Minnesota
May 25th, 2010 1:56 PM UTC
By Field
As Daughtry’s enthusiastic fans began arriving at Target Center on Wednesday evening, they were met by equally enthusiastic ONE Twin Cities volunteers.
Considering that Minnesotans traditionally volunteer at higher rates than the national average, ONE Twin Cities members were met with a receptive audience. After fairly brief and engaging conversations, concertgoers cheerfully pledged their support, and sported their new ONE wristbands!
Although each volunteer has a unique voice, unique words, unique story to tell, sharing Bono’s words captures the essence of their messages: “These goals—clean water for all; school for every child; medicine for the afflicted, an end to extreme and senseless poverty—these are not just any goals; they are the Millennium Development goals, which this country supports. And they are more than that. They are the Beatitudes for a Globalised World.”
ONE volunteers are proud to have added another 231 members this week and thank their fellow Minnesotans for sharing in the vision!
–Kris Jernigan, ONE Twin Cities Member
May 3rd, 2010 6:02 PM UTC
By Field
This year for World Malaria Day in the Twin Cities we organized a picnic under bed nets. It was a great day to spend in the park while raising awareness about malaria and the impact an individual’s voice can make. Despite the heavy winds practically blowing the bed nets away, we had intimate discussions on the disease and its impact in developing countries.
At our ONE event, we promoted Malaria No More’s TEN campaign to raise awareness that only $10 buys a bed net that can protect a family from malaria. In addition, attendees had the opportunity to see an actual bed net – one of the most effective prevention tools in the fight against malaria. We also partnered with World Vision to provide attendees with postcards to mail to their representatives, in an effort to make them aware that they, as constituents, care about solving the global problem of malaria.
Our members enjoyed learning about malaria and had a great day in the park! I was excited to see people from so many different ages and walks of life participate and show the initiative to help end malaria deaths.
-Reena Dhake, ONE Twin Cities volunteer
Apr 14th, 2010 12:43 PM UTC
By Field
Yesterday, ONE member Rochelle Gibbs and I delivered petitions signed by 658 Minnesotans to the offices of Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken. These petitions request that each Senator sign the bipartisan letter asking Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Ranking Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) of the Budget Committee to uphold the administration’s Fiscal Year 2011 request of $58.5 billion dollars to the International Affairs Budget.
Rochelle and I met with staff assistants Maria Laverdiere (Sen.Klobuchar) and Adam Yust (Sen. Franken). They graciously accepted the signed petitions and promised to deliver them promptly to the appropriate people to review individually with the Senators.
I do not sign petitions lightly or volunteer to support organizations unless I truly believe it is the right thing to do. Even in tough economic times, I could not feel more strongly about our country supporting ONE’s efforts to fight poverty and disease globally. Knowing that I made a small difference by stepping forward to represent the face of ONE today is truly a delightful honor for which I am very grateful.
-Peggy Moon, Minnesota ONE Member
As an advocate for ONE and the world’s poorest people, it is important to use not only your voice, but also your eyes and ears for ONE. And as I went to grab a sandwich for lunch today, I ran into former Minnesota Senator, Norm Coleman. We had a brief chance to talk and I thanked him for his efforts on our issues while he was a Senator.
Many ONE members will remember that Senator Coleman was a co-chair for the ONE Vote 08 in Minnesota along with Senator Klobuchar. He also sent a statement of congratulations to be shared with volunteers when he was unable to attend the signing ceremony of Minnesota becoming a “ONE State” with Gov. Pawlenty, Sen. Klobachar, Sec. of State Richie and Bishop Rogness. He told me how much he appreciated ONE and how much of a fan of our work he was. He even took time for a quick photo on the street.
You never know who you will talk with about ONE or see on the ONE blog – from friends and family, to former Senators!
Last night ONE Members from the Twin Cities got together for a Holiday party at the Duplex restaurant in Uptown. As people around the world are celebrating the holidays we also celebrated the successes we have seen on a local, national and global level in 2009 while at the same time looking toward the challenges we will face in 2010.
I took the opportunity to recognize the outstanding individual efforts by volunteers in 2009 by handing out ONE All Star awards and highlighting key events they helped make possible. I also wanted everyone to know how appreciated they are as a member and didn’t want anyone to leave empty handed so I gave out party favors; a can of pop with a bag of candy and a little poem I wrote.
I am honored to work with such amazing and inspiring volunteers and I am so proud of all we have done. I know 2010 is going to be a great year and we look forward to making a change in the lives of our neighbors on the other side of the world.
Last Friday, ONE members from the Twin Cities gathered at the University of Minnesota for a special conference on Literacy and Education in a 21st century Africa.
The event was hosted by a local organization called Books for Africa, the world’s largest shipper of donated books to the African continent. In the past 11 years they have shipped over 20 million high-quality text and library books to 45 African countries. ONE shares a belief in the simple mission of Books for Africa: To empower the next generation of leaders by leveling the playing field with literacy and education. ONE hosted a table at the event and spoke to many attendees about what ONE is doing locally and nationally to improve the lives of those living in extreme poverty by advocating for greater access to basic education.
During the conference the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, gave the keynote address remarking that his last trip to the University of Minnesota was nearly 15 years ago when Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was conferred an honorary degree. Among the many facts he cited, he also noted population projections for sub-Saharan Africa are expected to double in the next 25 years.
He concluded his keynote address by delineating five areas key to the progress of African countries: closing the digital divide, reversing the ‘brain drain’ (African Diaspora), investing more in girls’ education, expanding teacher training, and improving academic research and higher education.
The breakout session, “Economic Development and Literacy”, was comprised of four expert panelists. They presented facts such as country literacy rates, educational variables, and learning impediments. The common threads throughout the day included minimizing the gender gap, (“women hold up half the sky”), expanding access (geographical and financial), and improving systems and teacher training (accountability).
In the past, former President Clinton has said that US media and citizens need to stop viewing Africa as a monolith, given that there are 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Each country has its own unique challenges and strengths. I heard similar sentiments echoed at the conference on Friday, and believe it is important to continue promoting this increased understanding.
As a ONE member and a participant in the conference, I am truly hopeful. While the way forward is not always apparent, it is clear that the development community and Africans themselves are committed to an improved future.
-Kris Jernigan & Libby Crimmings
Sep 23rd, 2009 9:38 PM UTC
By Field
I am the mom of an amazing 12-year-old son. Seeing my own son grow and learn so many new things has been another incredible experience. I am so proud and happy when he is able to do things that I never learned! My son and the kids I work with at school are the reasons I work with the ONE to help provide opportunities for children all over the world. I know the incredible capability of ALL children, and I want all of them to have the opportunity to develop their gifts and talents. I know that somewhere there is another mom of a twelve-year-old who wants the same good things for her son or daughter that I want for mine, and I want to do what I can to try and help. ONE makes it easy to help even if you are busy, and I love the idea that ordinary people like me can make such a big difference.
Last week, I read an incredible book by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn called Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. It is a compelling and inspiring book and it motivated me to take action. I decided that I would like to volunteer for a Twin Cities organization called Books for Africa. Imagine my surprise when I got an e-mail saying that local members of the ONE Campaign were meeting the very next day to volunteer at Books for Africa! Talk about synchronicity! Since I was free, I quickly signed up. On Saturday morning I drove over to St. Paul and met with two local ONE members Rochelle and Halima and spent the next two hours chatting and getting to know one another and packing textbooks to be sent to schools in Africa. We packed 28 boxes of books and had a lot of fun in the process. I deeply respect both women’s commitment to ONE, and I hope we get to work and visit together again soon.
–Sherry Faubion
