Last Friday, I went to my local GAP in Washington, DC, on Connecticut and 17th. As I walked through the door, the Product (RED) display was the first thing I saw – and not just because I was looking for it. I took a picture with my phone so you could see. They must be selling 25 different products: shirts, jackets, scarves, bags, and even Converse shoes. And, contrary to popular belief, they aren’t all RED.

The staff at the store was really excited about the launch. I was approached twice… they asked me if I knew anything about RED. They told me it was different, that part of the money from the sale would be used to help fight global poverty. It’s exciting to me to think that they’ll be asking that same question to each of their customers.

I decided on the “Inspi(red)” shirt, it cost $28 dollars. The woman who rang up my order told me she felt that selling RED products was going to add some meaning to her daily life. As she handed me my shirt, she said “this shirt is going to provide a week worth of AIDS medication to a person in Africa.” I think that’s much cooler than “would you like your receipt.”

The Loma Linda event was successful in effectiveness and in numbers. The Stand-Up count was 126, and the attendees were definitely engaged.

At the event, the ONE Stand-Up pledge was read by a band leader from “Kairos Praise Band,” who introduced a speaker from the United Nations Association. All of the speakers were motivating, and touched on the subjects of global health, extreme poverty, Africa and the importance of letting your representatives know that their constituents care about these issues. The ONE Vote TV Spot was also a huge hit and definitely captivated the audience.

A couple of ONE Redlands volunteers stopped by to show their support and to let me know that 461 people stood up at their Redlands event. There is definitely momentum building in CA District 41.

A highlight of my night was my parents showing up to support the event. They were dressed in the Stand-Up colors (red and black) and let me know how proud they are of what I am doing.

This week’s installment in the ONE Music series is “Better,” a song graciously donated to us by the The Qualia.

A project of Lars Casteen, from Charlottesville, VA, and collaborators, The Qualia pulls from electro-industrial, krautrock and country influences.

Listen to “Better” on the ONE Podcast Page

“It’s getting easier every day to pick and choose the things you want to see and hear. Individuals have more power than ever to find new perspectives and limit their exposure to perspectives they want to avoid. It’s important in this changing cultural landscape to make sure that we don’t use this power to simply filter out the harder facts of existence, but instead to reach outside of ourselves to gain understanding and provide support for people in need. The ONE Campaign is a heartening sign that individuals will step up in this rapidly shrinking world, and that people are ready to contribute their attention and energy to lifting up those who have gone unheard and unheeded. I’m proud to be able to contribute to that cause in whatever way I can, especially if that means using emerging channels of communication to encourage others to do the same.”

Lars Casteen
TheQualia.com

Today I am happy to say that we had a fantastic turn out for our Stand-Up event in Redlands, CA. Including men, women, and children, 461 people stood up with us against poverty. A fantastic turn out for our community.

At the event, we talked about the Millennium Development Goals, passed out Stand-Up materials and asked people to sign the ONE Voter Pledge and the ONE Declaration.

As a volunteer with the ONE campaign since May 2006, I have been exposed to so many fantastic people and events. The field organizers, like Stephanie Handler and Anne Batchelder, are
fantastic. Through them I have met other fantastic individuals who work for CARE and Bread for the World, I’ve shaken hands with my favorite rock star, and I’ve even met my local Representative, Jerry Lewis. I would never have been able to do things like that without the ONE Campaign.

Thank you!

ONE members held over 650 house parties and events in all 50 states yesterday! (We picked up Wyoming in just the nick of time. Phew!)

All in all, this was the most simultaneous events held by ONE members to date. Today we’re asking our house party hosts to email us how many people stood up at their events. We should have an official count on that soon.

Thank you everyone for all your work. Keep looking for more posts from our events in the coming days.

I just got back from the Stand-Up in downtown Orlando. I’m having a hard time even knowing where to begin. I’m feeling a little emotional about the great response from attendees, the new people I met, and just the general feel of the entire event.

If there’s anything I’ve forgotten below, it was surely captured by the film crew from a local production company, as well as professional photographer, Nicole, who was in, under, and around, every moment of the event.

We started at 5 PM. Everyone was welcomed by ONE volunteers and heard the music of “The North,” an awesome rock band who promotes ONE wherever they go. People signed the ONE Voter Pledge, signed the ONE Declaration, and to volunteer locally – and then received a ONE wristband, as a thank you for attending the event.

Everyone was very excited about taking part in the footprint art station – where everyone’s footprints were traced and designed. The prints symbolized the Stand-Up, and the activity gave everyone something to do while they enjoyed the music and listened to speakers. Big feet, tiny baby feet, bare feet, shoes, sandals, all took part in the over 150 feet of stand-up art!

Before we announced each speaker, we let everyone know how much time was left before the Stand-Up: “45 min left until Stand-Up”… “30 min left until Stand-Up” etc.

We were joined by:

Natasha McIntosh with North-South Marketplace and Fair Trade for a Greater Orlando Coalition.

Joe Perry, from RESULTS, who provided fantastic information about the “political will to end hunger” and told us ways to take action through the RESULTS website.

I then followed up with information about the ONE Voter Pledge and reminded people, “that with just weeks to go until the election, it’s time to contact Congress.” (We made it easy for them by providing phone numbers and questions to ask their candidates.)

We really had a lot of fun with our next eight guests…the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Volunteers from local aid groups in the community each wore a T-shirt representing a goal of the MDGs (that I hand-made the night before!) Information was read explaining the Millennium Development Goals by ONE Orlando volunteer Jody Miller, followed by each volunteer introducing their goal to the crowd.

Next up was Derreck Kayongo of CARE International. Now you’re really missing out if you haven’t had the opportunity to hear Derreck speak…or should I say sing! Derreck led an African song entitled “Mwoyoni Mwoyni” – which means “In my soul” – we were surprised that the audience started dancing, and repeating Derrecks words – joined in by the impromptu accompaniment of the conga drummer from the band “The Fore Fathers…. a local Orlando band who donated hours of their time to support ONE… .www.myspace.com/theforefathers.”

Derreck and I then engaged the audience with a little bit of trivia – asking questions of the audience. People answering correctly received a ONE T-shirt, wristband and pin. One of the questions was “What is Millennium Goal No. Four?” Many adults yelled out the answer: reduce child mortality. When asked why this goal is so important, the most moving answer came from a little girl, maybe 8 years old. She came up to the stage and said “because we are precious little creatures.”

The next significant moment of our event was inviting all the ONE volunteers up to the stage to take part in receiving a proclamation from Commissioner Phil Diamond, on behalf of Mayor Buddy Dyer, proclaiming Orlando a “City of ONE.” After this proclamation, I reminded all of the volunteers that this is being received – because of all of the hard work the volunteers have put into making this campaign a success in Central Florida for the past year and a half.

The microphone was then handed over to Mr. Charlie Stuart, a candidate for the House, who made a great statement about “holding the government accountable” for the promises they’ve made regarding extreme poverty. He then asked for a ONE Voter Pledge and a pen, signed the ONE voter pledge and encouraged everyone to do the same. (We had invited all of our local representatives, from the left and right, but he was the only one who was able to make it.)

Then, the time we were all waiting for: We asked all of our guests to gather together as close as they can to the stage. ONE Orlando volunteer Edgard Robelo asked everyone to sit or kneel, and he read a statement about making poverty history.

I then asked everyone to “Stand-Up.” While everyone stood, I read the ONE Voter Pledge, and after each sentence, everyone cheered.

We then asked everyone to hold up their white band, and join hands for a moment of silence. I was moved to be part of such a great experience: over 260 people all connecting for a common cause. Some people were in tears. I thanked everyone for joining us (again) and encouraged them to continue working with ONE.

Then we asked them to turn around and enjoy the first viewing of the ONE Voter Ad. Following the ad, people talked to their neighbors, enjoyed the rest of the evening’s music, and took a last look at the Stand-Up art.

And then we packed it all up.

We felt good knowing we have spread the word a little further today. There was a true sense of family among the community at our event. I am so proud to represent ONE, and am honored to be surrounded by such committed partner organizations.

And to the ONE Orlando Volunteers: You were the ones that really made this happen. You guys rock! Love ya, Joan.

Last night, nearly 500 people came to our event in downtown Chicago! I can’t tell you how great it is to see so many people in a packed room standing up against poverty.

There were three speakers – Fr. Aengus Finucane, Princess Zulu, and Shayne Moore. They were all excellent – totally inspiring.

Everybody enjoyed the ONE Vote TV Spot a lot and the stand up with the pledge was really exciting.

It was overall a really great event. I’m heading back to DC now. Please look for a more complete post, with photos, soon!

Well I just wrapped up the Louisville Stand-Up Against Poverty event and I am excited to be able to tell you that 120 people decided to Stand-Up and be counted during this Day of Action!

One highlight from the event was 12 middle school students from St. Francis Catholic School who took the stage with a 20-foot banner that read “May Peace Prevail On Earth” and talked about how middle school students here in America can be invaluable in the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty around the world.

Our Interfaith Service portion of the Stand-Up was awesome too! We had Kentuckians from all walks of life coming together to show that fighting global AIDS and extreme poverty is something all Americans can do together.

We ended the night with a challenge for our attendees. We asked them to not only sign the ONE Voter Pledge, but also to talk to their friends and family members about ONE and about how they can use their voices to help make poverty history!

I just stood up against poverty with George W. Bush’s niece.

That is to day, I just got back from the Georgetown University Day of Action Stand-Up event. As an alum of the University and staff member of the ONE Campaign, I couldn’t have been happier to attend.

When I arrived, roughly 75 people were already gathered around the microphone for the outdoor event. All of us were handed ONE fact sheets and wristbands and a “Stand-Up Against Poverty” banner covered the brick wall beside us.

The speakers included Father Gonzales, a Georgetown Jesuit and professor, and, as already mentioned, Lauren Bush, niece of George W. Bush and model for Tommy Hilfiger and Abercrombie & Fitch. Lauren Bush spoke of the emergencies abroad and urged us to stand together against extreme poverty.

I’m glad I was officially counted as ’standing up’ against poverty today – and I’m looking forward to posting blog posts tonight, and over the next few days, about the ONE events and house parties that are taking place all around the country today.

Tomorrow is the Day of Action to Stand-Up Against Poverty – something that people in Chicago have been talking about for almost six months.

I’m now a ONE Field Coordinator in DC, but I stepped back into my previous position as the Chicago Field Organizer, and worked with faith groups, community groups, campuses, ONE partners and volunteers, to pull this event together.

At this point, we’ve done everything we can to make sure it’s successful. The venue and program are set, the speakers are prepared, the flyers have been posted all across Chicago. Now is a time to step back and see what happens.