Unity festival returns to Cambridge, focus on supporting local youth

CAMBRIDGE, Md.- “Each block was a village. We took care of each other. You could go to someone’s front door and ask for sugar or ask to use their phone. We’re bringing that same order back to Pine Street,” Adams said.

Issac Adams grew up on Pine Street in Cambridge. He says he got into his fair share of trouble when he was younger but managed to turn things around.

He now owns both Groove City Mini Mart & Groove City Saloon. “It’s what I’m here for, opportunity. That’s something I never got, so I’m going to give them that opportunity as long as I’m here,” Adams said.

He’s also creating change in the place dear to his heart. Saturday, he hosted the third annual Unity Day festival. The day included live entertainment, a variety of vendors, food, and bouncy houses for the little ones.  A big focus of the day was on bringing the community together.

Adams says the event also giving kids like Edward Conaway a chance to showcase their talents. “When I first started coming to Cambridge, he was the one who inspired me to dance. He told me to keep going and eventually I’d get noticed. He said he’d eventually put me on that stage. Now look, he’s putting me up there,” Conaway said.

“I’m dancing and I want the kids to see me dance and take a piece of that. Hopefully they’ll dance too.”

Pine Street is one area of the city that has a high prevalence of crime, but Adams hopes events like this can help change that narrative. ” Many people walk up to Pine Street every day and sit on the benches, listen to their music, dance, and just vibe. It doesn’t matter what they do, it’s their daily life and their comfort zone, Adams said.

Adams also tells me the day gives many in the area a chance to experience something special that they otherwise wouldn’t. “They see a celebrity in their neighborhood, they see a stage, they see opportunity. It’s about them seeing it so they can grab it,” Adams said.