A start-up magazine is bringing its big-picture ideas and can-do attitude to Unity. In a first-of-it’s-kind partnership, Unity is teaming up with the founders of North Star Family Matters magazine to create a Web site dedicated to the emotional and spiritual health of families. When the site is live, visitors to www.UnityFamilyMatters.org will find content aimed at both parents and children, including an entire interactive realm called Wee Wisdom Village.

“We’re accomplishing something neither organization could have done on its own,” explained Unity President and CEO Charlotte Shelton. “This is an example of a collaborative partnership that will help define Unity’s future. We want to find like-minded partner organizations so we can move Unity’s message out and into the world reaching younger generations.”

According to a recent Nielsen survey, kids ages 2-11 spend nearly 9.5 hours online each week. That’s one reason a Web site seemed to be the perfect fit for Unity’s future-focused initiative. And while countless sites in cyberspace appeal to kids, very few of those web destinations deliver an empowering message like the voice of North Star Family Matters. The message was right on target for Unity and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. “We were just in the process of reaching out to Unity churches across the country when Unity called us about partnering on the website!” said the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Wendy Garrido. The magazine was launched in January 2007 as a regional publication and, just over a year later, the staff of three took North Star Family Matters to national distribution.

The new Web site, www.UnityFamilyMatters.org launches in June, offering content for parents and kids. For adults, the site offers articles, interactive forums and parenting tools on how to inspire and nurture kids and their unique spirits. When children visit the site, they enter an imaginary realm called Wee Wisdom Village where they’ll make decisions and learn lessons while playing original, interactive games, as well as have access to empowering articles for kids. “We hold a vision of kids making healthy choices because they have high self-esteem, value themselves and others, and know that they have something important to contribute to the world,” said Garrido.

A Unity Web site targeting kids and parents had beenin the works for nearly a year, but it wasn’t until the North Star Family Matters teamed up with Unity that the ball really got rolling. Within a matter of months, the content began to take shape. And now, in the final stages of development, the site’s designers are preparing to go live. By working in partnership, Unity has been able to realize this vision. “Both organizations have an emphasis on being ever more conscious about how we live our lives, and both organizations were founded to help people discover more of their innate potential,” Shelton said. And now through a joint Web site, both organizations are working to change lives and empower children.

Contact:
Tom Taylor, Manager of Communications
816-251-3565
taylortc@unityonline.org