​Last Thursday, July 11th, William Rivas, Executive Director of C.O.C.O.A. House, and Adonis Richards, Vice President of the C.O.C.O.A. House Board, visited the New York State Assembly Building for an interview with NYS Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbra. The interview highlighted   C.O.C.O.A. House and the upcoming  3rd annual Common Unity Cup. They brought along the infamous Common Unity Cup, in which they took pictures, signifying its reach to the state Assembly. Viewers can find this interview interview at OpenStageMedia.com, Spectrum Channel 1303, and Verizon Fios Channel 38. The interview is on Monday - Friday between 11 am and 6 pm.

Will and Adonis took pictures of the cup on the building's stairs and other exciting locations. One such was during the interview with Santabarbra, where it sat front and center. The interview was to highlight the new C.O.C.O.A. House teen empowerment center and discuss the Common Unity Cup. Will and Adonis discussed some new initiatives with Santabarbra, including upcoming programs for the Teen Empowerment Center. The three also discussed new ideas for the Common Unity Cup and where they occur this year. They also discussed the importance of the event and how it brings the community together. “ There’s an opportunity here for our policemen and fire department to work with community members.” William explains, “It creates a sense of accountability for both sides to find ways to work together.” With four locations and four different sports, the Common Unity Cup promises to bring fun, family, and community together.

Another interview highlight was some new ideas implemented in the Common Unity Cup this year. One such is a social media challenge where participants can post themselves with a Common Unity Cup T-shirt to gain points for prizes this year. The goal is to add a gamifying element to help people to feel more connected to the events even when they're not happening. This initiative is in an attempt to broaden the reach of the Cup, bringing more interest and incentive for community members to attend and see what’s going on.
 
With a great interview under their belts, Will and Adonis have set their sights on July 23rd, the inaugural date for the 3rd annual Common Unity Cup. The first day is kickball at the park on Campbell Road in Schenectady, New York. It will be a day of excitement and fun. Stay tuned for more!