It's the Ki-Swaili word for unity, member John Green said, and it was organized here in 1994 by black men initially for black kids, to provide mentors for the fatherless boys of the African-American community in an effort to stop "the senseless loss of the lives of our young brothers." Umoja has opened its heart and door to kids of all colors; volunteers from churches, mosques, and service organizations work with children from all cultures in neighborhood centers and the public schools, giving true meaning to the name.

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