When Senator Barbara Boxer of California announced she would chair the new Senate Foreign Relations Committee on International Operations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women’s Issues back in February, ONE members jumped on the opportunity to meet with her San Francisco district staff.

This new subcommittee assignment offers a tremendous opportunity to shine the light of day on a very overlooked issue. Too often, we turn our eyes away as women are persecuted, abused and treated as second-class citizens. But even the most conservative historians have noted that when women are given the freedom to live up to their full potential, society as a whole flourishes. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Congress and with Secretary Clinton to stamp out violence against women in the world.

– Senator Boxer, February 9, 2009

Sam, Trisha, Lori, Joel, Debra, and I continued this conversation with Senator Boxer’s Special Projects Director Hilary Bishop Pearson (3rd from the right in the photo). With a background in international affairs, Hilary was able to connect with our issues from experience which made our conversation very productive.

First, we expressed our thanks to Senator Boxer for supporting the Kerry-Lugar Amendment which restored the $4 billion increase in the foreign assistance piece of the budget. We then gave a brief account of ONE’s mission, work and growing networks across the state. Next, Lori seamlessly transitioned our discussion to the Millennium Development Goals highlighting the 8th goal – the importance of US leadership in developing Global Partnerships while prioritize development and accountability. While Joel spoke on the 1961 Foreign Assistance Bill reform, Sam emphasized the strong faith-based partnerships being built through ONE and the Interfaith Millennium Development Goals Coalition in San Francisco and Los Angeles – each supporting the MDGs and Foreign Assistance reform.

However, it was the area of Women and Children where made the strongest connection with Senator Boxer’s staff. Trisha and Debra were eloquent in their presentation of underdeveloped countries’ struggle with health, education and sanitation. They particularly stressed how these three issues disproportionately affect women and girls around the world. Senator Boxer’s staff seemed excited to open the line of communication with local ONE members and asked if we would continue to keep their office informed of the issues supported by over 250,000 ONE members in California. Absolutely!

ONE members in California have electrified the state with their events and congressional visits in San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego, L.A. and many other districts in the state. This week we’d like to encourage everyone to request a meeting with your member of congress or get in touch with your closest Field Organizer to see how you can help make extreme poverty history.

-Roscoe Mapps, California Organizer