“We host two Together We Dine events annually. These are courageous conversations that bring our teams together not just around our commonalities, but more importantly, through understanding our differences, our respective upbringings, and what we were taught. There is a level of candor we have that historically drove discomfort, but now drives unity. Our teams have more diverse perspectives that provide better outcomes for our clients, organization, and communities.”
Bert Crouch, Managing Director & Head of North America for Invesco Real Estate

2023 was the most impactful year ever for Project Unity’s Together We Dine^TM (TWD) program. These events bring people together to have good food and safe conversation. When people attend a Dine event, they are encouraged to speak on topics of race, equity, policing, and other hot topics in a friendly environment without fear of shame or judgment. Project Unity has seen the Dine blossom into its most impactful program that continues to bring people together from all walks of life to drive courageous conversations, build mutual respect regardless of class or status, and create stronger communities.

Together We Dine continued to grow in 2023, ending the year with 73 Dine events and over 250 additional participants compared to 2022. TWD is also expanding outside of Texas by training volunteer facilitators who live in places as far away as Boston and Chicago. The Dine events are also seeing more and more new corporate participants – from Independent Financial to Dallas CASA – who want to create inclusive work environments and broaden employee perspectives.

This participant’s response reflects the takeaway that many Dine participants feel after completing a Dine event: “The format of listening first, then having the second round to comment and ask questions set the tone of listening, not interrupting or talking over one another. It was a very respectful and impactful interaction.”

2023 Facts & Figures

• 73 Events Conducted Virtually and In-Person
• 3,425 Participants
• 722 Individual Facilitator Roles
• 1,345 Volunteer Hours Served
• 65 Facilitator Volunteers from Dallas, Waco, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago
• Over a Dozen and a Half Topics Discussed – Race Relations, DE&I, Health Care, Senior Care, Police Relations, Criminal Justice, Equity

“As a parent, you’re often concerned about your student scholars when they leave your home—that they’re going to make it back home safely. That’s why the Together We Learn program is so important. It teaches our scholars how to interact with our police officers respectfully. It creates a safe environment where officers can go through the different steps of a traffic stop or just engage in an interaction. It’s a very powerful experience.”
John Edmun, Principal of Collegiate Academy & High School, Cedar Hill ISD

Participation in Together We Learn^TM training events skyrocketed among North Texas students in 2023. Through the program’s urgent work with participating school districts, more students than ever before are gaining valuable life lessons in how to interact with the police.

Together We Learn is an interactive educational program for high school youth that provides a positive dialogue forum with law enforcement officers to help educate students on how to act and react in both traffic and pedestrian stop situations. This type of educational instruction is required for all students of driving age by Senate Bill 30: Community Safety Education Act, which was authored by Senator Royce West and inspired by Project Unity’s Together We Learn^TM program in 2016.

The number of students who completed training nearly tripled during the 2022-2023 school year with a total of over 2,300 participants, and more schools than ever partnering with Project Unity to bring this valuable Together We Learn curriculum to their juniors and seniors. Project Unity is proud to bring on two new school partners for 2024: Garland ISD and Grand Prairie ISD. Selected schools from these districts will host Together We Learn sessions for their senior classes.

Funding was made possible through partnerships with Texas Instruments and The Dallas Mavericks. Project Unity collaborated with the Dallas Chapter of the National Black Police Association, the Dallas Police Department, and Sewell Lexus Dallas to make each session as impactful and instructive as possible.

The results are impressive with over 96% of students noting an improved understanding of the laws related to driving, and over 97% with an improved understanding of how to act and react to law enforcement during a traffic or pedestrian stop. Additionally, post-training students noted a 22% much more positive and 53% positive perception of law enforcement.

2023 Facts & Figures

• 1,551 Students Completed Training in Spring 2023
• 671 Students Completed Training in Fall 2023
• 2,222 Total Students Completed Training
• 13 School Campuses Participated
• 60 Volunteer Hours

“You must experience Together We Sing to believe it. This is by far one of our favorite events that we do throughout the year. It’s a highlight for me, for our company, and for every audience member and performer. There’s this sense of celebration. The atmosphere that evening was joyous and hard to explain, so join us next year.”
Effie Dennison, Executive Vice President, Texas Capital Bank

Together We Sing^TM is Project Unity’s signature fundraising event that draws extraordinary musical talent from all over the country for a night of inspiration, unity, and incredible musical performances.

2023 witnessed another sold-out audience and even more generosity than years past. This year’s Together We Sing event raised nearly $500,000 that will go toward Project Unity programming that is making a profound impact on communities across North Texas and beyond.

The event was a celebration of 50 years of hip hop and featured soul-stirring performances from Grammy Award Winner Erica Campbell, Grammy Lifetime Achievement legend Spinderella, Sundays Best Finalists Zebulon Ellis, Hollywood famed orchestrator and conductor Leon Lacey, a 200-voice multi-faith choir, and the one and only Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

In recognition of those who work tirelessly to create new paths to confront and dismantle racism, Project Unity’s 2023 Together We Awards were presented.

• The inaugural Trailblazer Award honored NFL Executive Vice President of Operations Troy Vincent for his work in strengthening the diversity, equity, and inclusion commitment of every team in the NFL.
• The Corporate Unity Award was presented to:
  • Dallas Mavericks (Activist Award)
  • Lennox International (Advocate Award)
  • Jackson Walker (Legacy Award)
• The Organization Unity Award was presented to:
  • International Leadership of Texas (Activist Award)
  • Southern Methodist University (Advocate Award)
  • Dallas Symphony Orchestra (Legacy Award)
• The Individual Unity Award was presented to:
  • Kymberlaine Banks, Senior Business Engagement Officer, Communities Foundation of Texas (Activist Award)
  • Ken Malcolmson, President and CEO, North Dallas Chamber of Commerce (Advocate Award)
  • The Honorable Royce West, Texas State Legislator (Legacy Award)

Grammy Winner Erica Campbell, who performed at this year’s Together We Sing, reflected on the amazing night of music: “Singing with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Project Unity, changing the community, and making a difference, to be a part of something like that is just phenomenal.”

The night was made possible by sponsors, generous donors, and volunteers who helped Project Unity give the gift of music to the biggest Together We Sing audience yet.

Together We Sing is taking the city by storm, and we’re just getting started. Save the date and sing with us on June 23, 2024!

2023 Facts & Figures

• 1,800 Attendees (Sold Out)
• 50 Volunteers
• 37 Corporate Sponsors & Partners
• Over 100 Student Artists Participated in the Master Class Camp
• Record Total of Nearly $500,000 Raised

“The Dallas Police Department works our very best to connect with our community, and our work with Project Unity has been amazing. Together We Ball is an awesome way to connect with the community, especially our most precious asset, the future of Dallas— our children, older kids, and young adults. I will be forever thankful to Pastor Butler and the Project Unity team for all they do every day in the partnerships we have.”
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia

Together We Ball^TM, one of Project Unity’s most exciting and anticipated events, returned for a seventh year in 2023, bringing to the city of Dallas its signature family-friendly entertainment, competitive basketball, food, activities, a skills and drills camp, and special guests. The free, day-long event featured Dallas Mavericks entertainment from Chris Arnold, the Mavs ManiAACs, and the Mavs Man. The event was co-hosted by Cynt Marshall, Dallas Mavericks CEO; Rick Hart, SMU Director of Athletics; Dallas Police Department Chief Eddie Garcia; and Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown.

Thanks to an epic partnership between Project Unity and Southern Methodist University’s Athletic Department, this year’s Ball event was held at SMU’s Moody Coliseum and brought the whole community together – basketball players, clergy, police, and families – for headliner matchups between teams coached by Joe Duffield, State Championship Coach for Lake Highlands High School; Nicholas Smith, State Championship Coach for Kimball High School; Rob Lanier, SMU Men’s Basketball Head Coach; and Toyelle Wilson, SMU Women’s Basketball Head Coach.

Together We Ball announces a scholarship winner at each annual event, and this year’s scholarship winner was Isaiah Gomez, a first-year student at Tarrant County College North East Campus where he studies Business Administration. He aspires to venture into either sales, operations, or entrepreneurship. Isaiah was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for his educational pursuits. Congratulations, Isaiah!

2023 Facts & Figures

• 1,000+ Event Participants, Volunteers, and Attendees
• 46 Volunteers
• 242 Volunteer Hours
• Over a Dozen Volunteers from SMU Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams
• 40 Middle School Participants in the Skills & Drills Camp
• 14 Varsity Students from 12 Schools Participated in the High School Exhibition Game
• 22 Men and Women Leaders in the Community Played in the Big Game
• 12 Corporate Sponsors & Community Partners