Scope

Council for Unity was born out of racial violence in 1975 when Founder, Robert J. DeSena, an English teacher, recruited six gang leaders from Brooklyn's John Dewey High School to end the cycle of violence that beset the school and surrounding community for decades. Since then its outreach has expanded beyond Brooklyn to New York City’s boroughs, throughout New York state and nationally. Partnerships have been established throughout entire school systems and communities. Council is now a dynamic and multi-dimensional network of relationships.

Council’s Network Today –

touches the lives of over 100,000 kids annually
ranging from 8-20 years of age, representing over 90 ethnic groups;
operates throughout the complete educational continuum
including elementary, intermediate, and high school levels, special schools and college campuses;
expands beyond its traditional in-school setting
at the invitation of the numerous correctional and police organizations, chapters have been established inside correctional facilities and police departments;
spans the greater New York area
over 40 schools and 96 chapters within greater New York and Long Island;
encompasses cities, counties and communities
with 3 city and county-wide engagements underway (Albany, Buffalo and Riverhead)
includes numerous formal support organizations
which assist chapters and communities with projects and programs, providing valuable mentoring capabilities throughout the network and feedback to Council management; these organizations include alumni, parents, guardians, teachers, principals, law enforcement officers, businesses and community leaders;
partners with community groups and youth organizations
to bring its philosophy, programs, tools and techniques to increasing numbers of ‘at risk’ kids.