Next General Membership Meeting: November 18, 2018 @ 6:30 PM St. Margaret's Episcopal Church 5290 Saratoga Lane Woodbridge, VA 22193
We are people of faith working together to prevent discrimination, hate and violence in all its forms in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park, Virginia.
Purpose Ourpurpose is to combat racism and all other forms of discrimination, hate and violence in our communities. We strive to accomplish this purpose by providing support to assist those who have been targeted and by working with the Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park, Virginia governments to help examine incidents and propose methods for preventing future hate crimes in our communities. We strive to improve the laws that prosecute hate and other violent crimes in Virginia.
Mission Our mission is to cultivate an appreciation of all the cultural heritages in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park, Virginia. We work to accomplish this by 1) promoting cross-cultural understanding, 2) educating the public in anti-bias skills, cultural diversity and basic human rights and by 3) explaining the laws and consequences of hate crimes and other behaviors that incite violence and fear. We work pro-actively to engage all residents in helping to meet these goals to prevent crimes and other destructive behavior.
A Brief History of Unity in the Community In the fall of 1995 Illana Naylor and the Manassas Church of the Brethren addressed letters to local congregations inviting them to share the richness of our diversity and to begin planning an event that would draw public attention to the problems of intolerance facing our communities. In the following months, Illana Naylor and Debbie Rubenstein co-chaired the effort to bring a major community event to fruition. Many places of worship, community organizations and citizens from Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County participated. A key component of this first event was the showing of the documentary film “Not in our Town,” and the development of a plan of action by discussion groups following the film. This plan continues to be a driving force for our work.
Accomplishments We are pleased to say that with the help of community agencies, leaders, and elected officials, together we have accomplished the following: 1) Prince William County, Manassas City and Manassas Park have passed resolutions declaring these communities Hate-Free and Bigot Free zones. 2) The Prince William County Police Department developed a brochure about hate crimes to educate the public and implemented a Worship Watch program for Houses of Worship at risk of vandalism. 3) The Prince William County Public Schools sponsor institutes and workshops to acquaint teachers and students with the multicultural diversity in our community. 4) The Prince William County School Board voted to stop considering students absent for the purposes of perfect attendance when they are attending religious services. 5) Unity in the Community provided support for the change in Virginia law that increased penalties and improved the ability of public defenders to prosecute perpetrators of hate crimes. 6) Unity in the Community organized passive neighborhood action to boldly state that messages of hate and intolerance perpetrated by KKK leafleting are not welcome in our communities. The hate leafleting stopped and remains in check.
Catalog The Unity Coffee Mug. $5.00 each, 6 for $25.00 Show your support for Unity when you serve any hot beverage, coffee or soup in the Unity Coffee Mug. 12 oz capacity, black with our 'Dancing Hands' motif, microwave and dishwasher safe. A Taste of Unity, Cookbook. $10.00 The Unity
Cookbook is a wonderful collection of ethnic and regional dishes that
celebrate the diversity within Prince William County, Manassas, and
Manassas Park, Virginia. This is a wonderful collection of our personal
stories, memories and explanations about the foods we love and share.
A great addition to your kitchen bookshelf. A Taste of Unity. --
Manassas, VA : Unity in the Community, 1997.
