GREATER GOOD
UNEARTH & EMPOWER COMMUNITIES
Common thread of
A S A YOUTH GROWING UP in the Bay Area, Barak Bomani fondly recalls his mother baking elaborate holiday pies and freely giving them away to strangers — just to see them “smile and be happy.” Miles away, a young Sara Bomani also reflected on a similar scene of serving Thanksgiving dinner with her family to homeless neighbors in downtown Milwaukee. “If there was a need, my parents were
was born in 2013. Its mission is to create pathways to college, employment and entrepreneurship for Compton, Calif. youth though engagement with STEM education and the arts. “Unearth means to discover something hidden, lost or kept secret,” Barak says. “Everyone has a gift to offer the world. It is our honor to co-educate with people toward unearthing those gifts and empowering not only themselves, but their families and neighbors.” This dream blossomed
after Sara volunteered to teach a weekly arts class at a local elementary school in Compton that lacked an art program. A graphic designer by trade with a master’s degree in arts education, she has led over 400 hours of community
service, including the painting of more than 70 community murals at several Compton public schools. “Barak is a dreamer,
and I’m the one that helps make our dreams happen,” she says. After the duo participated in conversations to pinpoint the community’s immediate
needs, education and literacy were at the top of the list. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, recent statistics show that almost 20% of Compton residents live in poverty. Barak, who has 25 years of educational experience, points out statistics indicate that only 62.2% of Compton’s youth graduate high school as compared to 79.1% of Los Angeles County (LAC)
ready to help,” she says. “I grew up in a house that served. That’s what we did.” When the couple’s paths aligned, it was no surprise that they’d eventually form a nonprofit organization with that “common thread of giving back.” Unearth & Empower Communities (UEC)
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IN YOUR CORNER ISSUE 12 | 2022
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