One Common Unity Hawah Kasat Receives Georgetown 2019 Legacy of a Dream Award

One Common Unity breaks cycles of violence and builds compassionate communities through music, art, and peace education.

Washington, D.C. (Jan. 21, 2019) Hawah Kasat, co-founder and executive director of Washington D.C. nonprofit One Common Unity, was chosen as Georgetown’s 2019 John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award recipient. He was honored on Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at the university’s Let Freedom Ring! celebration held at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The award, which started in 2003, was named for the legendary Georgetown head basketball coach emeritus, Washington, D.C. native, mentor, advocate, and community leader – John Thompson Jr. Previous recipients were civil rights icons, children’s rights advocates, and other humanitarians. In 2012, Georgetown began awarding local leaders who are working to solve key issues that are responsible for shaping Washington, D.C., and the people who live in it.

Georgetown chose Kasat as the 2019 awardee “because of his commitment to service and transformational change, which exemplifies King’s spirit and enduring legacy.” The award, part of Georgetown’s commitment to helping solve key issues in the city, provides a year of sustained partnership and broader recognition for the organization and its leader.

“Through the terrific work of the One Common Unity organization, Hawah Kasat has deepened opportunities for young people in Washington to thrive through peace education and engagement in music and the arts,” said Georgetown President John J. DeGioia in a press release the university put out before the event. “We are very grateful to have this opportunity to recognize his important work and dedicated service to our D.C. community with this award.”

Kasat co-founded One Common Unity on a shoestring budget in 2000. He decided to launch what he considered his “passion project” after a string of school shootings in D.C. In 2008, the project became a full-time job, and today, One Common Unity now employs seven full-time and 13 part-time employees and about 20 volunteers.

“I’m incredibly honored to have been selected for Georgetown’s Legacy of a Dream award,” said Kasat. “Georgetown’s longstanding commitment to the economic and social health of the people of Washington, D.C. closely aligns with the mission of One Common Unity, and we are grateful for the university’s recognition.”

One Common Unity collaborates with thousands of educators, artists, health practitioners, youth, and families in Washington, D.C. to break cycles of violence and build compassionate communities through music, art, and peace education. Each school year, One Common Unity engages approximately 5,000 youth, aged 11 to 18, at fifteen Washington D.C. public schools with its Fly By Light program. Most Flies By Light students come from low-to-moderate-income families and more than 95 percent are African American or Hispanic. These youth face issues with chronic depression, substance

abuse, previous incarceration, domestic violence and trauma, and discrimination based on race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Many are also facing school truancy, suspension, and expulsion.

Building upon youth’s incredible resilience, One Common Unity provides safe, supportive spaces where youth discover their authentic selves, connect with nature, and are equipped with the skills, tools, and support to disrupt cycles of violence and poverty. Today, the organization has en

gaged more than 25,000 youth, families, teachers, and community members in One Common Unity’s high-impact art and music programs.

“I believe empathy, compassion, cooperation, and kindness can be taught,” added Kasat. “We start with modeling nonviolent behavior and then create safe spaces for dialogue and healing. By fostering the social-emotional literacy of youth, teachers, and parents, we are creating real pathways for academic achievement and reducing violence in our communities.”

Kasat, who will start the Nonprofit Executive Management Certificate program at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy in Feb. 2019, is also the author of four books, has released two music albums, and produced three documentary films, including the award-winning documentary Fly By Light.

In addition, Kasat has traveled to more than 42 countries to facilitate interactive workshops, host dialogues, perform poetry, teach yoga and speak with those interested in creating a caring, sustainable, and equitable world. Kasat is a sought-after speaker and is accepting opportunities across the U.S. to speak with local communities about One Common Unity and the positive impacts of the arts and peace education.

To set up a speaking engagement with Kasat contact Kris King, operations manager at One Common Unity, at . To learn more about Kasat and the organization, visit OneCommonUnity.org.

About One Common Unity

One Common Unity is a nonprofit organization, located in Washington, D.C., that breaks cycles of violence and builds compassionate, healthy communities through the transformative power of music, arts, and peace education. Through its arts and music programs, One Common Unity has impacted more than 25,000 youth, families, teachers, and community members. For more information, visit