One Community USA: Building Trust Between Police and Community Through Barber Shops and Dominoes

One Community USA's Mission

• 🎯 One Community USA is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2015 focused on building trust between police officers and the communities they serve.
• 🤝 The organization operates two primary programs: a jail re-entry program and the "Shop Talk" initiative.

Jail Re-entry Program

• ⛓️ This program works with inmates in county jails throughout the region, offering a one-week pre-release re-entry class.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Staff, comprised of retired police officers and veterans, visit inmates weekly and provide an 18-month mentorship program upon release.

Shop Talk Initiative

• 💈 Shop Talk engages with 101 barber shops and beauty salons in African-American, Latino, and Asian communities across North Texas.
• 🏘️ These shops are often located in neighborhoods with high poverty rates where trust between law enforcement and residents may be low.
• 👮 Retired police officers collaborate with law enforcement leaders to enroll shops in the program, fostering monthly visits and community events.

Community Engagement and Education

• 💬 Police officers visit the shops monthly, hosting events with lunch to facilitate conversations between law enforcement and community members.
• 📚 The program also offers classes within the shops on topics such as financial literacy, domestic violence, and human trafficking to educate and enhance community safety.

Upcoming Dominoes Tournament

• 🏆 On June 18th, One Community USA is hosting its first annual Dominoes tournament, featuring teams from four barber shops competing against four police officer teams.
• 🌟 This event aims to further build connections and is planned for expansion throughout the region in the coming years.