Having a Ball
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Last Sunday, Adrienne and I spent an unforgettable evening at the African Diaspora Inaugural Ball, hosted by the African Diaspora for Change. The gala benefited two great causes, the Batonga Foundation and First Book. The entertainment included an all women’s Brazilian drumming group, an energetic East African Dance troupe, a live South African band and performances by Les Nubians and Grammy Award winner and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Angelique Kidjo.
I was really moved by the attendees’ commitment to the ball’s theme, “I Am the Change: Educating, Empowering and Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders.” The organizers of the ball have been – and still are – working very hard to ensure that their voices are heard by those in power. As many of their members are new to the political process, I’m once again inspired by the possibilities that exist in America, and reminded of the power that each of us, as ONE members, yield when we raise our voices in unison.
On Monday, Adrienne, Laura and I had the honor of attending two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Inaugural Balls to celebrate the inauguration of our 44th president and honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his national holiday. A portion of the proceeds went to charities providing scholarships for HBCU students. Laura attended the larger of the two events, the 2009 HBCU Presidential Inaugural Gala at the National Postal Museum. Co-hosted by the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), the Thurgood Marshall Fund, and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), presidents and chancellors of HBCUs, Members of Congress, corporate and philanthropic leaders, academic professionals, students and alumni communed to celebrate the national holiday and the inauguration of our new president. Spirits were vibrant and celebratory at both events. We encourage all HBCU students to participate in ONE Campus Challenge!
-Ranna Lanagan
Picture: With our new friends, Asnakech Teklemariam, ONE member Meskerem Abebe, and Yaine Teklemariam
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The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with frequent contributions from volunteers, members and partner organizations.
The ONE Blog updates readers daily with the latest in global development news and analysis and what ONE members and our partners are doing around the world to influence world leaders in the fight against global poverty.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE or ONE Action. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
January 22, 2009 at 2:56 pm
proud of you guys. How do you go about joining?
January 24, 2009 at 7:29 pm
This is wonderful and Bono is truly making a difference. We are all one! And this is not a cliche and I have proven it scientifically in 9 books in 1994 in one year I have written. The only way to true and lasting peace is to overcome hunger in the world and the only way to do that is if we truly believe that we are all one!