The Unity Walk was inaugurated with a personal narrative from speaker Dasha Bunks, who thanked the East Brunswick Human Relations Council for organizing the event. She shared her background, detailing how her mother immigrated to the United States with limited resources, driven by the desire for a better life and education. Bunks underscored the role of the East Brunswick school system and the friendships she formed across diverse backgrounds, emphasizing how these experiences highlight the community’s strength. Her speech was a call to action for attendees to recognize and celebrate their collective unity, highlighted by a statistic from the Harvard Business Review that diverse companies enjoy a 19% increase in innovation revenue.

Following Bunks, Ahmed Sayyad, co-chair of the event, reiterated the core values of the East Brunswick Human Relations Council. This was followed by a rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” performed by Dr. Jamie Falco, which received applause from attendees.

During the event, representatives Steven Shen, Hamza Hassan, and Riti Gore led the community pledge, focusing on promoting respect and understanding among diverse community members. Mayor Dr. Brad Cohen addressed the participants, expressing gratitude for their turnout and commending the Human Relations Council for its efforts. He highlighted the historical significance of diversity and inclusivity in East Brunswick, noting the presence of many young people at the event and stressing the importance of unity in action.

Dr. Cohen critiqued mainstream media for its portrayal of a polarized society and urged attendees to focus on the positive examples of unity and cooperation present within the community. He cited local organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Feeding Middlesex County as examples of diverse groups coming together for common causes. Dr. Cohen concluded by encouraging the audience to shift their attention from negative narratives to the positive realities around them, asserting that East Brunswick celebrates diversity with “love and compassion.”

Dr. Jamie Falco from the Board of Education reflected on her upbringing in East Brunswick, quoting Whitney Houston to emphasize the potential of children to unite the community. She encouraged attendees to adopt a child-like perspective, recognizing the beauty in diversity. Dr. Joyce Bolley, the assistant superintendent of academics, further reinforced the event’s significance by describing it as a reflection of East Brunswick’s spirit and values. She called for empathy, equity, and listening to one another, stressing that compassion extends beyond the classroom into the community.

Veteran and Diesel Academy owner Nicholas Cabrera delivered a notable address, connecting past migrations to the present and urging the audience to choose kindness and build a beautiful community. He shared personal anecdotes from his military service to emphasize shared human experiences and the need for understanding across cultural divides. Cabrera concluded by advocating for a community built on intentionality and kindness, insisting that true strength encompasses emotional and mental resilience.