A month ago I received an email from a ONE Member named Gina Kim who simply said she wanted to do a small local event that brings attention to those living on less than $1 a day, and she wanted to do it with ONE. Well, I’d never met Gina before in my life, we lived over 450 miles away from each other, and I didn’t know she was also a ONE member. So, of course I said, “Sounds Great. Let’s do it!” – I called her and together we mapped a game plan over the phone.

Immediately Gina got a couple of friends together and they built a small coalition of people in her community. After just a couple weeks of spreading the word, Gina’s coalition included volunteers from church groups, student groups, local entertainers, a Starbucks and a shopping center called Amerige Heights Town Center. They scheduled a date and a set an important goal: Talk about extreme poverty, the solutions, the successes, and talk to as many people as possible in ONE business day! – AND WHAT A DAY IT WAS!

While 9 different performers drew crowds to the ONE stage, 15 volunteers went to work to start conversations. Computers were set up to show video clips of the work thousands of ONE members are doing around the country. Volunteers wearing ONE shirts handed out wristbands, recruited new members and started global poverty conversations throughout the day. It turns out that Gina’s short email to me, over a month ago, resulted in nearly 1 new ONE Member every 2 minutes that day! — And twice as many conversations! Gina said they were all so proud after their event and in her most recent email, Gina expressed: “..[in] the spirit of reverence toward becoming socially relevant… [a] community found itself chiming into a social agreement to make poverty history!”

ONE members like Gina are getting in touch with their local organizers all the time. Together we are finding creative ways to educate Americans on the smart solutions to fight extreme global poverty. Get involved with us! If you’re not sure how to get started contact your local field organizer, OR you can find a local event in progress.

Thanks for the email Gina – maybe ONE day we’ll get a chance to meet in person!

-Roscoe Mapps, ONE California

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of meeting with Rep. Susan Davis, Congresswoman from California’s 53rd District. The event was sponsored by the Women’s Equity Council of the United Nations Association of San Diego. After giving a great speech about the role of woman in Congress and her latest trip to Afghanistan, I was able to speak with her briefly about ONE and the work we do.

not only was she gracious while hearing about our cause but the congresswoman was very engaged. The outcome was better than I could have expected! Not only did I get a green light to contact her during summer recess, Congresswoman Davis accepted and wore the ONE wristband. Thank you Congresswoman! And special thanks to Cynthia Kowalski for inviting ONE to be there.

-Josh McMahon, San Diego ONE member

As we celebrated fathers throughout the Bay Area, families were also stopping by a ONE member’s house – Lori Saltveit – Sunday afternoon to participate in her BeadforLife party. As a partner of ONE, many members have had the opportunity to attend BeadforLIfe jewelry making parties all across the country. Lori’s party allowed families to take time out of their Father’s Day events to help mothers in Uganda.

Since 2004, BeadforLife has provided sustainable income for Ugandan women and their families by selling their beautiful jewelry, handmade from recycled paper. The women are HIV+ mothers, refugees from a brutal civil war, former prostitutes and other impoverished people. Before joining BeadforLife, all of the members struggled to get by on less than $1 a day.*

These Ugandan entrepreneurs have been supporting their families and helping their economy by creating beads to then be sold separately or as pre-made jewelry. Once the beads are made, some of them are then shipped to Colorado and distributed throughout the U.S. to volunteers interested in helping Ugandan women sell their products. On Sunday, $654 worth of beads were purchased by a dozen adults (and some kiddos too)! I was there to witness Lori continue the conversation about ONE and the difference ONE and our partners are making through intimate events such as these. As we answered questions, ONE visitor even commented, “Wow, you really are making a difference.” Lori simply responded, “We’re trying to!”

You can visit the BeadforLife website to read the background stories of all the Beaders involved. You can begin hosting your own ONE event with your friends, and check out the rest of the list of ONE’s partners on our website.

-Roscoe Mapps, California Organizer

*BeadforLife – Eradicating Poverty One Bead at a Time Factsheet Q3.08

If you’ve followed some of our blogging from California, then you’re probably aware of thirty special students at Andrew P. Hill High School who back in September decided to become anti-poverty advocates in their community through ONE. For nearly 9 months their events have raised poverty awareness in San Jose. From weekly tablings and info sessions, to creating local partnerships and writing both local and US representatives, these students have increased awareness around their community. And as their local movement grew it was inevitable community leaders would hear their voice.

San Jose Councilmember Kalra attended multiple ONE events this year and quickly recognized the special movement these students were creating in their community. Through his leadership, these amazing students were Commended by the Mayor and City Council for their extraordinary grassroots work. Having also heard of ONE’s work in San Jose, Representative Zoe Lofgren sent staff from her office to support and thank the ONE members for their efforts.

The Commendation ceremony included Principal Bettina Lopez, Teacher Allison Parker, Student Jeremy Peoples, Councilmember Kalra, Kathleen Collins, Congressional Assistant for Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, and 70 people in the audience. ONE San Jose thanks you all for commending ONE San Jose and we look forward to taking steps together to close the chapter on extreme poverty.

-Roscoe Mapps, ONE California

This weekend ONE Fresno/Clovis members had a blast educating patrons attending the Harmonic Diversity on F Street event in Downtown Fresno. Harmonic Diversity, a local non-profit, holds a community celebration at the Poverello House every year that focuses on civic responsibility, creative arts, and providing services to the homeless and the hungry. Six ONE Fresno members tabled the event and in a short period of time had several people sign the declaration and at least thirteen new more members expressing interest in participating in upcoming ONE events.

Since we were also there to celebrate the arts, my band was invited to play – and of course we used every opportunity to direct traffic to our ONE table! It was exciting to see newer member’s nervousness fall by the wayside once they started talking about what truly was at stake: helping the world’s poorest people overcome preventable diseases and extreme poverty. And even though not everyone we spoke with signed the declaration, we answer many questions, informed people about the issues, and started a lot of conversations throughout the event.

I am excited and encouraged to see that people continue to take hold of ONE’s vision. People in California’s geographical center are realizing that we can make a difference and that eliminating crushing poverty is not a utopian pipe dream but a concrete, realistic and attainable goal. We are currently planning our next steps: meeting with our representatives and adding to the number of monthly ONE events we plan.

-Ryan Townsend, Fresno, CA

It was another night of fashion, fun and hope as ONE came to spread awareness at last week’s fashion-music-awareness extravaganza in Los Angeles.

The HYPE Fashion Show, hosted by fashion-awareness company Bright Lights LA was held at El Cid in Hollywood, and featured bands, DJs, and runway fashions from local designers.

ONE volunteers Sherri Bui and Luis Lopez were on hand explaining ONE’s mission and signing up a full page of new enthusiastic members!

Sherri Bui brought ONE materials and helmed the table for much of the evening. She asked me to pass along this message: “I’m really excited to think of all the new people who will now be informed and involved in fighting poverty, AIDS and climate change. The downward pressures on the developing world are truly staggering, and our voices have never been needed more. Thank you for all that you do. And thank you Luis for all your help and enthusiasm, which got others excited, too.”

I organized the fashion show in conjunction with my band Par Avion, a recent SPIN Magazine pick. Bright Lights LA, which I co-own, has more fashion-awareness shows slated for the Los Angeles area, and will continue to feature ONE prominently.

Congratulations ONE L.A. and ONE volunteers Sherri Bui and Luis Lopez!

-Paul Avion

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

As you know, Los Angeles became a ONE City on Tuesday in an event celebrated with Mayor Villaraigosa and Representative Maxine Waters (CA-35). This was a big moment, and the culmination of a lot of hard work from ONE members in LA and across the great state of California. Representative Waters had the following to say about the momentous occasion:

As individuals, communities, and nations, we can and must join in efforts to fight extreme poverty and prevent deadly diseases. Los Angeles is a global city, so it is appropriate that we are a “ONE City” dedicated to important global causes. Likewise, I will continue to advocate for applying American generosity, ingenuity, and prosperity to aid the world’s poor and vulnerable.

As individuals, communities, and nations, we can and must join in efforts to fight extreme poverty and prevent deadly diseases. Los Angeles is a global city, so it is appropriate that we are a “ONE City” dedicated to important global causes. Likewise, I will continue to advocate for applying American generosity, ingenuity, and prosperity to aid the world’s poor and vulnerable.

Congresswoman Waters is a co-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus AIDS Task Force. She has also, in addition to supporting humanitarian assistance to Haiti and impoverished nations in Africa and elsewhere, introduced legislation to cancel the debts that the world’s poorest nations owe to international financial institutions. We thank the Congresswoman for her continued support of ONE’s mission!

-Chris Scott

Yesterday was a phenomenal day for Los Angeles volunteers and members of ONE. LA was declared a ONE City by Mayor Villaraigosa. Mayor V. had this to say. “The declaration of Los Angeles as a ONE city is a testament to our uncompromising determination to combat poverty and preventable disease in the United States and globally. As a city, we must unite as one, raise awareness and never turn our backs on the most vulnerable members of society”.

We were also thrilled to have Congresswoman Maxine Waters, an important Congressional ally of ONE, attend and offer her support at this historic event. Representative Waters has been a tireless champion for development issues and authored the JUBILEE Act to expand the number of poor countries that are eligible for debt relief. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives last Congress but was stalled in the Senate, and she is expected to re-introduce it this year. Speaking at the press conference yesterday, Representative Waters asserted that, “As individuals, communities, and nations, we can and must join in efforts to fight extreme poverty and prevent deadly diseases. Los Angeles is a global city, so it is appropriate that we are a “ONE City” dedicated to important global causes. Likewise, I will continue to advocate for applying American generosity, ingenuity, and prosperity to aid the world’s poor and vulnerable.” We could not agree more.

Over 50 volunteers turned out for this event, including Paul Avion. Paul got this ball rolling for LA to be a ONE City some time ago. On his own, he was able to usher the ONE City declaration through the approval process and get it approved by the entire LA City Council. What a great example how one person can make a huge impact. A big thanks to Paul for all his efforts, and everyone else critical to this success.

I was doing an interview with a journalist yesterday and they asked me about what “What comes next for members of ONE in LA, was this event the end game?” The truth is no, and we don’t know exactly when the next Kerry-Lugar type bill will hit. But we know that ONE members and volunteers will be ready to make phone calls, write their leaders, and give a voice to the voiceless children in Africa. It was reiterated to me yesterday as I answered that question, that the members of ONE are the power of ONE. Whether it is volunteers raising awareness with local leaders at City Hall in Los Angeles, or ensuring that life-saving legislation is supported within the walls of Congress in Washington—the members of ONE are the power of ONE.

-Matt Higginson, LA ONE Field Organizer

Today Los Angeles officially became a City of ONE. Joined by local ONE members, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) announced that LA will join more than 130 cities across the country in the fight against extreme poverty.

We’ll have more on this exciting news later, but please take a minute to check out this great piece by LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Today, on World Health Day, the City of Los Angeles—the “City of Angels”—is also a ONE City. We take this occasion to stand together with ONE, the campaign to fight extreme global poverty, and recognize the important role that each individual citizen can play in promoting issues of global health, development, and saving lives in the world’s poorest regions.

The struggle to overcome extreme poverty and global disease is a struggle that unites us all in our common humanity. From the ground in highly impoverished countries, to the streets of our own neighborhoods, we all must do our part to create a better and safer world for all. While no one can solve these problems alone, it is also important to remember that no one is alone in the lifesaving fight against global HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other preventable and treatable diseases. Millions of voices and hundreds of organizations, including many here in Los Angeles, are working together to save lives, increase economic opportunity and make the world a better, safer place. That’s what being a ONE City is all about.

Today is also an occasion to celebrate the recent U.S. efforts to combat global poverty which are providing results. Because of the generosity of Americans, millions of lives are being saved and newly found good will toward America is being recognized around the world. Some notable successes in just the past several years include more than 2 million people with HIV/AIDS in Africa now receiving basic medicines and beating the disease thanks to America’s commitment. That number is up from just 50,000 in 2003. Millions more are surviving malaria because of investments in simple—and remarkably inexpensive—bed nets and medicines. And in just the past decade, some 34 million more children living in the world’s poorest regions have been given the chance to go to school for the first time, opening the door to productive and hopeful futures instead of potentially desperate and vulnerable ones.

Today is also an occasion to use our voices to call for accelerating these efforts and expanding these programs that are working on the ground. In these difficult times, we must continue and strengthen the cost-effective and proven initiatives that bring stability and hope to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. We must match the needless suffering with the simple needs of clean water, bed nets, basic education and cheap medicines.

I commend the efforts of ONE, and all ONE members in Los Angeles that use their voice for the world’s poorest people. This is a historic day for ONE, for Los Angeles, and for the fight against global poverty and disease.

-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles