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April 2022

Message from Project Unity Founder, Richie Butler

In 2004, April was designated as “Celebrate Diversity Month”. Fast forward eighteen years later we can see how the work of diversity has evolved. It is now referred to as Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

When the month was first recognized, practitioners worked in isolation. Today, if your company, organization, or institution does not have a DEI department or committee you are behind the times because it is now recognized as a part of the organizational culture and directly impacts the bottom line. People understand diversity is an important part of unleashing creativity and innovation as well as identifying market trends and opportunities.

We live in a time where we cannot operate on recycled relationships and expect to survive in this dynamic and diverse world community. We celebrate the promise and potential of what our world community will look when we all embrace the power of diversity. To those who are fearful of DEI, understand this is not a zero-sum game, rather this is a recognition that the pie is expanding with more than two-thirds of the world community becoming full participants in the pillars that make for a sustainable community.

In other words, there is plenty of pie for everyone to get their piece and then some. Happy Diversity Month!

Save the Date!

JUNE 15, 2022, AT 7:30PM, MORTON H. MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTER

Proceeds from this inspiring gospel and classical music collaboration will benefit Project Unity

Evening will honor legendary gospel artist Richard Smallwood

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO), Project Unity, and Texas Capital Bank will present Together We Sing, a musical fundraising event that blends gospel and classical music. This incredible night of inspiration will feature the Dallas Symphony Orchestra along with a 200-voice multi-ethnic, multi-faith choir comprised of choruses from more than 20 religions and faith organizations featuring performances and a special tribute to the legendary GRAMMY® nominated gospel artist Richard Smallwood.

Smallwood has spent over four decades as one of the most popular inspirational artists in the music business. The Washington Post hails, “Smallwood has done what no other gospel artist arguably has done as successfully: blend gospel with classical music.” His music has been performed by artists including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Yolanda Adams, and Chaka Khan, and he has performed for three Presidents, including accompanying opera legend Leontyne Price at a White House Christmas celebration.

The event will raise funds for Project Unity’s signature community programs. Tickets for the performance start at $39 and are available now at dallassymphony.org. Project Unity is pleased to announce its sponsors and co-chairs from the Dallas business and philanthropy community for this year’s signature fundraiser, including:

  • Arcilia Acosta, President and CEO at CARCON Industries and Construction and Chair-Elect of the Dallas Citizens Council
  • Effie Dennison, Executive Vice President at Texas Capital Bank
  • Dr. Glyne A. Griffith II, Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at SiriusXM/Pandora/Stitcher
  • Connie O’Neill, distinguished civic leader serving on several prominent local Boards; and
  • Sanjiv Yajnik, President of Financial Services at Capital One, Chair of Collin County Business Alliance and previous Dallas Symphony Association Chair of the Board of Governors
Other title sponsor is Texas Capital Bank and other corporate sponsors for the event include Haynes and Boone, Texas Instruments Foundation, First United Bank, The Hoglund Foundation, and Catalyst Health Network.

This evening of celebration will also present the inaugural Together We Awards, an honor to recognize champions who are working tirelessly to create new paths to confront and dismantle racism. The honorees will be announced at the performance.
Purchase Your Tickets Today!

Together We Ball is Back!

Announcing our new location partner: Paul Quinn College. Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Proceeds benefit our Together We Learn program.

To inquire about becoming a sponsor email charlene@projectunity.net.

  TOGETHER WE VACCINATE:

COVID-19 Vaccine Event in the Community

THIS SATURDAY, April 30th | 10AM - 2PM

It's time for your second booster! If you are 50 years old or if you have a compromised immune system, plan to join us this Saturday from 10AM - 2PM at St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church.

1st Dose, 2nd Dose, or 1st Booster shot are available for ages 5 and up.

Pfizer and Moderna vaccine brands will be available.
Limited number of single-dose Johnson & Johnson available.

Music, free food and free Dallas Mavs t-shirts and yard signs are available for vaccination participants while supplies last!
Register Now
Together We Vaccinate Community Canvassing

This past weekend, we had our Together We Vaccinate Canvassing event for our upcoming Together We Vaccinate event in the neighborhood around St. Luke Community United Methodist Church. We reached over 200 homes and walked over 2 miles! 

Thank you to The Concillio, Bank of America, BHP, and St. Luke volunteers for assisting!
Partnership Announcement:
Lennox International Partners with Project Unity and “Together We Can”
to Strengthen the Company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program

Lennox International, an industry leader in energy-efficient climate-control solutions for over 125 years, has partnered with Project Unity on our signature Together We Can program to give the company powerful tools to strengthen its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program.

The partnership gives Lennox International special access to Project Unity’s marquee training programs, executive presentations, c-suite coaching, and multiple Together We Dine events. Presentations will include quarterly international calls between Project Unity and Lennox International.

“We've laid a great foundation at Lennox, but we have an opportunity to do even more for our employees and for the communities that we serve,” said Danita Pea, Sr. Inclusion and Diversity Manager at Lennox International. “This partnership with Together We Can will allow us to create an environment where employees are not only included in our larger mission but feel a sense of belonging, where they can have courageous conversations and develop a positive, empathetic environment that welcomes everyone.”

“We are proud to partner with a great company like Lennox International that has demonstrated time and time again its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Project Unity Founder, Richie Butler. “We believe Together We Can and the many resources we have at Project Unity will make a profound impact on their staff and the communities they live and work in.”

Lennox International is dedicated to promoting a healthy, safe, and engaged workforce by championing diversity and inclusion at all levels of business operations. In 2020, the company further strengthened its commitment to building ever more expansive diversity and inclusion programs across the organization.

The partnership with Project Unity’s Together We Can program will promote cultural intelligence among employees at Lennox International and foster empathy toward others and positive action toward the community. Employees will also participate in Together We Dine events in which total strangers from all walks of life gather for a meal to have courageous conversations about race relations.

“Sometimes having a third party, having a different perspective can open your eyes to see something that maybe you just didn't see,” said Pea. “We believe Together We Can will help us identify those blind spots and make Lennox International a place where anyone would want to work.”

Together We Learn

Our Together We Learn program has ramped up this Spring! A signature program created by the National Black Police Association and led by Sergeant Sheldon Smith, President of the Dallas Chapter of NBPA, the workshop includes classroom instruction with mock simulations demonstrating how to act and react to law enforcement during pedestrian and traffic stops. Together We Learn provides the instructional training mandated by Senate Bill 30 (SB30), also known as the Community Safety Education Act, which was passed by the 85th Texas Legislature. SB30 mandates specific instruction on traffic stop behavior by motorists and law enforcement officers for students in grades 9-12. Project Unity provides this instruction to schools at no cost. 

If you would like to bring Together We Learn to your campus, please email togetherwelearn@projectunity.net

Thank you to Jesuit Preparatory School of Dallas, International Leadership of Texas - Garland, Arlington, Saginaw/Keller and Lancaster campuses, and Big Brothers Big Sisters for your partnership and for allowing us to bring Together We Learn to your school and students. 

Together We Learn video highlights: 
Together We Learn | IL Texas (Garland High School)
Together We Learn | IL Texas (Arlington-Grand Prairie High School)
Together We Learn | IL Texas (Keller-Saginaw High School)

Together We Dine | TOMORROW, April 27th

Take action this month and attend the April Together We Dine TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 27th! Whether it will be your first time or your 5th time joining the conversation, attending a virtual Together We Dine is an actionable step to begin or continue your journey of having conversations on race and current events that affect us all. The event offers a safe, non-judgmental environment to learn about others and more about yourself. It is open to the community no matter where you are, virtually! Contact Charlene if your organization or company is interested in hosting a private Dine event for your employees/staff to support your DEI efforts.

Registration closes today, Tuesday, April 26 at 5 PM CST.
Register Here!

March and April Together We Dine Recap

March and April have been very busy for Project Unity! By the conclusion of our Community Together We Dine on Wednesday, April 27th, we will have hosted 18 Dine events comprised of 6 in-person events, 12 virtual events, and our first international event for NTT Data employees in India! Together We Dine is a DEI resource to our partners and directly aligns with their goal of hosting conversations on race, social justice, and other cultural biases in a safe, guided format.

We are pleased to have partnered with the following organizations over the last two months for single or multi-Dine events:

Catalyst Health Group; Communities Foundation of Texas; Holy Covenant UMC and Highland Park UMC; NTT Data US and India regions; Waco Family Medicine and McLennan Community College; Dialogue Institute; Jesuit Preparatory School of Dallas; Invesco; Lennox International; SMU Athletic Department; Dallas Citizens Council, Dallas Regional Chamber, North Dallas Chamber of Commerce and North Texas Commission; and St. Luke Community UMC and Highland Park UMC

That's A Wrap!
Jesuit Social Justice Program Comes to A Close

We had 8 enthusiastic students participate in our Jesuit Social Justice Program this spring, including 1 foreign exchange student! This group of young men brought their learning hats with them, and we know they will do great things. 
This group also planned a Together We Dine event on campus for Jesuit juniors and seniors with great success! 90 students participated in thought-provoking, authentic and challenging conversations with their peers centering around their different experiences. 

  Love Our Facilitators  

Facilitators are the heart and soul of our Together We Dine program. They volunteer their time 2-3 times a week helping to navigate safe conversations on race. They do this heart-felt work because it matters so much to each of them. Let us introduce you to them and learn why they volunteer.
Jessica Lewis, Counsel, Ross & Smith, PC, facilitator since January 2020

"I volunteer my time as a facilitator first and foremost because of my faith. I believe that I’m called to pursue justice, truth, forgiveness, and healing as I strive to love others as Christ did. My biggest takeaway from this service opportunity is how diverse and interesting those life stories are and how much we miss when we assume we know the extent of someone’s story or struggles based on their appearance. This experience has further opened my eyes to the work that needs to be done."
Kyle Ogden, President & CEO, The Thanks-Giving Foundation, facilitator since 2020

"I volunteer because I enjoy facilitating and witnessing the discovery that some participants experience. The biggest takeaway so far is learning about the vast diversity of experiences in people's lives. Facilitating for TWD has exposed me to more personal stories, and has helped me develop empathy for all people regardless of where they are on their race relations journey."

Calendar of Upcoming Events


Keep up with Project Unity! Visit our calendar to find out where we are or who we are serving in the community. Click Here!
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