This morning, Gov. Richardson made a campaign stop in Concord to meet with voters and sign copies of his new book. I went with ONE member James Leon on behalf of the poorest of the poor and to make sure that Gov. Richardson knows that Granite State voters care about saving lives in Africa.

James, a retired teacher from Concord, always wears his ONE pin – at the NH debates, different political events, and when meeting candidates – as a small way to show his support for the ONE Campaign.

We made our way to Gov. Richardson’s table where he immediately recognized our ONE pins. “ONE!”, he yelled out. “I love you guys”. I was able to briefly talk with Gov. Richardson and he agreed that our nation should lead the way to stop deaths from malaria. He even signed my book, “To Matthew, the ONE man”.

You do not have to be an expert to use your voice for the poorest people. It doesn’t cost anything to speak up for the world’s bottom billion. All you have to do is care, and find a way to make your voice heard. From writing a letter to the editor, to tabling at public events, to speaking with the candidates, to wearing a ONE band or ONE pin – we have the ability to let our leaders know that the United States should make a great effort to save lives and lift millions out of extreme poverty in Africa and the world’s poorest countries.

-Matthew Bartlett, ONE Regional Organizer