ONE COMMON UNITY, UNRWA AND AMIGOS DE LAS AMERICAS HOST YOUTH EXCHANGE FOR PEACE

District and international youth leaders share critical issues and envision leadership in their communities

WASHINGTON (September 27, 2019) — On September 27, One Common Unity, in collaboration with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and Amigos de las Americas, was proud to facilitate a youth exchange featuring young people from Washington DC, Ecuador, Colombia, and Palestine, to collaborate, create and elevate the voices of youth leadership on issues affecting their communities.

International youth leaders, as well as alumni of One Common Unity’s ‘Fly By Light’ program, shared their experiences with each other in an attempt to collaborate on ideas for generating awareness and creating change on the issues they face. The event also included youth participants collaborating on artwork expressing their drive for leadership and calls for justice for all young people and culminated in a drum circle in Meridian Hill Park).

In response to the event, Jair Carrasco, Program Facilitator and community leader with One Common Unity, stated: “Building an international community of solidarity among youth leaders is important. Not only does it help them imagine themselves as capable of creating change, but it connects them with other youth and organizations as sources of inspiration, support, and hope.” Further, he cites events such as these as acts of tremendous importance for developing young change-makers both in DC and around the globe.
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 One Common Unity collaborating on a similar project with your school or youth organization, please contact Shaden Dowiatt: at .

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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.