Organizers of a community walk set for Saturday in Dillwyn intend to create unity, form bonds and forge greater town pride.

The walk will take place at 9 a.m. at the Dillwyn Pocket Park on Main Street.

According to the event flyer, the walk is set to include brief talks from area business owners and influential members of the town, a snow cone maker, balloons, live music, a step team performance, and it all culminates in a walk through the town.

The walk is being organized by the Town of Dillwyn and The Love No Ego Group, LLC, based in Charlottesville.

Love No Ego Founder and President Freddy Jackson said he reached out to the town with the idea of the walk. He was able to present the idea to town officials, who gave him the greenlight in holding the event.

Love No Ego is an organization that encourages community interaction, meaningful growth and bridging racial and ideological divides through area events.

Jackson, who also gives motivational addresses, said he hopes the event will give Dillwyn and Buckingham residents the opportunity to know and celebrate one another. 

“I’m praying that this event will encourage us to consciously choose communication over conflict, love over ego and love over fear, allowing us to see the joyous opportunity in unity, making us a very trustworthy and connecting community,” Jackson said. “I want my hometown folks to walk away saying, ‘I really love this place. I love my home.’”

Jackson said he hopes to raise funds for Buckingham County Public Schools or an area youth organization.

He said funds can be donated at LoveNoEgo.com and a T-shirt with the Love No Ego logo and “Buckingham, VA” will be sold the day of the event. 

Maurice Carter, lead pastor of Crystal Cathedral Ministry in Dillwyn and director of Call Me Mister at Longwood University, said the ministry and the Love No Ego Group have joined together to support the event.

Carter said he hopes the event will create an environment where people can communicate respectfully and learn about one another.

“It’s really all about community involvement,” Carter said. “A call for civility for all over the country, but more so just here in Central Virginia. Encouraging young people, encouraging community leaders and citizens to be civil with one another, to start commencing and maintaining communication with one another. That’s really what I think it is all about.”

Karen Sue Moss, who serves as vice mayor of the Town of Dillwyn, said the event reflects the goals of Dillwyn and Buckingham of maintaining a united community.

“Buckingham has a very strong, tight-knit community, and these types of events are things that help keep them,” Moss said. “As bad as things can get sometimes … we want our community to stay strong. These events are important in doing that. It’s important that everyone from every walk of life come out and just support this and be a part of the community that they live in.”

Moss said Jackson and the Dillwyn Town Council have similar goals.

“(He) truly believes in the cause that he’s representing, and we as the town council find that cause to be a good one,” Moss said.

To learn more about the Love No Ego Group, visit LoveNoEgo.com.