Posts by Kristin Benani
Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday!
Please help us reach our ambitious end-of-year giving goal of $15,000. When you give to OCU, you give DC’s youth a chance at healing. OCU’s Fly By Light program teaches youth the healing power of the arts, nature, and community connection. Fly By Light nature retreats offer youth a chance to get out of the city and…
Read MoreGet to know Kim Y. Jones
As an opportunity to help staff and our community better get to know our new Executive Director, our Development Director, Brittany Nixon, took all the crowd-sourced questions from staff and sat down with her to get her take on things like life, work and family. It was a lot of fun, and a bit surprising, to hear some of her answers.
Read MoreAnnouncing OCU’s New Executive Director
One Common Unity is thrilled to welcome Kim Y. Jones as its next Executive Director following a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors.
Read MoreThe Harambee Summit!
The word “Harambee” is a Swahili word that means “to pull together, to come together, and to push together.” It reminds us that we’re stronger together than we are alone. In 2021, One Common Unity organized a Harambee Summit at Roosevelt Senior High School to serve as the climax of a professional development series hosted at the school.
Read MoreSTORY #20 – The Melody Lingers On
In early 2015, a colleague invited me to see “Fly By Light,” a new film premiering at a local community spot in Washington, DC. Once I saw the movie trailer, I jumped at the opportunity to see it.
Read MoreSTORY #19: OCU’s Intention Room®
Our students are returning to school after an extremely challenging year, one in which many have grappled with extreme stress and trauma. More than ever, we need to support youth, not punish them, when they are faced with difficulty.
Read MoreSTORY #18: OCU’s “DC-Deep” Model
“It is so thrilling to start with a small idea or concept, then to come together and combine our strengths and resources to create something bigger and more beautiful than we could have imagined.” ~ Michele, OCU School-Based Mental Health Clinician One Common Unity (OCU) and DCPS’ Perry Street Preparatory (PSP) Public Charter School began…
Read MoreSTORY #17: The Power of Retreat
What’s so special about retreats? One Common Unity’s retreats are where some of the most transformative magic happens. It’s a significant component of our curriculum and something that makes our program stand apart. Students can really immerse themselves, allowing the values and tools we teach to become lifelong allies. We can plan for months to…
Read MoreHawah Kasat: Leadership Transition
Dear Community, After over 20 years, I will be leaving my role as Executive Director (ED) of One Common Unity (OCU).Birthing and serving as the Director of this organization has been one of the greatest joys, learning experiences, and privileges of my life. I’m not going to say I never dreamed we would be this…
Read MoreSTORY #16: Putting Mental Health First
OCU distinguishes itself from other mental health service organizations because we practice a unique approach to breaking cycles of violence. By integrating art and music as a healthy outlet/coping mechanism to achieve a peaceful resolution. My role as a mental health professional with One Common Unity entails providing mental health services to students, staff, and…
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