Unity Community Mediation Team
“By The People, For The People”
For Immediate Release CONTACT: Ian D. Bethel
April 28, 2025 612 801 0034
Celebrating UCMT’s 20 years of progress
UCMT Holds Paths to Peace Event with Community Partners
Unity Community Mediation Team will join with its community partners in a “Paths to Peace” Community Healing and Prayer event at the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, George Floyd Square, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29th.
“This gathering will be a heartfelt reflection of unity and support for the community, still recovering from trauma. Healing will come when we really listen to the community that is hurting,” said Pastor Ian D. Bethel, Chair of the Unity Community Mediation Team (UCMT) and Co-Chair of the Police Community Relations Council (PCRC). There will be progress updates by Ian D. Bethel, and Cynthia Wilson, President of NAACP Minneapolis and Steve Floyd from The Agape Movement. Minneapolis City Council Member Andrea Jenkins will follow them with her own remarks. Following these statements, there will be prayer led by Pastor Curtis Farrar, Pastor Jerry McAfee, Bishop Howell, and Pastor Paterson.
Unity Community Mediation Team is creating a new model of direct community leadership in public safety reform that all other cities and towns can look to as they face their own public safety challenges. Rooted in our MOU with the City, we are building Community Based Sites with trusted and established community organizations where community members can get involved in mentoring new MPD recruits, utilize Neighbors Helping Neighbors mediation service, provide feedback on new policies proposed by MPD as they update their policy and procedure manual, file a complaint of police misconduct through the City’s official complaint process, and access many other opportunities. UCMT will use these Sites to connect with all the communities and neighborhoods in the city and bring all those interested in the transformation of public safety in Minneapolis to the table. We have created this bold new model and are building mutually respectful relationships with MPD and Effective Law Enforcement For All (ELEFA) the court monitor for the settlement agreement between the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the City of Minneapolis. Everything UCMT does is always open to the public.
At 5:00 p.m. attendees will march in solidarity to Phelps Park at 39th and Chicago as we celebrate our community’s strength and spirit. Teams of Minneapolis youth will put on a flag football exhibition game. Food, treats and family activities will be provided by our community partners and will be available to community members who attend.
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UCMT-Unity Community Mediation Team, 4301 First Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409
Ian D. Bethel, Chair 612 407 7660 [email protected] unitycommunitymediatonteam.us
REFORM, TRANSFORMATION, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONSEQUENCES
IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE COMMUNITY
