On August 1, 2020, Community Concerns Network, a local 501 (c)(3) entity, will unite local law enforcement and community members from Brooklyn, Queens, NYC, and other boroughs at the 23rd Annual Unity Drive (aka Walk) in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. This year, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams as Grand Marshall and 13-year-old ‘Anaya the Author,’ who became NYC’s youngest published writer five years ago, will speak on the topic of unity, diversity, and healing. Led by neighborhood peacemaker Reverend Terry M. Lee, Unity Drive calls for healing and is a statement against violence and racism.
“The time for healing is now,” said Reverend Lee. “We want to do whatever we can to bring the city and the country together for healing and peace. With what has been happening today, we can see after 23 years that there is a greater need for us to all come together and increase the peace so we can reduce the violence and save our children, families, residents, citizens, and police officers from senseless violence.”
Unity Walk was originally conceived in 1997 by Reverend Lee as a method of building trust and cultivating a positive relationship between the NYPD and the community. Since then, Unity Walk has evolved into a forum geared to educate the public on issues of gun and domestic violence, child abuse, immigration policies, health and wellness, and more.
“When I saw what was going on in 1997, I prayed to God and asked God how I can bring about healing and peace,” recalls Reverend Lee. “That’s when the idea of Unity Walk was shown to me and we have been doing it every year since then, supporting the police and building the relationship between the cops and our community.”
Over 1,000 supporters are expected to participate in this year’s Unity Walk, including Community Affairs NYPD Outreach; police officers from the 67th, 70th and 71st precincts, Brooklyn South and Brooklyn North; Metroplus Health Plan; community advocate Dimple Willabus; Assembly members Rodneyse Bichotte, Diana Richardson and Monique Chandler Waterman representing Nick Perry; West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA); Friends of Wingate Park; and Block Boyz Bike Life creators of the national “Guns Down, Bikes Up” movement organized by Stacy Gibbs who is also the event coordinator for Unity Walk.
Presented by Community Concerns Network (CCN) and Byways and Hedges Youth For Christ Ministry, the 23rd Annual Unity Drive (aka Walk) is free to attend and open to all communities. Because of COVID-19, we are encouraging participants to drive instead of walk. If participants elect to walk, CDC guidelines for COVID-19 will be strictly enforced and everyone will be required to wear a face-covering. If you are sick or have tested positive, please stay home.
Participants can register via
· Website – http://bywaysandhedges.org/
· Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CommunityConcernsNetworkBklyn
For sponsorship, volunteer or other opportunities, call (718) 940-7499 or email [email protected].
About:
· Reverend Terry Lee – http://bywaysandhedges.org/
· Anaya The Author – https://www.facebook.com/
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