Interview with Robert J. DeSena, founder and president of Council For Unity, 12/16/14

My group members, Zeb, Caleb, and I, met with Bob DeSena at John Dewey High School. We learned about how Council For Unity has helped thousands of people by providing extracurricular activities and guidance counselors. Before CFU came to John Dewey High there was a high amount of violence. Bob DeSena told us a story about how violent the school was before he and his organization helped: One day, two groups of friends were walking toward each other in the hallway. A member from one of the groups stepped on a different group member’s shoes and they all stopped and stood across from each other. Even though it was an accident, they started fighting. More kids joined the fight and some were beaten up and stabbed. Bob told us about how much crime has decreased ever since CFU arrived. We also learned about how CFU helped people in gangs. CFU goes around the world, helping people in jail, school, or at home get their life back together. One particular story that has stuck with me was when a twelve year old boy was pushing his two year old sister on a swing when a car came by shooting all around. He survived but his sister died and from then on he joined a gang to avenge his sister. CFU helped him while he was in jail and now he is more optimistic and when he gets out of jail he will get a job and provide for his family. Council for Unity stands for four things: fuse (family), unification (togetherness), self esteem, and empowerment. With theses morals the CFU can turn any emotionless gang member into a person valuable to society.

Zeb, Austin, Caleb in front of John Dewey High School