Uniting for Safe and Strong Communities in South-Central Pennsylvania
Open to Pennsylvanians in Adams, Dauphin, Franklin, and York Counties committed to working across differences to build community health and resilience. This program builds on the 2024 Uniting for Action program in the same four counties, and the other work we have been doing in Pennsylvania since 2019.
Program Overview
Uniting for Safe and Strong Communities (USSC) was a non-partisan civic participation program that brought together an ideologically, racially, generationally, and geographically diverse cohort of 25-30 Pennsylvania Uniters, residents of Adams, Dauphin, Franklin, and York counties, to build relationships, strengthen collaboration skills, explore different views on key issues, and work together with community organizations to address urgent challenges facing these communities.
For more information, see our Program FAQs.
Program Goals
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Strengthen individual collaboration skills
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Increase understanding among people with different perspectives and experiences
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Build relationships across differences and decrease “othering”
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Reduce acceptance of violence as a means of resolving conflict
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Address local challenges in collaboration with community organizations
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Strengthen community cohesion and resilience
Projects with
Community Partners
Uniters in Adams, Dauphin, Franklin, and York counties implemented projects in collaboration with community partners to address urgent challenges facing these communities. Our projects make a difference — see examples of previous projects completed by Uniter teams in South-Central Pennsylvania here.
Program Impact
Program impacts, based on analyzing baseline and endline survey data among Uniters, include these positive changes:
Relationships: There was a 35 percentage point increase in Uniters who said they feel comfortable having friends who are in a different political party.
Rejection of political violence: Respondents who disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement, “If elected leaders will not protect America, the people must do it themselves even if it requires taking violent actions” increased 17 percentage points.
Intellectual humility: Respondents who agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “My perspectives may be wrong” increased 21 percentage points.
Trust: Respondents who strongly agreed that they trust that people have good intentions increased 14 percentage points for people with different political views.
Community Partners
Program Schedule
All in-person gatherings featured a workshop and other activities such as small-group discussions, visits with community leaders, a shared meal, and/or a walking tour.
May ‘25
PHASE I
Build Relationships and Learn Together
Kick off program. Build relationships across divides and engage in constructive dialogue.
May 3 | 4PM | Adams Co.
June - July ‘25
PHASE II
Plan for Action
Analyze economic issues and design projects in collaboration with community partners.
June 7 | 10AM - 4PM | Dauphin Co.
June 28 | 10AM - 4PM | York Co.
July | Date and Location TBD by County Team
August - October '25
PHASE III
Take Action
Implement projects and gather with Uniters to share successes and challenges.
Aug. | Date and Location TBD | Day at the Park
Sept. 6 | 10AM - 4PM | TBD
Oct. 4 | 10AM - 4PM | TBD
November '25
PHASE IV
Communicate Results and Sustain our Action
Plan for sustainability of projects after the end of the program and share results with the community.
Nov. 15 | 10AM - 4PM | Franklin Co.