civic Facilitator | Keynote Speaker | Public Leadership Coach
Matt is trusted by organizations and communities nationwide to guide high-stakes conversations with empathy, structure, and insight. Whether energizing a packed conference hall or facilitating a council or board retreat, he brings clarity to complexity, momentum to collaboration, and courage to disagreement.
As co-founder of
Social Prosperity Partners, Matt draws on a career that spans public policy, finance, and the arts. He’s also the host of the
Community Catalysts podcast, where he interviews mayors, councilmembers, superintendents, school board members, city and county administrators, and grassroots leaders who are working to strengthen their communities.
TOPICS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
A Community of Possibilities
Visioning that Invites, Unites, and Inspires
A collaborative approach to strategic planning grounded in values and inclusion.
From Conflict to Conversation
Creating Space for Courageous Civic Dialogue
A communication framework for building trust and progress across differences.
Leading through Complexity
A Compass for Governance in Uncertain Times
A structured, values-based model for navigating high-stakes, ambiguous decisions.
The Future We Shape Together
Let's Talk Possibilities
A participatory experience to reignite community purpose, civic dialogue and shared direction.
This session caused me to think deeply about my role and responsibility as a local leader, to wrestle with inevitable change, and to brainstorm ways to meet future challenges.
Annual Conference Attendee, Virginia Municipal League
Real talk with real solutions. You leave with an attitude to change things and a feeling of hope.
Annual Conference Attendee, Kansas Association of School Boards
Matt presents a topic necessary to restore respectful and productive public discourse and does so in a fun and engaging way.
Annual Conference Attendee, South Dakota Municipal League
Valuable, informative, entertaining, and passionate about the topic of making and helping people work together.
Leadership Workshop Attendee, Michigan Association of School Boards
"Matt is real, human, and entirely practical—
which is saying a lot in this messy, messy world."
Inspiring Courageous Conversations
One Audience at a Time
Book a call.
Schedule a free consultation, below, to explore how Matt can help animate your event with an inspiring keynote and dynamic, interactive dialog.
Request a proposal.
Invite Matt to recommend a tailored strategy for a memorable keynote with practical value your audience will appreciate.
Inspire your audience.
Expect your participants to emerge energized, connected, and ready to apply what they’ve learned to lead with greater clarity and confidence.
