Atlanta is ONE

Jan 5th, 2009 4:58 PM EST
By Field

(a.k.a. Your January pep talk from AtlantaONE):

With so much to do in our busy lives, it’s easy to “put off” that next big step, but sometimes all it takes is a little persistence. Take our AtlantaONE founder and co-leader Nancy Bauer, for instance…

After rubbing shoulders with Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin (who graciously spoke at our joint ONE/CARE Stand UP event this past October), Nancy thought it would be a good idea to contact her a few weeks later for a City of ONE proclamation. Week after week she emailed the mayor’s office. Finally - a response. And not just a response, but a whole affair, complete with City Council members and a photo op with the mayor at City Hall on January 22.

And all this from one of the most prominent Mayors in the country… Just because we asked.

ONE members and advocates from a number of nonprofit groups are doing everything possible to make sure their elected officials focus not just on domestic events, but on all the issues that affect the poorest people around the world. We’ve done a lot of momentum building over the past few years geared toward 2008. But now that it’s 2009, I want all ONE members to know that our work as advocates is really just beginning and will go on long after Obama is sworn in as president.

It’s not too late to make your city a CITY of ONE, or to engage other activist groups in your town or state in joint efforts for important upcoming days– from International Women’s Day March 8 to World Malaria Day April 25, and beyond. When it comes to spreading awareness about eradicating poverty and improving the lives of the world’s poor, please don’t ever hesitate to ask - whether it’s your neighbor, your mayor, or your senator.

We’re all ONE.

-Kristi York Wooten, Atlanta ONE Co-leader

TAGS: ONE, ONE Members