Here’s a brief slide show from the event:

Joining the ranks of 130 other US cities, including Dallas, Brownsville is working to get people involved in efforts that are fighting global poverty, saving lives from disease, putting children in school and increasing opportunity in poor countries around the world. The press conference was followed by a celebration event where local community, faith, business and elected leaders came together to sign a letter to be hand-delivered to their U.S. Congressman, Solomon Ortiz. Along with highlighting their advocacy work, the letter requests an in-person visit with the congressman to discuss ways they can support him as the U.S. keeps its promises to the millennium development goals.

Not surprisingly, that same morning Brownsville welcomed the new Mittie A. Pullam Elementary School into their community. In its mission statement, BISD acknowledges the importance of producing “well-educated graduates who can pursue higher educational opportunities and who will become responsible citizens in a changing global society…”

Lack of access to quality education is preventing millions of people from escaping the cycle of extreme poverty around the world. Most of the 72 million children still out of school are amongst the poorest and hardest to reach. More than half of them are girls. There couldn’t have been a more appropriate time to highlight the crucial role primary education plays in the success of a community, and the responsibility we all have to ensure every child has the opportunity to receive an education. In fact, it was Brownsville’s own Paulina Sosa, ONE member and sophomore at the University of Texas, who returned home to encourage her community to stand up and take action against extreme poverty back in 2009.

It’s exhilarating to witness the growing number of community leaders in the state of Texas who, like Brownsville, advocate for life-saving solutions to end poverty in our lifetime. If the spirit of Brownsville is any indication, we could see neighboring cities throughout South Texas join them in their advocacy efforts. We congratulate your leadership and we look forward to continuing our work with the city “On the Border, By the Sea.”

Pictured left to right: Cris Garza, Rotary Sunrise Member; Ruben O’Bell: Chief of Staff for State Representative Eddie Lucio III; Gustavo Morales, Catholic Diocese Representative; Connie Hensley, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Gloria Miranda, UTB-TSC Representative, Dr. Enrique Escobedo, Brownsville Independent School District Board Trustee; Roscoe Mapps, ONE Regional Director; Paulina Sosa, ONE Brownsville Head Coordinator; Edward Camarillo, Brownsville City Commissioner; Ankjaer Jensen, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Sergio Zarate, Community Liaison for State Representative Eddie Lucio III; Rose Gowen, Brownsville City Commissioner; Martin Arambula, Port of Brownsville Commissioner; Luis Cavazos, Past Rotary President; Pastor Brad Burkes, Brownsville City Chaplain; Charlie Cabler, Brownsville City

I am proud to announce the next city to join the ranks of ONE. Last week, Mayor Eisinger presented Andre Riley and his fellow students from ONE Pines Charter a proclamation declaring Cooper City a City of ONE.

The students were received by the mayor to a large round of applause as they introduced themselves at the City Hall meeting. ONE may not have been the only group honored that day, but thanks to Andre, we were the only group to give an acceptance speech. Andre flashed his famous charismatic smile and took the microphone away from the mayor to offer gratitude, explain the goals of ONE, and direct people to ONE.org to sign the declaration.

Cooper City now joins Pembroke Pines in the book of success stories as the students of ONE Pines Charter endeavor to light up Broward County, city by city, with these proclamations. Congratulations team, on a job well done!

-Danielle DePas, advisor to ONE Pines Charter

On Monday, October 15, Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas became the 123, 124, 125th “ONE Cities.”

While many may think of the Las Vegas Valley as “what happens here stays here” — Monday’s event proved otherwise. Our elected leaders stepped up to the plate and asked the over 2 million citizens of their respective cities to do the same.

Mayor Goodman of Las Vegas explained the reason he has become such an avid supporter, “I tell you that Las Vegas is a microcosm of the world – we welcome tourists and new residents from all over the world. We are doing our part today to add our collective voice to say enough is enough.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself!

-Megan Jones

Pictured above: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Clark County Commission Lawrence Weekly, Henderson Mayor Gibson, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce CEO Kara Kelley

The Chillicothe Urban Crime Prevention Initiative helped to host our first, perhaps of many, ONE CommUNITY day. The event included the support and help of many community partners: City of Chillicothe, Chillicothe Metropolitan Housing Authority, United Way, Chillicothe Fire Department, Ross County’s Sheriff’s Department, Red Cross, NAACP, YMCA, Ross County Community Action and many more.

My partner in comical cavorting Jarrod DePugh and I arrived at the South End Playground for the event at about 11:00am. We packed our J. J. Sunshine’s fliers and portfolios and set up a table in a nice patch of shade.

Things came together about 12:15p.m. and the event kicked off as the first band, Rose Lane Band, took the stage. The crowd grew steadily as the minutes passed happily. Rhythm Stitches were up next and it seemed like the reports of rain would pass us by as the day grew sunnier and warmer. Alas, it would not be so.

Only two songs into their set Zac McFadden and the Speak Easy Band yielded the stage to the day’s ceremony and declarations as Mayor Joe Sulzer and several other prominent officials took the stage to honor the achievements of some of the local youth as well as make the official proclamation to make Chillicothe a “City of ONE”. About halfway through the ceremony, to quote the song, “The sky ripped open and the rain poured through a gaping wound.” And I mean it poured like someone nicked an artery in the sky. But I’ll digress from that for a moment and describe the vibe of the event up to this point.

The vibe of community action and global awareness was palpable as varying secular and inter faith groups came together in the name of unity to inform, educate, and entertain. The ONE presence at this event was impressive ranging from “The Usual Suspects” to many ONE members I had yet to make the acquaintance of. The message of the ONE Campaign was so pervasive that ONE volunteer Nikki Cutright said “I’m having a hard time finding people that don’t know all about it” as she flooded the crowd with fliers.

So halfway through we had to call it a day and pack it in. Not ideal, but a successful day none the less. Perhaps that would have been the end of this tale, but that would be in a world where Davenporte didn’t exist. Dirk, Adam, Johnny, and Kyle came to play a show, and when these boys come to rock they will not be swayed by a little thing like the venue getting shut down. So with an offer from ONE member and owner of The Rockin’ Fish Café, Bev Yoakum, we moved the festivities to her faith-based venue in downtown Chillicothe.

What we ended up with at the Rockin Fish was a group of core ONE volunteers and supporters and the inner circle of Davenporte fans. ONE Chillicothe Grand Pooba Chris Cooper thanked all those involved in the day’s events (especially ONE member Tamra Lowe who was instrumental in making this event a success) and offered a bit of insight and inspiration in the words “We’re not a family because of the way our skin may look, but by the way we love one another.” And with that the boys from Davenporte cranked it up to 11 and rocked the socks off of that room. A great, intimate gathering of friends swaying to the sound was the perfect end to an imperfect but greatly illuminating day. I guess the old cliché adage holds true, Every Cloud.

-Joshua Ray, ONE member, Chillicothe, OH

I am glad to congratulate the State of Missouri and the City of St. Louis on joining a worldwide movement to recognize the challenges faced by the world’s poorest nations and people.

Without question, disease, famine, and poverty are rampant afflictions that take the lives of millions every year while depriving many millions more of a future full of their potential. Solving these problems is a common interest in our state, our nation and our world. Regardless of political convictions, religious upbringing or personal background, those who fight for the world’s less fortunate are bound by their commitment to service and their concern for humanity.

I have long worked on hunger issues as a member of Congress, and there is one incomprehensible contradiction in this fight: the difference between our ability to fight hunger and our efforts to do so. Eliminating this difference requires us to follow up on the pledges made today with actions that target the sources of poverty’s ills. We can seek solutions through public policy, by contacting our elected officials, in our personal lives, and with faith-based institutions.

The challenges before us are significant, but our response is full of a uniting promise. I appreciate Governor Blunt and Mayor Slay for joining the efforts of ONE, and I thank you all for raising awareness about global poverty.

-Jo Ann Emerson, Member of Congress, 8th District – Missouri

I’m sorry that the congressional schedule would not allow me to attend the ONE Missouri event yesterday. But please know that you have my complete support and admiration for your efforts.

Ghandi once said that “poverty is the worst form of violence.” He was right. We hold in our own hands, the power to prevent and treat AIDS, end hunger, erase the burden of crushing debt, and move millions from dependency to self-sufficiency.

I commend the ONE Campaign for uniting people from all faiths and backgrounds, from all over the world, in this holy mission to alleviate suffering and bring wholeness to humanity.

Thank you for making St. Louis a “City of ONE.”

With best wishes for your mission.

-Wm. Lacy Clay, Member of Congress, 1st District – Missouri

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Blunt, Slay unite with Oliver, et al as ONE

Gov. Matt Blunt and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay presented a united front against extreme poverty this morning, as both presented proclamations declaring that the city and the state share a ONE commitment to join the fight.

Both were featured speakers at a news conference at Washington University, where they were joined by several dozen students and other ONE volunteers.

KWMU (NPR)

Missouri and St. Louis join fight against poverty

ST. LOUIS, MO. (2007-09-06) The state of Missouri and city of St. Louis are joining an effort to bring attention to global poverty.

The world-wide movement is called One: a Campaign to Make Poverty History.

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay signed on Thursday becoming the ninth state and 120th city to do so.

Student Life, The Independent Newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878

Governor, mayor commit to fight global poverty

This Thursday morning, Governor Matt Blunt and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay convened on the Washington University campus with other prominent members of the St. Louis community to declare their solidarity with the ONE campaign in the fight against global poverty and disease.

“As Americans living in the twenty-first century, we enjoy an unprecedented level of freedom and prosperity that really is unequaled in the world,” said Governor Blunt. “But prosperity and freedom are not the only qualities that distinguish us. There is also a can-do attitude that leads more American to service than any other nation in the world.”