Brian Sweeney has a full-time job and a busy home life. Yet, the 33-year-old Jonestown man still finds time to volunteer about 20 hours a week for the ONE campaign.
When he’s not working as a warehouse technician for Sherwin-Williams or spending time with his wife, Michelle, an English teacher at Northern Lebanon High School, and 3-year-old daughter, Grace, he’s trying to further the cause of the ONE campaign….
“I’m doing this because of an Irish rock star and a little girl named Grace,” Sweeney said, referring to Bono, the lead singer of U2 and a ONE advocate, and his daughter.
“What took off after that was being a dad, being a parent,” Sweeney said, “and starting to realize some of the unfair things that face kids and children every day. It makes me angry. Where you live should not decide whether you live.”
“I think of her (Grace), and that’s what gets me out of bed in the morning,” he said. “That’s what keeps me up until 3 in the morning reading online about whatever legislation is on the Senate floor.”
Last Friday College of Charleston held its first event as an official ONE Campus. Despite less than perfect weather and a bomb threat that essentially closed down half the campus, we talked to and signed up more than 200 students who expressed serious interest in our campaign to end poverty and AIDS.
From the very first mention of bringing the ONE Campaign to the campus, I, a student ONE Vote ‘08 staff member, have been constantly surprised by the interest fellow students have shown. Hopefully, we as Cougars can set an example for other colleges around the state and continue to make good things happen!
“Several years back, I went to the White House to visit South Carolinian Mike McCurry when he was Bill Clinton’s press secretary. He had a tough job at a tough time. It was at the height — or should I say, the depth — of the Monica Lewinsky madness. Here’s my column from back then.
Friday, he came to see me at my office, so now we’re even. He was in town on behalf of the ONE campaign. He was brought in by Adam Temple — formerly of the John McCain campaign — and Dave Wilson, the group’s Faith Community Director.
On the video, he gives an overview of what the ONE campaign is about.”
September 24th, 2007 at 10:01 am | posted by Field
The East Polk Interagency Association put on a forum about poverty and education with keynote speaker Senator John Edwards. ONE set up a booth at the event and when Senator Edwards arrived we gave the presidential candidate a ONE band right before he posed for a quick picture and delivered his speech.
Afterwards the ONE Campaign signed up new members, passed out literature, water bottles, and bands. Many people were excited about the cause and eager to learn more. As we signed people up we talked with them about ONE and the importance of raising their concern to the presidential candidates. ONE received a great response from Senator Edwards and the patrons of the event. Another success!
Natalie Sugira, ONE’s Iowa Outreach Coordinator, helped kick off Iowa State University’s political action week by talking to students about her life experiences and the power of civic engagement.
Held on Iowa State University’s central campus, students were invited to stop by for an affordable lunch, political discussion, and to hear various speakers discuss issues important to modern society. ONE staff and many student volunteers set up a table and talked with students as they were getting out of class. While Natalie spoke, ONE members walked around with clipboards and ONE bands signing up people in the audience. The next day there was a great article about Political Action Week in the Iowa State Daily featuring quotes from Natalie’s speech as well as a great photo of ONE members. Check out the story here.
September 21st, 2007 at 3:00 pm | posted by Steve.Wilson
President Bill Clinton, Bono, Chris Rock, Shakira, Alicia Keys — not a bad way to spend your Saturday night. On September 29, ONE will join them and MTV for a special event urging young people to get aware and get active in the work to end extreme poverty.
The star-studded event will take place at the historic Apollo Theatre in New York City as part of the Clinton Global Initiative, a three-day conference overflowing with world leaders, CEOs, celebrities and luminaries hosted by the Clinton Foundation.
Dubbed as “CGI and MTV present: Giving—Live at the Apollo,” the talk between Presdient Clinton, Bono and the stars will be moderated by MTV News and webcast live here on www.one.org, as well as think.mtv.com. A special on the day’s events will be broadcast later on MTV.
The forum will focus on the energy, the idealism and the powerful message young people can give to the movement to lift millions of people out of poverty. The event will feature organizations and initiatives that are empowering young people by giving them the tools and inspiration to change our world.
But there will be more than just talk at the event: Alicia Keys and Shakira will perform live, and ONE plans on making some noise of its own! Come back to ONE.org to check out a live webcast Saturday night to see it all.
September 21st, 2007 at 1:42 pm | posted by Virginia Simmons
Former Bush/Cheney Financial Strategist, Jack Oliver III, made his presence felt here in South Carolina. On Thursday evening, at the first annual Palmetto Family Council Straw Poll, Mr. Oliver addressed a crowd of over 500 participants on the issues of the ONE Campaign. His words obviously moved the crowd as they later began to approach our booth at the venue. Most people had never even heard of us before, however, before they left we made sure they would remember ONE’s name and know what it stands for.
Today, Friday, Jack Oliver made his way around the City of Columbia participating in interviews to ensure that our message will continue to spread. Mr. Oliver also teamed up with the former Press Secretary of both the State Department and most notably of President Clinton’s White House Mike McCurry while addressing members of the University of South Carolina’s School of Mass Communication and Broadcast Journalism.
There, Mr. Oliver stated that the ONE Issues are “key to our national security” and that our Campaign is equally important because “it gives people the opportunity to reach out and say they are trying to help save people’s lives.”
We very much appreciate the fact that Mr. Oliver took the time to help extend our message throughout our state. His work will
leave a major imprint in our Campaign here in South Carolina.
September 21st, 2007 at 12:24 pm | posted by ONE.Partners
One line on a property deed can be the difference between poverty and hope for a woman and her family.
I know, because for years I have worked to help women in my country, Nigeria, build businesses so they can feed their children and give them the education they deserve. But there are many things standing in these women’s way.
For example, in some places in the developing world, there is only one line for one name on property ownership forms. This one line may not seem like a big deal, but it works to systematically deny a woman property rights, blocks her from getting the credit she needs to build a business, and forces her to fight for her home if her husband dies—because that one line is for a man’s name.
The solution is as simple as adding another line so that a husband and wife may both own their family’s land.
Right now the Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act (GROWTH Act) is moving through Congress. This crucial bill will change the way the United States gives aid to help draw that line and give women the resources they need to provide for their families.
The story of the GROWTH Act is a story of the power of ONE. Earlier this year, the bill didn’t have the congressional leadership that it needed to move forward. So ONE members started taking action.
In April, ONE members and partners teamed up to deliver hundreds of letters to Representative Ros-Lehtinen in Florida. Then in May, a Texas ONE member visiting Washington, D.C., delivered thousands of letters to Senator Hutchison. After ONE members voiced their support they both agreed to be lead sponsors of the bill.
I want to send my thanks to Senators Durbin and Hutchison and Representatives Lowey and Ros-Lehtinen for their strong support of millions of women like me in the developing world. We need champions like them, and like the members of the ONE Campaign.
Sometimes even well-meaning programs do not reach women as they should because they do not take women’s needs into account. The GROWTH Act is important because it listens to women, who are our best hope for ending world poverty. Please listen to our needs and take action today.
Thank you,
Shade Bembatoum-Young,
Member, Women’s Edge Coalition
Executive Director of ASSEED
Lagos, Nigeria
September 21st, 2007 at 10:08 am | posted by Field
Democratic strategist Mike McCurry spoke to an enthusiastic and inquisitive group of college Democrats from the University of South Carolina and Columbia College at a local pizza place last night. McCurry stressed the importance of action by the United States and its citizens to fight the spread of AIDS and global poverty. He also placed a special emphasis on fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals.
The students asked many good questions, including how they can help with the ONE Campaign. McCurry received a hearty applause and the students thanked him for coming to South Carolina. The guests signed our declaration and many are very eager to volunteer. Several students are already brainstorming about future ONE events for their schools and organizations.
We were also pleased to greet ONE Vote ‘08 SC Ambassador and Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer who saw our sign at the resturant and pleasantly surprised us by stopping in to say hello.
Today, Mike McCurry will headline a University of South Carolina community event with Republican strategist ONE Board Co-Chair, Jack Oliver.
The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, volunteers, members and coalition partners.
The content of each post and each comment represent the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ONE Campaign or ONE Action. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any posts expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
Last Friday College of Charleston held its first event as an official ONE Campus. Despite less than perfect weather and a bomb threat that essentially closed down half the campus, we talked to and signed up more than 200 students who expressed serious interest in our campaign to end poverty and AIDS.
The East Polk Interagency Association put on a forum about poverty and education with keynote speaker Senator John Edwards. ONE set up a booth at the event and when Senator Edwards arrived we gave the presidential candidate a ONE band right before he posed for a quick picture and delivered his speech. 
Afterwards the ONE Campaign signed up new members, passed out literature, water bottles, and bands. Many people were excited about the cause and eager to learn more. As we signed people up we talked with them about ONE and the importance of raising their concern to the presidential candidates. ONE received a great response from Senator Edwards and the patrons of the event. Another success!
Democratic strategist Mike McCurry spoke to an enthusiastic and inquisitive group of college Democrats from the University of South Carolina and Columbia College at a local pizza place last night. McCurry stressed the importance of action by the United States and its citizens to fight the spread of AIDS and global poverty. He also placed a special emphasis on fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals. 
We were also pleased to greet ONE Vote ‘08 SC Ambassador and Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer who saw our sign at the resturant and pleasantly surprised us by stopping in to say hello.
