United We Stand Summit: Countering Hate-Fueled Violence Together

What an amazing day and event!

September 15, 2022 was a remarkable day in America as the White House hosted the United We Stand Summit.

The day consisted of opening remarks by Vice President Kamala Harris and a national address on hate violence by President Joseph Biden. In between there were panel presentations on the State of Hate-Fueled Violence in America; Stories of Survivors of Hate Violence; Federal Initiatives to Address Hate-Fueled Violence; and Local Solutions for Unity and Healing, which consisted of leaders from Buffalo NY, El Paso TX, Pittsburgh PA and Atlanta GA discussing how their communities are recovering and rebuilding from hate violence. There was even a bipartisan conversation with mayors from around the country on their efforts to prevent violence and build unity at the community level. 

A highlight of the day was the introduction of the Uniters—everyday heroes from across America doing extraordinary work to build bridges and address hate and division in their community. 

The day concluded with a special performance by the Howard University gospel choir, and you know it was something special. You can best believe that we all left uplifted, inspired and FIRED UP!

Maybe the best thing was meeting and speaking to some of the other attendees. There wasn’t a lot of time in the day’s packed agenda to do that, but I did meet some special people. I had a long talk with Dr. LaVonne Ansari of Buffalo, NY about the impact of the tragic supermarket massacre on the city and how the community is coping. I met folks from Charleston, SC and we talked about the horrifying 2015 church shooting there. I met Susan Bro, the mother of Heather Heyer the young woman run down by a car in the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally. And I met several of the UNITERS. 

I’ll say it again. It was an amazing day and to be one of a handful of people from around the country to be invited was special. It just says so much about the mission, great work and national reputation of Alive & Free. We are a great violence prevention program and I’m definitely a Stop the Violence guy. Everyone stay tuned. I’m going to put together a Street Soldiers Radio show with the folks that I met.  Will let you know when. The work continues. United We Stand. 

You know the goal–to keep everyone Alive & Free!

P.S. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott was there too!

Dr. M