What is Unity?
UNITY has served the leadership needs of American Indian and Alaska Native youth for 27 years. Today UNITY is a national organization with 211 youth councils operating in 34 states and Canada. These youth councils represent thousands of Native American youth.
UNITY began through the efforts of J.R. Cook, a Cherokee from Oklahoma, who has worked with Native youth in leadership development for more than two decades. The organization grew from a small group of interested Indian youth in southwestern Oklahoma in 1976 to a national organization today with affiliated youth councils operating in 34 states and Canada.
UNITY evolved from a series of Indian programs that Cook directed. After a successful basketball coaching stint, Cook devoted a decade of his life to the Upward Bound project at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. At that time, it seemed to Cook there was more pressure for Indian youth to fail than to succeed.
He became aware of the tremendous waste of talent and negative peer pressure among native youth and saw a need for an organization to help Native youth use their talents in a positive way. Cook began working with the Weatherford community to purchase and renovate a building that housed the Southwest Indian Cultural Center. Through the center, a dropout prevention and cultural retention education grant was received to work with students in 10 public schools in western Oklahoma.
The project was so successful -- especially in regard to a marked increase in self-esteem among participants -- that youth in the project authorized Cook to take the necessary steps to expand these efforts to regional and national levels. On April 16, 1976, United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. was incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Oklahoma to develop leadership among native American youth. UNITY relocated its headquarters in 1978 to Oklahoma City.
One of the first milestones for UNITY youth came at the 1980 National UNITY Conference in Great Falls, Mont. Youth shaped their future by writing a "Declaration for Independence" to take charge of their destiny. Youth pledged to be involved in the governmental decision-making process and promote economic development. The "Declaration" gained national attention in Paul Harvey's daily commentary.
Today, Native American youth across the country are taking charge of their lives by serving others. They are helping their reservations, villages and communities by establishing tutoring programs, "Boys and Girls" Clubs, dance troupes, clean up days, healthy lifestyles campaigns, to name a few. Native American youth are making a difference in the areas of community service, heritage, healthy lifestyles and environment.
What is Unity’s Mission?
UNITY's mission is to foster the spiritual, mental, physical and social development of Native youth and to help build a strong, unified and self-reliant Native America through involving its youth. Above all, Unity celebrates unity and diversity among all Native peoples and has been for over 30 years. The strategy Unity uses is to begin Unity youth councils in towns, reservations, schools, etc. wherever a youth group chooses to. The Robert Woods Foundation contributes to the Unity organization with monetary goods through grants for programs.
Where is Unity’s Headquarters Located?
UNITY is located in downtown Oklahoma City in the E.K. Gaylord Building which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Joining Cook in his efforts to serve Native American youth are Russell Coker, Seminole; Patricia Hunter, Osage; Ryan Aduddell; Kiowa, George Thomas, Cherokee and Dottie Griffin.
Unity’s Council of Trustees
UNITY's governing body is its Council of Trustees. All ten of its members are American Indians who are dedicated to UNITY's mission. UNITY is fortunate to have such high quality leaders guiding the organization.
National Unity Conference Buffalo New York 2006
