Project Unity is a collaborative movement based on the faith-driven belief that what unites us is greater than what divides us. Our core focus is building and sustaining community. Our mission is fulfilled through dialogue, community building events and activities, education and empowerment.
Through our “Together We” programs, we are providing community engagement solutions to companies and organizations that are seeking to provide unique experiences and resources to their employees.
In 2014, Pastor Richie Butler hosted a community forum on policing and race relations at St. Paul United Methodist Church that included the former Dallas Police Chief David Brown, former District Attorney Craig Watkins, and Sheriff Lupe Valdez. As a result of that forum, he was convinced to launch an initiative to address the divides in our community and the country. That initiative is called Project Unity.
Project Unity has been leading efforts to unify Dallas by implementing a suite of programs themed “Together We” that addresses our efforts to build and sustain community, provide a forum for safe conversations on race relations, and improve relations with law enforcement.
Project Unity has been leading efforts to unify Dallas by implementing a number of community building programs to help heal race relationships between law enforcement and Dallas citizens.
The Year of Unity was launched in 2017 as a yearlong collaborative effort of programming and events hosted by Project Unity in partnership with all segments of our community which includes faith, business, civic, philanthropic, grassroots and government entities. Through dialogue, community building, education and empowerment, we believe that what unites us is greater than what divides us.
Therefore, we seek to achieve our mission of building and sustaining a stronger, more unified community together through a series of events and programs entitled “Together We…”
These community engagement programs build off the great success of Together We Ball and Together We Pray, both programs developed and hosted by Project Unity to begin bridging the divide in our community as a result of the racial tension highlighted with the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, August 9, 2014.
For the launch of the Year of Unity in 2017, we were honored to have the following dignataries and community leaders serve as chairs and ambassadors. Each played a vital role in the implementation of the year’s programs and events.
2017 Honorary Chair
2017 Honorary Co-chairs
2017 Ambassadors
Roles and titles listed for individuals were as of 2017
At the end of 2017, thousands of Dallas citizens had engaged in some tough and enlightening conversations on race; experienced hands-on learning that allowed participants to learn how to act and react to law enforcement; watched pastors, police, and community leaders play basketball together; prayed and worshiped with people from different faiths, neighborhoods, and backgrounds; remembered our officers who tragically died on 7/7/16; and engaged in the Year of Unity Challenge.
Beyond the 2017 Year of Unity initiative, it is our goal to continue to reach thousands of teens and adults through our “Together We” programs and promote the message that “what unites us is greater than what divides us” whether through worship, music, basketball, interaction with law enforcement, or sharing a meal.
