Blog Contributor:
Roscoe Mapps
Roscoe Mapps is ONE’s Field organizer in California. Before joining ONE, Roscoe worked across the country in the ’08 presidential primary elections, and a spent a number of years as a corporate recruiter. Roscoe’s volunteerism goes back a number of years and he truly enjoyed the volunteer work he did in 2001 with the Catholic Charities Refugee and Empowerment Services Division in Dallas. Originally from Michigan, he lived in Texas for the majority of his life and received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science at Texas A&M University in College Station. Roscoe’s notable love for baseball started at the age of five. He’s a serious Tigers fan, has the utmost respect for those defending the “hot corner,” and tries not to take it too personally when football season rolls around.
Jun 6th, 2011 4:10 PM UTC
By Roscoe Mapps
Mar 4th, 2011 1:48 PM UTC
By Roscoe Mapps
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If you’ve ever had a chance to meet Pastor Rick Warren, I’m sure you’ve familiar with his legendary bear hugs. Well, Ryan and I got ours — along with a full dose of encouragement yesterday during Catalyst West. Catalyst West is a gathering of young West Coast leaders who seek to learn, worship and create together with a momentous energy to passionately pursue God. Last year, Eugene Cho, founder of One Day’s Wages, a ONE partner, spoke at this incredible event.
This year’s speakers, with the theme “Take Courage,” have so far included civil rights leader John M. Perkins and CNN Anchor and Special Correspondent Soledad O’Brien. Pastor Rick was excited to see us with ONE gear and said he loved and appreciated our work. We thanked Pastor Rick Warren for his longtime support for ONE Sabbath and we encouraged people of faith to help raise awareness. Churches have been incredible ONE partners over the years, and this coming April 10th they will once again demonstrate the power of their voice on Lazarus Sunday. More to come at Catalyst West in Southern California…
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Mar 2nd, 2011 5:41 PM UTC
By Roscoe Mapps
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ONE members across the country are always looking for opportunities to speak directly to their members of Congress about the fight against extreme poverty and preventable diseases. Some great volunteers took advantage of Senator Scott Brown’s book tour last week and were able to catch up with the senator four times at his stops through Texas and California!
In Houston on Thursday, Senator Brown told the volunteers that (he had worn his ONE T-shirt earlier that very day on his morning run! Then, the following day in Simi Valley, California, Senator Brown signed his book, “To the ONE Campaign. Keep the faith.” Thanks to all our volunteers who supported ONE out in the community and thanks to Senator Scott Brown for giving ONE such a warm welcome as he traveled around the country!
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Feb 25th, 2011 12:29 PM UTC
By Roscoe Mapps
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“I wore it yesterday when I was running,” said Senator Scott Brown while visiting a North Texas bookstore. Long-time ONE member Latha Nehru took a few moments out of her day to stop by and say hello the senator during his visit to Dallas. In a brief conversation, Latha asked Senator Brown to rally his fellow senators to restore funding for the international affairs budget. Latha emphasized the incredible return our US investments have made in fight against HIV/AIDS. He replied that he will do what he could. It means a lot to us when members of Congress take the time to listen and strongly consider and support our issues.
Right now, you can take the opportunity to be heard by your congressperson. Sign the petition and make a quick call to contact your ONE regional director. Thank you Senator Brown and Latha for discussing the issues around extreme poverty, and successful investments that have save millions of lives and stabilize communities each day.
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Dec 3rd, 2010 5:45 PM UTC
By Roscoe Mapps
Paul Turner, Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr, Evelyn Komutale, Roscoe Mapps
It was an honor to observe World AIDS Day in Los Angeles with Save Africa’s Children (SAC) at West Angeles Church of God in Christ. Save Africa’s Children is an extraordinary ministry, started by Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr, providing direct support and care to orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty and war throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean.
Since 2001, SAC has assisted more than 400 orphan care programs in 21 African nations, reaching more than 200,000 AIDS-affected children. SAC is among the first and largest African-American founded organizations meeting the needs of vulnerable children in Africa. Joining us in observation was SAC President Paul Turner, gospel singer Ami Rushes, and Outreach To Africa Founder Evelyn Komuntale. Our wonderful evening was touched with inspiration through praise and worship, video, education, tribute and a call to action.
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Oct 28th, 2010 11:22 AM UTC
By Roscoe Mapps
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Come November 3rd, our elected California senator will represent the largest single-state constituency of ONE members around the world. And since we enjoy an international stage here in the Golden State, quite often our conversations don’t reflect on whether, but rather how we tackle extreme poverty and preventable disease around the world.
Whether you live in NorCal or SoCal, or identify yourself as a progressive or conservative, the facts remain the same. In less than a decade, support for the Global Fund has helped save 5.7 million lives, while 2.7 million lives have been spared from HIV/AIDS because of the U.S. initiative known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
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Oct 25th, 2010 10:39 AM UTC
By Roscoe Mapps
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Thursday night’s Maroon 5 concert provided ONE Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas members with another great opportunity to share success stories around extreme poverty and preventable diseases. Thank you, Maroon 5!
ONE members with Maroon 5 in Texas
Thousands of inquiring concert-goers gave ONE members the opportunity to share the fact that smart, life-saving U.S. investments in vaccinations, clean water and agriculture have transformed communities in impoverished places in Africa, especially when resources are directed at women and girls. Communities daunted by a long vicious cycle of poverty have become healthy, stable and productive nations – just like our Bill and Melinda Gates spoke about this week during our Living Proof Project presentation in London.
Raised in North Texas, I can personally attest to the passion, caring hearts and engaging minds of residents. So, it wasn’t surprising how engaging our attendees were with our ONE members during the show. But recruiting more than 400 new ONE members once again demonstrates the determination of ONE members to raise more voices.
Fort Worth and Dallas ONE members are phenomenal advocates in their communities. They are building relationships with their churches, schools and elected leaders to inform everyone of the incredible progress the world has made in saving millions of lives. In fact, we recently had a meeting with Congresswoman Kay Granger from Fort Worth, where she took time to talk about ONE’s international life saving efforts, and even tape a special message for ONE members.
Stay tuned for more stories from the road and from ONE members everywhere!
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