Strategy

Unity embodies the idea that we are all interconnected and strongest together - a lens that applies equally to humanity as it does to technology. As the African proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." On the contrary, much of the technology we use today was built upon the ethos to "go fast and break things," without a long-term view of its unsustainable impacts on our people and our planet. Simultaneously, much of the modern technology designed to connect humanity has ironically led to further division and isolation behind our screens.

As Maya Angelou said, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

We believe we can all do better!

Unity's Theory of Change

Today, software companies go to great lengths to protect their intellectual property, including their software's code. While there are understandable reasons for this, it can also be wildly inefficient and ineffective. Users are dependent upon software companies for upgrades, bug fixes, and customization, and without visibility into the source code, users can be vulnerable to errors they cannot see. But what if we shifted this paradigm and started working better together to safely increase transparency in our technology and data? Building a public economy of open computing, with the right governance in place, can help lift communities. Open computing is a collaborative approach to problem solving, which requires greater community consciousness and acknowledges that we are stronger together.

Unity's Approach

Building upon decades of experience with open source technology, Unity sees the potential to break down barriers for under-resourced communities and address the fragmentation of the social sector with open-source technologies that are free, transparent, scalable, and customizable. But none of us can do it alone. It will take many of us acting together to bring about this change and foster an open source ecosystem that, with intentional focus on governance and ethical usage, supports the longevity and wellbeing of our communities.

As Albert Einstein once said, "We cannot solve our problems today with the same thinking we used when we created them." Unity is dedicated to ensuring future generations can better embrace and integrate open standards in technology for the benefit of society. With this, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and experience with today's youth by designing open-source curriculum and working with partners who can help us go farther together. Continuing our long-standing commitment to education and supporting the St Louis community of which we are a part, we are focused on supporting Pre-K through 12 students in the St Louis region, while maintaining an emphasis on open and scalable learning platforms.

How You Can Help

"Give up to grace. The ocean takes care of each wave 'til it gets to shore. We all need more help than we know." -- Rumi

We are looking for partners at the intersection of education, character and leadership development, and open-source technology to help us on our journey. Rather than promoting the use of technology for technology's sake, Unity is committed to the governance frameworks and educational resources that will holistically and sustainably foster an open-source ecosystem that is equitable and accessible to all. If this sounds like the kind of ecosystem you want to help foster, we invite you to join us!