ONE COMMON UNITY LAUNCHES INTENTION NOT DETENTION™ CAMPAIGN WITH ‘INTENTION ROOMS™’ IN D.C. SCHOOLS

Campaign to provide alternative options to detention and suspension; New music video and single released in conjunction with campaign launch

WASHINGTON (September 10, 2019) — One Common Unity is proud to launch a new campaign, Intention Not Detention™, to focus on providing effective alternatives to traditional school discipline measures like suspension and detention. Announcements about participating schools will be announced at a later date.

Intention Not Detention™ harnesses approaches such as restorative justice, evidence-based practices in mental health, and tools such as mindfulness, arts expression, and enhancing skills in social-emotional literacy. Intention Rooms™ offer healing and supportive spaces for students to work through emotional and behavioral challenges, identify solutions to shift their actions moving forward, and take concrete steps to becoming their best selves. The campaign introduces the use of Intention Rooms™—safe, trauma-informed spaces equipped with a facilitator trained by One Common Unity to guide students through strategies that will support their emotional health and academic success. The goal of Intention Rooms™ is to promote a school-wide shift away from punitive discipline, using the rooms as a cornerstone.

“Bringing ‘Intention Rooms’ to school communities provides transformative personal development tools for students as they work through difficult challenges,” said co-founder and executive director Hawah Kasat. “Traditional negative reinforcement through detention and suspension hasn’t been successful, and we need a positive, intentional approach to addressing student behavior and inspiring youth to find meaning and purpose in their lives.”

In addition, One Common Unity will release a brand-new single and music video called “Miss Intention,” in conjunction with the campaign launch. The video features D.C. youth and Princess Best, a program facilitator for One Common Unity. The video is streaming on YouTube here and available on all major streaming sites.

“Race, socio-economics, and a young person’s home experience can deeply impact what happens in class and in their communities and can lead to destruction in youth’s mental health,” said Princess Best. “It is imperative that schools and the community invest resources to truly support youth and create a positive school experience. The goal for the song is to raise awareness, promote a proven solution and enhance the health and mental wellness of youth, especially young women.”

One Common Unity is a local non-profit focused on breaking cycles of violence and building compassionate, healthy communities through the transformative power of music, arts, and peace education. One Common Unity currently coordinates programs in schools throughout DC and is looking forward to implementing Intention Rooms™ in schools around the city.

If you are interested in bringing an Intention Room™ to your school, please contact: Shaden Dowiatt: 

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About One Common Unity

Since 2000, One Common Unity has worked to shift the paradigm of violence in society. Through Fly By Light (FBL), its flagship initiative, OCU brings together educators, artists, musicians, and community leaders to amplify youth voices to lead a community-wide shift away from violence and poverty. Youth emerge from FBL as more active and engaged community members, empowered to create a positive impact in their own lives and throughout their communities.