The Unity Center wants to brighten the lives of children who have suffered because their needs and safety weren’t considered. The mission of TUC-Cincinnati is to improve family and community communication. Effective planning should be developed to provide communities a voice in the strategies that are executed in those places.
The Unity Center of Cincinnati (TUC-Cinti; TUC) is 501c3 non-profit, as acknowledged by the State of Ohio and the Internal Revenue Service. TUC has been in existence since May 2018. TUC had humble beginnings proffering services to other non-profit organizations providing Family Engagement services. The services TUC provides are getting families involved in positive activities and positive reinforcement. It’s through family that children gain resilience and reduce negative influences. In September of 2018, CEO Deloris Reese became CERTIFIED as a Peer Recovery Coach. Thus leading the company to start serving families in a novel way; walking with those with addictions and mental health conditions while offering support to their families. In 2020, The Unity Center embraced families serving extended members of their families and communities. It was during this time that Kinship Care became a larger focus for the Unity Center. The focus caused the Unity Center to train in trauma-focused care as a way to support the families they served. While there was a slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our staff continued to serve families through advocacy and group support meetings. Recently, TUC began offering a Wellness Recovery Action Plan to provide families and individuals with the opportunity to map out their desires and obstacles and then plan with well-thought-out solutions. We believe that the combination of services we offer will change the outcome for many people who are currently suffering.
So who are the individuals leading this charge?
Anna Burrage- Founder and Lead Social Scientist
As the Founder of The Unity Center of Cincinnati and resident of the community, Ms. Anna Burrage is a Family Engagement Coordinator who is looking to employ the acumen she has accrued over a lengthy career in the field of change. A tried and true veteran, Anna took to the field immediately upon graduation and spent three decades cultivating diversity in the workforce for Ford Motors. After cultivating her skills there, she stepped into the realm of Kinship care. For the past two years she has been a Peer Support Specialist. Anna truly values this work because she is able provide a foundation for those that have been traumatized, and for those that love and care for them. In reference to the W.R.A.P curriculum, she exclaimed, “The WRAP plan will be the tool I use to help families stabilize, mend, and prepare for the future.”
Our Board
Deloris Reese – Co-Founder and CEO
Tiffany Burns – Former Assistant Principal
Mrs. Tiffany Burns was born and raised in Cincinnati, and is a University of Colorado-Boulder graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Philosophy. From college, she joined Teach For America (’16) and pursued her passion to work with children and help educate the next generations. She has been licensed to teach Pre-K to 3rd grade, as well as licensed as a Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialist. She obtained her Master’s in Elementary Education from John Hopkins University- School of Education in May of 2019, and sought her ED.d from The University of Dayton prior to the birth of her two children. She previously taught third grade reading and Accelerated Reader (AR) at Village Prep – Cliffs for three years, second grade ELA at GALA for a year and a half, and worked as an Assistant Principal of Special Programs for Ohio Virtual Academy, where she built strong relationships with families, the community, and was able to share her passion for learning with her students and co-workers. Now, while working with her own children from home, she is seeking to further her knowledge and understanding of the needs in the community and apply her skills from the education realm.
Daniel Burns Esq. – Attorney
Daniel Burns has a diverse background that includes roles as a Master Tax Advisor at H&R Block, nonprofit manager, and junior accountant. He has also worked as a Freelance Attorney specializing in tortious interference claims, appellate briefs, and Ohio’s Open Meetings Act. During law school, Daniel provided legal services to nonprofit organizations. He is now an associate at Maguire Schneider Hassay, LLP where he advises clients on Landlord-Tenant matters. As a former AmeriCorps volunteer and 2023 Euclid mayoral candidate, Daniel continues to be actively be involved in community service. He is a member of the Greater Euclid Kiwanis Society and the local block grant advisory committee, and he is the Board President for the Euclid Community Development Corporation (EDCOR). He feels his skills could be greatly applied to the needs that a program like The Unity Center of Cincinnati seeks to provide for the community. When not working, you can find Daniel enjoying Euclid attractions with his wife, two children, and three dogs.
Edward L. Greene – Security Director
Edward Greene is a progressive Security Director who takes charge of security services teams, is backed by a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Paralegal Studies. He has 20+ years of experience with the Cincinnati Police Department, Central State University Police Department, Wilberforce University Police Department, and served as the Public Safety Director, Interim Police Chief for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and currently serving as the Assistant Director of Safety and Security for Columbus City Schools.
His strongest capability is to foster meaningful relationships with the public and other law enforcement agencies in the surrounding area. With a high focus on providing mediating services in adverse situations and gathering prosecution evidence, he has been very successful during the years that he has spent in various police departments. He believes in being a visible presence within the community that he serves which is an excellent way of deterring crime and acquiring the public’s trust. Another strength that he has drawn on considerably is his ability to develop community knowledge which would help him identify individuals who are at high risk of being involved in criminal behavior. Equally effective has been his capability of diffusing volatile situations by providing keen direction to the security personnel under his supervision. When not actively working, he enjoys weight training, and spending time with his wife, and helping his parents.