Raising Hope in Atlanta

Mar 18th, 2009 12:56 PM UTC
By Field

Atlanta ONE celebrated International Women’s Day twice in one week –- once at sold-out theatres during the A Powerful Noise Live event on March 5th and again on March 11 at an event at the Mason Murer Gallery to raise awareness about women and poverty.

Atlanta ONE had a unique opportunity to team with the Enough Project and local group Dialogue for an amazing day of events to raise awareness about women and poverty around the world, and especially in the Congo. (And what better time to introduce this week’s action to support President Obama’s budget request for State and Foreign Operations than at such an event?)

Women and girls in the Congo are not only subjected to some of the most vicious acts of violence on the planet right now, but they are also being forced out of villages and into the bush, where they have little access to very basic necessities such as food, water and clothing. For many, true shelter is not even an option.

Special guest speakers included activist Candice Knezvic and Enough Project co-founder and author John Prendergast, who wrote Not on Our Watch: The Mission to end Genocide in Darfur, and Beyond, a New York Times bestseller and NAACP non-fiction book of the year co-authored with actor Don Cheadle.
(Both also spoke to students at Georgia Tech at 4:30 PM, as part of the university’s IMPACT program. The more than 200 students in attendance learned ways to take action — by spreading awareness and introducing the basics of activism – calling and writing our congresspeople! Dialogue sold “End the Silence” T-shirts, which have become a popular item among celebrity activists and the rest of us, alike!)

Stephanie Jolluck of Dialogue Start One and Atlanta ONE’s Nancy Bauer spearheaded the evening event –– called a “friendraiser” –– at the Mason Murer Gallery. Local celeb Holly Firfer emceed; Conundrums African drummers performed; a DJ spun Afro-pop; food and beverage were provided by local vendors; and everyone who walked in the door had the opportunity to learn more about ONE. Prendergast took the stage for another activism-booster and was joined by Ben Kalala of the Congolese Society of Atlanta. There was a silent auction to benefit the Enough Project, and everyone left the evening feeling empowered and ready to take action.

-Kristi York Wooten, Atlanta ONE Volunteer

TAGS: From ONE Members, Maternal and Child Health, ONE