“One Common Unity has been a great inspiration to the diversity of students at Wilson Senior High School in Washington, DC. Their teachings and commitment have created and molded our Peace Program and provided an opportunity for our students to realize their responsibility to one another and the planet. Keep up the great work OCU!”
Sincerely,
-Dr. Stephen Tarason, Principal, Woodrow Wilson Senior High School
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“Can I just tell you guys how blessed I feel to have found OCU!I knew back in 2002 when I stumbled upon OCU's website something powerful was happening. And while it may not have been exactly what I was looking for at the time, I still had this "knowing" that it was something important.And here we are, five years later. And I can just relax into this "knowing".I have no idea what hidden talents I have to offer up to OCU, that will just work itself out in time. What I do know is that this is one of the most sure things I've encountered in a long time.“
Giving thanks and lots of SMILES!
-Dawn Abate
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“Before this project I really didn’t think much of what I said to people because I’m the typed of person if I have something to say I’m going to say it. In other words, I don’t hold anything back. But now I realize that there’s a certain way to say what you feel and not be rude about it. I think of words like this, “Each word has an emotion attached that’s why we should always watch what we say.”
–Calvin Smith (A NU View youth participant)
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“It is words and their power that keep me going. Someone said that words are manifestations of our thoughts and ideas and can crystallize into actions. In other words, words are a medium of premium significance… through this documentary, I learned that society is a matrix of interacting people and words can create compassion or conflict within society. I learned that not everyone thinks the same and that different people have different interpretations of words.”
-Malick Kebe (A NU View youth participant)
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“Through the process of filming this documentary, I have learned a great deal through the people I interacted with, the exploration of film, of words, and as a result, exploration of myself. The film project gave me a wealth of knowledge and experience to put to use in my life. It was an enormous growth opportunity for all of the students, and I feel that I undoubtedly made the most of it. I can take what I have learned on the set and with the cre"out into the real world and use the skills I have learned for my own benefit, and those of others.”
–Julian Peters (A NU View youth participant)
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“This experience with One Common Unity showed me that words really do affect people. Their reaction may not be immediate, but they will always remember what was said to them. It also showed me that words affect me, not because someone called me a name, but by what I say out of my mouth. I discovered that I feel good about myself when I use positive words about others, and I feel negative when I say inappropriate words. Hopefully, when other people see this documentary it will affect them the same way it affected me. It caused me to think, and really analyze my world. It helped me view words as an invisible person who moves people into doing anything the person who uttered it wants them to do and believe. I’ve learned that although others use words to degrade or uplift people, I have to be responsible for what I say, because the impact of the words I say can be bigger then what I had expected to be. Now that I know my habit with words I’m making an effort to make sure I don’t call anybody an inappropriate name just for the sake of insulting them.”
–Lyndsey Newsome (A NU View youth participant)
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“BRAVO on the work you do!!! Gorgeous! Wonderful! Your website is soooo beautiful! I LOVE it! I forwarded it on to some
people I know... thank you thank you for the hope and the inspiration.”
-Jennifer Appel, Filmmaker
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“Awesome newsletter. I'm very impressed by the work that you're doing, on so many levels. Please know it is affecting many people!”
In Oneness,
-Steve Hasse, What is Enlightenment? (Magazine)
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“OCU! Just want you to know that I love what you're doing! I was happy to get this year-end report, and especially, to check out the trailer of the Nu View Fim by the youth! Looks great! I remember hearing about it when the project was in its early stages, back in the summer when I was up at Abram's Creek with y'all, sharing food in the kitchen and talking with Charneice Fox about the contents of her sketch book and this budding idea. Excellent work -- it looks really good right now. You may remember me from Teaching for Change & Busboys, but I moved in August to Boulder, Colorado to return to an old job at the University of CO, where I'm peace educating with college-age social change workers, helping them to develop as activists. Seeing this e-mail from you reminds me of all the innovative work happening there in DC, and I'm missing the community we shared. Glad you're keeping the fire going, though! Thanks a lot for your great work. Happy new year. “
Peace,
-Sabrina Sideris, Univ. of Colorado, Program Director (Community Leadership in Action)
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“Thanks soooo much for a great show last Friday at Sounds of Hope! Please pass on mygratitude to your volunteers! I already entered and sent a thank you letter to your guests who signed the mailing list. What an amazing, uplifting crowd of folks and supporters. Thank you AGAIN for making Sounds of Hope a great success!”
-Mary Shaprio, Potters House
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“Its been a few weeks since I've returned home from my D.C. experience, and I already miss it. If I had to choose one workshop, speaker, or site that was my favorite it would definitely be the One Common Unity program. For years I've tried to persuade my friends that peace is a definite conclusion to all situations... but they claim I am only a dreamer. Thank you for showing me that I am not the only 'dreamer,' and that it’s possible for this world to become one... thanks for a great program, and greater knowledge that proves people are good at heart.
-Ashley, Student, Congressional Youth Leadership Council
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"I learned about OCU from a friend and was immediately interested in their unique offering of peace education through Arts and Music. Their work with inner-city youth is transformational and their promotional events inspire world-class artists."
-Review on GreatNonProfits.com
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"Many thanks to HawaH and One Common Unity for supporting our first annual Raw Life Retreat! I hope this heart-felt contribution supports the amazing work you are doing."
-Ashley & Deep Green Wellness
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"I've worked for peace in one way or another for all of my (66 years) and I admire OCU for combining all the elements I have seen to be most effective. Peace education will be as essential to our One Common future as the 3Rs. Hawah and his friends deliver it through the arts, those universal languages, and through other whole-body experiences like yoga and drumming. They inspire young people, and people of all ages, by radiating peace and joy. I'm delighted to see this excellent organization gain the recognition it deserves."
-Review on GreatNonProfits