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Op-Ed PublishED IN TrIbune Democrat and Politico Magazine!

Johnstown Responds to PoliticoCommunity leaders write that a recent magazine piece ‘depicted a community that does not reflect who we truly are and what we believe.’

Christine Dahlin | The importance of scienceI am first and foremost a scientist; my training leads me to view problems from a critical and neutral lens, and attempt to see whether hypotheses are supported or refuted

Rachel Allen | Unity Coalition’s mission includes education, change for the betterThe Unity Coalition of the Southern Alleghenies was formed in the 1990s as a response to Ku Klux Klan action in Cambria and Somerset counties, and with the intent to

Christine Dahlin | How should communities, institutions respond to hate?The Johnstown community has been the focus of numerous national media reports since the 2016 election season, and generally our community is portrayed as a bastion of racist Trump supporters.

Rachel Allen | Unity Coalition urges the acceptance of DreamersI love this beautiful part of the world that we call the Laurel Highlands.

unity coalition is a regular contributor to the tribune-democrat

See our Op-Ed's

Rachel Allen | We must all do our part to eliminate racismUnarmed. And dead.

Christine Dahlin | What does defunding police really mean?George Floyd’s death lit a fire in the hearts of people across the world.

Rachel Allen | Another senseless act of hatredThe Unity Coalition of the Southern Alleghenies shares in the collective grief and mourning worldwide for the senseless act of terrorism directed at Muslims worshiping in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Unity Coalition | Community offers the medicine that curesLife can be funny in the way that it brings you back to places, people and things.

Unity Coalition | Intersectionality: Barriers to inclusive communities to be explored at forumGrowing up in the greater Johnstown area, I do not recall many opportunities to meaningfully connect with people who did not look like me.

Unity Coalition | Paint our community with the spectrum of diversityJohnstown has been through a lot lately. Our last column spoke about how the national media have painted our community in a certain light.

Unity Coalition Symbol design

We asked local high schools to help us design a positive and inclusive symbol, and we received 25 designs from students in grades 9-12. We are impressed with the young people who have decided to help us create a community where diversity and inclusivity are welcomed! Participating High Schools included Conemaugh Twp. Area High School (Mrs. Smiach), Forest Hills High School (Mrs. Smiach), and Greater Johnstown High School (Mrs. Patula).

These symbols have already been displayed at two events; Sip & Paint (a fundraiser for Hope 4 Johnstown), and a workshop hosted by Dr. Shannon Telenko on Diversity in the Southern Alleghenies. We look forward to showcasing them at more locations around the city!

The design selected to represent the Unity Coalition is the 'Trust" symbol designed by Savannah Reitz of Greater Johnstown High School! We were inspired by her original design which captured the spirit of unity. In her words: "You can’t build trust between everyone without people putting in an effort to do so. It’s all of us. "

Students submitted beautiful descriptions of how and why they designed their symbols:

To promote the cause of equality and show peace and friendship between all

To show love lends to peace through caring for someone else

To unlock peace between all citizens of the U.S.

The only way to truly have peace is to accept each other, show kindness and to unify into one group and show love

Every race, religion and beliefs come together

To spread love as a bird spreads its wings

To change the world one step at a time

To show that all people make up the earth, and we should all push for unity amongst one another

Unity between different races, sexualities, cultures and religion

To pull together the community and show everyone that we are at peace with the world and everyone in it

Brian Law of Prime Design Solutions provided technical assistance with the design. Expect new colors!

Student creates new logo design for Unity Coalition

Over 20 symbols were designed and we are showing a few of the many inspring symbols. From left; Trinity Hardick, Kaytlynn Maines, Hailey Felzer, Joshua Albert, Monterius Murphy, Jacob Zidik, DeShaun Hamer, Tyshon Britt.

Other symbol designers included: Marcus Bennet, Kaseam Cole, Samuel Doyka, Livia Hamara, Ashlyn Homara, Raven Kopetsky, Julianna Manno, Josh Mathis, Jayson Miller, Aria Mowers, Shaelynn Myers, Coryssa Porter, Kirsten Roads, Savannah Reitz, Hayden Rummel, and Gabriel Zimmerman.