The Unity Community Center of South Jersey, known as the Unity Community Center (UCC), is a nonprofit organization founded in Camden, New Jersey, in 1983 by Robert Dickerson and his wife Wanda that serves southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia area. The organization provides arts and music programs to at-risk youth in the communities served by the organization. The organization operates many musical ensembles, choirs, and dance troupes that have given performances throughout the United States, with the group’s Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble being a focal point of the group’s work and activity.

The organization has stated regarding its emphasis on providing outlets for at-risk youth in Camden that “Camden, New Jersey is considered the most violent, dangerous and one of the poorest cities in America. However, out of Camden comes the most loving and accomplished young people and the best kept secret in America.” ^{1 2}

Background

The Unity Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community center founded in 1983 that promotes the performing arts, visual arts, and literary arts by hosting a variety of programs, musical troupes, and a karate team with the goal of providing extracurricular activities to at-risk youth in Camden, NJ. The organization was founded by Robert Dickerson and his wife Wanda Dickerson. ³

Activity

Unity Community Center operates many performing arts programs, which include the Universal Pasha Karate School; Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble; UPK Pasha Generals; UCC Praise Dance Ministry; UCC Cloud Nine Creative Dance; Dean Tree and the UCC Music Ensemble, which includes the UCC Royal Brass Band; and UCC Little Jazz Giants. ⁴

The Unity Community Center also operates a program called the Universal Kwanzaa Alliance, a program that aims to “encourage and inspire our people of African descent and especially our wonderful religious communities to realize the values and beauty of celebrating and learning about Kwanzaa.” The UCC’s African Dance and Drum Ensemble performed for Kwanzaa founder Maulana Karenga, and the community center has hosted Kwanzaa events since 1984. ⁵

Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble

The Unity Community Center’s most successful performing arts program is its Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble, which the community center describes as “One of the greatest presentations of African Dance, Drum and Culture in the United States of America.” The ensemble or parts of it are made available for hire to many types of community performances or events. ⁶

The ensemble has performed for NJ governor Phil Murphy, at the United Nations in New York, at two NAACP political conventions, and for many other political organizations. In 2010, the ensemble performed for the World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures, also known as FESMAN, in Senegal. ⁷

1. “Our Mission.” Unity Community Center. Accessed June 12, 2023. https://www.unitycommunity.com/our_mission.htm
2. “Home.” Unity Community Center. Accessed June 12, 2023. https://www.unitycommunity.com/
3. “Our Mission.” Unity Community Center. Accessed June 12, 2023. https://www.unitycommunity.com/our_mission.htm
4. “Our Mission.” Unity Community Center. Accessed June 12, 2023. https://www.unitycommunity.com/our_mission.htm
5. “Universal Kwanzaa Alliance.” Unity Community Center. Accessed June 12, 2023. https://www.unitycommunity.com/universal_kwanzaa_alliance%20365.htm
6. “Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble.” Unity Community Center. Accessed June 12, 2023. https://www.unitycommunity.com/Universal_African_Dance_Ensemble.htm
7. “Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble.” Unity Community Center. Accessed June 12, 2023. https://www.unitycommunity.com/Universal_African_Dance_Ensemble.htm