One Common Unity (OCU)

Maya aka Ghost performing her own poem

Gabby performing an original poem about mental health

Check out these videos of the Performance Troupe at @Downinthereeds festival this past Saturday! [thread below] THIS is how OCU does healing 🙌 using words to express ourselves and spread the love!

The OCU Performance Troupe, Elements of Light, will be performing at the @Downinthereeds Festival this Saturday, October 8th! Catch them on the Arts Plaza from 1:55pm to 2:30pm. It is a set you will not want to miss! Come show up and show out for the OCU youth! 🙌

Watch the full documentary The Melody Lingers On on the OCU YouTube Channel youtu.be/Hn1TjP_Q0Fo

CW gun violence, incarceration, suicidal ideation Fly By Light alum, Marcus Morgan, aka Popp Culture or Fleetwood, speaks on his experience in the program. With the support of FBL, youth learn to channel pain into creativity. Healthy self-expression can save lives.

You can join the Performance Troupe, too! DC youth ages 14-24 are invited to audition tomorrow at Roosevelt HS. Contact Ms. Princess for more info!

Check out this spoken word by Trey, a Fly By Light alum and member of the Performance Troupe. Content warning for racism and gun violence. This is how OCU does healing: through creative expression and community support. 🙌🏼

Join the Performance Troupe! Citywide auditions will be held THIS THURSDAY at Roosevelt HS! (Open to all students ages 14–24 enrolled OR graduated from DC public, charter, or private schools) For more info, contact Ms. Princess. 202-798-7694 princess@onecommonunity.org

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, check out these quotes from participants of our Fly By Light Spanish bilingual program, Volar Por La Luz! Shout out to Jair for his work facilitating en español at @RooseveltHSDC 🙌🏼

¡En honor del mes de Herencia Hispana, vea estas citas de los participantes de nuestro programa bilingüe en español Fly By Light, Volar Por La Luz! Gracias a Jair por su trabajo facilitando en español en @RooseveltHSDC 🙌🏼

OCU has been supporting DC's youth for 22 years. Throughout the city's many changes and the ongoing gun violence, we have supported youth to express themselves in healthy ways. Check out Fly By Light alumna Asha expressing her feelings on community violence through spoken word.

Ashlyn Harty, Acting Director of OCU's Peace Together program, expresses her thoughts on gun violence in DC. We are incredibly thankful for the Peace Together team, who works tirelessly to provide mental health support to youth victims of gun violence.

Thank you to everyone who came out! Our movement continues to get stronger each week 🧡💪

Our hearts are heavy following the several shootings that occurred in the DC area this past Labor Day weekend. This ongoing crisis of gun violence affects us all to varying degrees, especially the city’s youth. OCU’s Princess Best reflects on how gun violence in DC affects her.

10. Summer Strong Kings Dominion trip

9. Peace Together retreat

From everyone at OCU, THANK YOU for an amazing summer! This summer was an eventful one for OCU. Between the Summer Arts Showcase, Summer Strong programming, and the National Training, our youth & staff remained active throughout the break. Take a look at some of the highlights!