In an age of division and discord, Sara Ting stands as a beacon of unity. As the President and Founder of World Unity Inc., this visionary leader, TEDx speaker, and diversity educator has spent nearly four decades advancing equality and building bridges between communities by promoting self-awareness through the Sun Poem. What began with a simple poem written in a personal journal has blossomed into a global movement for equality and inclusion.

What began with a simple poem written in a personal journal has blossomed into a global movement for equality and inclusion.

A Poem That Changed Everything

In 1978, Sara Ting wrote a poem in her personal journal. Little did she know that those words would alter the course of her life and touch countless others. The poem begins with a question – Are you greater than the sun/ that shines on everyone: Black, Brown, Yellow, Red and White/ the sun does not discriminate. Seven years later, in 1985, she shared what would become known as “The Sun Poem” with a friend who worked in advertising.

The Moment Everything Changed

Persistence led to a pivotal meeting with Arthur Barnes, executive director of the Urban Leagues in New York City. When Barnes asked why she was so committed to this cause, Ting’s answer came straight from the heart. “She was so moved by it that she displayed the poem on billboards throughout Boston,” Ting recalls. That simple act sparked a citywide multimedia public service campaign promoting equality and racial harmony. The poem appeared on billboards, television, and mass transit, reaching thousands of Bostonians with its message of equality and inclusion.