Change begins with an idea.

So here’s mine. When people ask me why I’m so passionate about unity, I say it’s simple, “I believe most Americans are tired of all the division in our country. We want to change things, come together, but we don’t know how to overcome the negative forces constantly working to divide us.”

While these forces are strong, WE are stronger. Let’s take back our power by being positive change agents - UnityMakers - in our local community. Building bridges and creating transformative change around racial equity, climate justice, equitable education, political systems, and much more is needed to bring about true unity for all Americans.

I believe in the power of love and unity because I’ve seen how it brings about sustainable, positive change. Raised in Montreal, Canada in a multi-cultural home, my parents showed me the power of bring very diverse cultures and ideas together to overcome fear and division.

My father, Hassan Ahmed, was born in India. At age twelve, he and his four brothers lived through the violent 1947 Partition of his country. He experienced up close and personal the destructive forces of fear, division, and discrimination on his beloved community. My mother, Francette Ahmed, also overcame unimaginable hardships raised in an orphanage in Switzerland during WWII. She chose love and kindness, not just to survive, but as a way to rise above fear, anger, and division.

Watching my beautiful mixed-race parents (now married for 60 years) put faith in their love to overcome financial hardship and discrimination teaches children a lot. They eventually immigrating our family of five to America when I was eight, and through their journey, I learned my most important life lesson: our differences are truly our strengths. When we honor and unite these differences, anything is possible.

I believe so many of us, so many everyday Americans, are yearning to unite, but we’re struggling among all the louder voices of division. While I live with my own family now in the San Francisco Bay area, I’m no different than many of you who want to come together. I too wondered if and how it would happen.

Until I ran for my local school board during the November 2020 election. As a candidate promoting UNITY in a deeply divided school district, I got to meet people with very different views. Standing in the middle of two “sides” allows you to see the love in everyone’s hearts. And all the untapped common ground.

While the election is over, and the real work of UnityMaking begins in my community, so does it in many other communities. My journey in the political arena inspired me to transform our Yas4Unity campaign from a ‘message’ to an idea-sharing movement. Think of it as a ‘Yas4Unity tent’ - a place where everyone is welcome to come, learn and share ideas that sow the seeds of unity.

Just imagine if more and more of us everyday Americans focused on unity and sharing positive, transformative ideas? Would the forces of division and hate really have a chance?

Take the first step by feeling the power of unity with this Unity Tour.