The Old Dominion University community gathered on Global Health Day yesterday to host their congressman, Glenn Nye of Virginia’s 2nd district at a ONE Town Hall on global poverty and American foreign policy. There were no empty seats to be had in the Board of Visitors room as guests from outside the campus community also joined the students and faculty for this important panel discussion. It seems passion about fighting global poverty knows no limits of age or background in the 2nd district – a trend we see with ONE members all over the country who truly come from all walks of life. Graduate and undergraduate students, fraternity brothers and Model United Nations award-winners all came together to bring this event to campus!

ODU President John R. Broderick kicked off the event with a warm welcome to Congressman Nye, the panelists and guests. The Congressman began by saying that he owed his interest in international humanitarian issues to the organization represented by his fellow distinguished panelist, Brigadier General Ron Sconyers, President and CEO of Physicians for Peace (physiciansforpeace.org). Rep. Nye first traveled abroad with his father on Physicians for Peace missions and saw firsthand global health challenges in the developing world. General Sconyers, acknowledging the flaws in our own American system, emphasized the dramatic discrepancy between health care in United States and health care in poor countries. He also pointed out that medicine can heal across language, religious, and cultural barriers. Congressman Nye shared his experiences from his days with the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development. Both the General and the Congressman said that development aid is not only a moral imperative, but in the interest of national security for the United States. General Sconyers learned from diplomacy as a doctor that it is difficult to hate someone who saves your son or daughter’s life.

The students asked the panel how they could take action to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease. International Studies graduate student and ONE member John Applebaugh, who represented ODU students on the panel, eloquently encouraged his peers to stay informed and involved in these issues by becoming an advocate. He pointed to his advocacy work with ONE and cited one.org as an excellent resource to learn more about the issues and how to take action.

Matthew Bartlett, ONE Senior Manager for Field Development and Training, reminded the audience that we could only have success by reaching across the aisle to work together on issues that are not Republican or Democrat, but human. Congressman Nye applauded Matthew and ONE for finding common ground for bipartisan champions of increased and better aid to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB. He committed to continued efforts to collaborate with members of both parties on these issues.

Congressman Nye’s staff told us that he insisted on finding time in his schedule while in district to participate in this panel on the ODU campus after having interacted with ONE members in his district on several different occasions. This panel discussion was the first of its kind for ONE and a direct result of efforts by ONE volunteers to reach out to their congressman and engage him in these issues. A little advocacy goes a long way – keep up the good work and continue to keep fighting for the world’s poorest people at the forefront of the discussion! We thank Congressman Nye and his staff for making it a priority to have this important dialogue with his constituents during his very busy time in district – and we look forward to other congressmen following his example and hosting similar town halls in their home districts! GO ONE VA!

-Lauren Conn