Throughout middle and high school, my best friend Laura Whitman and I have been involved in PASC, the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils. Each year, PASC hosts a state conference for student council members and their advisors to share ideas and communicate between schools. Last spring, Laura and I were fortunate enough to share our workshop, “Be ONE in a Million” with high school students at a District 8 Conference. We were ecstatic when we received word that our workshop had been accepted to states!
“Be ONE in a Million,” focused on ONE’s main priorities and growing ONE membership. The students also viewed numerous ONE videos which were all received very well. The students also participated in a pop quiz to learn about shocking malaria and TB statistics. At the end of the workshop, we even created our own video.

It was absolutely wonderful to speak to so many students about something we’re passionate about and to know that they were genuinely interested. In the spring, Northern Lebanon High School will be hosting the District 8 Conference for PASC. Our theme is “Making Connections” and will feature ONE! Being a senior, I’m sad to think that my last state conference is over; but I’m also very happy to know that Laura and I have made an impact on students who might not have known about ONE. We can’t wait to continue our advocacy through the ONE Campus Challenge in the future!

-Rebecca Guldin, Senior at Northern Lebanon High School Fredericksburg, PA

On Thursday evening ONE volunteers Brian Thomas and Sarah Wonders had the opportunity to get involved with the 3 Rivers Film Festival in Pittsburgh at the premier of Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love. This music documentary, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, opens with Senegalese activist and musician Youssou N’dour singing his anthem to Africa, Wake Up, in which he calls on the continent to unify itself. We follow him on tour at home and abroad, witnessing the power and charisma behind the music – with highlights by N’Dour, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Moustapha Mbaye, Kabou Guèye and Fathi Salama.

At the height of his career, N’dour composed Egypt, a deeply spiritual album dedicated to a more tolerant view of his Islam faith. It was embraced by Western audiences (and won a Grammy) but ignited serious religious controversy in his homeland. This inspiring film continues the call for tolerance.

-Sarah Wonders, PA ONE Member

This weekend I had the opportunity to join Pittsburgh PA ONE Members for their monthly meeting. It was really inspiring to listen to the ideas flowing out of this group! We discussed many different topics including the upcoming screening in Pittsburgh of the award-winning film Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love. The film chronicles the remarkable story of Youssou N’dour, Grammy-award winning artist and social activist who also serves as a member of ONE’s Policy Advisory Board.

We also discussed the importance of ONE Members engaging their elected officials. This group of PA ONE Members understands the importance of showing them how many of their constituents support them in their efforts to fight poverty and preventable disease around the world. Future plans for the group include more “Call Parties” and scheduling in-district meetings with their Representatives which is easy and very important. I was also able to help explain where we are in the legislative calendar and that ONE has already submitted its request to the Obama administration for 2011.

We will certainly need all ONE Members’ enthusiasm and advocacy to help secure the goals in the budget and thus continue to transform the lives of the world’s most vulnerable!

On Saturday I joined Pennsylvania ONE Members and volunteers from RESULTS to STAND UP against poverty in Philadelphia, PA.

On top of everyone STANDING UP, our day together focused on the challenges of extreme poverty, the importance of achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and publicly urging our elected officials to support proven successful life-saving programs like the Global Fund. There was also importance placed on several advocacy related functions that everyone can participate in including writing letters to your Member of Congress.

In addition to learning more about how we can be a part of the solution, everyone was fortunate enough to listen to Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health and subject of the book Mountains Beyond Mountains, speak live about what it takes to make a movement to end poverty.

People in attendance seemed inspired and ready to take an action – whether it be attending a meeting with a member of Congress or simply spreading the word to friends and colleagues about the importance of advocacy and demonstrating their commitment to fight for the poorest people in the world.

Recently, PA ONE Members held a “Call Party” to engage our Senators. A number of important pieces of legislation are currently being considered and PA ONE Members made sure their voices and concerns were heard! The calls were in reference to cosponsoring the following:

• S. 1524, the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009 introduced by Senator Kerry and Senator Lugar. S. 1524 would strengthen the capacity, transparency, and accountability of United States foreign assistance programs to effectively adapt and respond to new challenges of the 21st century. Please urge your Members of Congress to do so here

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• S. 624, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009. S. 624, known simply as the Senate Water bill would provide 100,000,000 people with first-time access to safe drinking water and sanitation on a sustainable basis by 2015 by improving the capacity of the United States Government to fully implement the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005. You can add your voice here.

PA ONE Members also asked their Senators to ensure the world’s poorest people are able to confront the new challenges of climate change. You can urge your Senator to do the same by clicking here.

“Call Parties” are a good way for ONE Members to get together and let their elected officials know that their constituents care about these issues. Way to go PA ONE Members!

-Brian Sweeney

Tom Hart and I just delivered ONE’s G20 petition to the US delegation here at the Pittsburgh summit. The petition, now signed by more than 75,000 ONE members from around the globe, asks the G20 leaders to host an upcoming G20 summit on the African continent.

We expect the official summit communique to come out just before President Obama’s remarks, slated for 4:45pm EST today. We’ll keep you posted.

-Ginny Simmons

While some used the last week of August to get ready to go back to school or get in that last summer vacation, ONE members across the country were busy attending meetings with their Members of Congress! Each of these meetings are important and provide an opportunity for ONE members to use their voice for the world’s poorest people. The meetings let Senators and Representatives know that their constituents truly care about the fight against extreme poverty and preventable diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.

Below are a few highlights of last week’s meetings, and make sure to check out the blog as we get more updates from around the country (click images to enlarge):

Visit to Senator Richard Shelby’s office in Mobile, Alabama

Last week Judith Smits and fellow ONE member David O’Brien met with Tara Johnson in Senator Shelby’s office in Mobile, Alabama to discuss the importance of U.S. leadership in fighting extreme poverty and global disease. Specifically, they discussed the potential impact climate change may have on developing countries. Increased droughts, floods and storms have the potential to reverse many of the gains being made against poverty and disease in some of the poorest countries around the world. Judith and David requested that Senator Shelby ensure that this year’s Senate climate change legislation meets the standard set by last year’s bipartisan Lieberman-Warner climate bill, and allocates 5% of any revenue to begin helping the world’s poorest people overcome the threats posed by climate change.

Visit to Senator Specter’s office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Last Wednesday PA ONE Members met with Senator Specter’s Community Affairs Coordinator Adam C. Pope in Pittsburgh, PA. We made sure that Mr. Pope knew how much PA ONE members appreciate Senator Specter’s leadership in the Senate and for supporting important programs like PEPFAR, the Millennium Challenge Account, and the Global Fund.

We also indicated that ONE hopes that Senator Specter will support 5% of climate related revenue to assist the world’s poorest confront threats arising from climate change. There was also discussion of the upcoming G-20 summit in Pittsburgh, the role Senator Specter will play in those events as well as ONE having a presence in the city and around the meetings.

Visit to Representative Bill Posey’s office in Melbourne, Florida

On Wednesday last week, ONE members joined Jenni Rothenberg and others from the USGLC to meet with Representative Bill Posey’s (R-FL-15) District Director, Kathryn Rudloff. We discussed the importance of development as a key foreign policy tool and the need for development strategies to be elevated to the same level as defense and diplomacy (i.e. the ‘3Ds’). We are hopeful that Rep. Posey will help us achieve this goal by supporting full funding for poverty reduction programs in the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill conference report.

Visit to Representative Kathy Castor’s office in Tampa, Florida

On Friday last week, ONE member Alex Savelli teamed up with USGLC one more time to meet with Representative Castor’s District Director, Chloe Coney. We thanked her for Rep. Castor’s previous support on global poverty issues, including her vote in support of the FY2010 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. She also voted against several amendments which would have substantially reduced funding for 2010 poverty-fighting programs. Rep. Castor’s continued support of full funding for the FY2010 International Affairs Budget will be critical to help elevate development assistance in order to restore America’s image in the world, increase our security and help to lift millions out of extreme poverty.

Visit to Representative Bill Young’s office in Seminole, Florida

Last week, Tampa ONE member Alex Savelli met with Shirley Miaoulis at the Seminole district office of Representative Bill Young (R-FL-10). Representative Young has been in office and serving the people of the 10th Congressional district for close to 40 years. It was great to be able to sit down with his staff and learn more about the issues that Representative Young champions, including his commitment to U.S. troops and their families. As the highest ranking Republican member on the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, his support on initiatives to end poverty and disease is critical.

During the meeting, we talked about the upcoming vote on the State, Foreign Operations conference report and asked that Rep. Young support the highest possible funding for life-saving programs such as The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and PEPFAR, The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The International Affairs Budget provides America with countless opportunities to build global stability, generate much needed allies and advance our national interests. I am hopeful that Rep. Young will support the State,Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill when he returns to Washington this fall.

-Kim Smith

Some coverage from NBC and ABC, respectively, of Philadelphia becoming a ONE City yesterday.

(Thanks Steve for pulling the clips!)

-Virginia Simmons

Yesterday, Philadelphia became a ONE City. Below is video from the event and comments from Pastor and ONE member Matt Staniz.

Today, Philadelphia once again lives up to its name by placing the name of our city side by side with ONE, an advocacy organization of more than 2 million strong committed members to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease. ONE is a vital movement in the world today. It reflects the type of love that we must have for each other: a love that is reflected in justice, equality, and action. This is Philadelphia-style “brotherly love” at its finest!

I want thank Deesha Dyer and the PA ONE members she worked with for making this day possible.  Every letter, every phone call, every ounce of effort and every second of time that you gave has produced results.  Thank you.  Everything that begins today, begins because of you.

And thank you to Mayor Michael A. Nutter for hearing Deesha and the PA ONE members. It really is a natural fit.  Thank you, Mister Mayor, for declaring the city of Philadelphia a ONE city . It was just a few blocks east of this building on Independence Mall where ONE was launched in 2004.  A year later, it was few blocks up the Benjamin Franklin parkway where over a million of us gathered for “Live 8″ and raised our voices to “make poverty history”.  Philadelphia has been at the heart of this movement.  Today we proudly celebrate that this movement reflects the heart of Philadelphia.

This declaration reflects visionary leadership rooted in hope for a future shaped by action today.  As we celebrate this commitment to fight extreme poverty, Mister Mayor, we also look forward to working together to keep these promises being made today to our poorest sisters and brothers around the world.  I am also convinced that as we make these commitments to the poor around the world, it will also guide our continued efforts to care for our friends and neighbors right here in the city of brotherly love.  Raising a voice on behalf of the poor is how faith creates action, it is how compassion creates justice, it is how concern creates change.

Today we stand together as ONE.  We stand as ONE with the poor.  We stand as ONE with the billion people trying to survive on less than two dollars a day.  We stand as ONE with the thousands who are dying of preventable and treatable diseases.  We stand as ONE with millions of people committed to changing these realities.  Today we stand together as ONE Philadelphia.

We are the city of brotherly love, and we are a ONE city!  Thank you.

-Pastor Matt Staniz

Yesterday, I joined Pennsylvania ONE Members and representatives from CARE in a meeting with Rep. Chaka Fattah’s Chief of Staff Charles Hayden. Congressman Fattah is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and has been a supporter of many of ONE’s legislative priorities throughout his career. The meeting went very well as we were able to represent over 6,000 2nd District PA ONE Members. We made sure to ask Mr. Hayden to pass along our gratitude to Rep. Fattah for voting in favor of the PEPFAR reauthorization last year and more recently for Co-Sponsoring the Paul Simon Water for the World Act and the Initiating Foreign Aid Reform bills this Congress.

Mr. Hayden listened intently as we presented information on ONE and the reasons as to why it is critical to have leadership for those who do not have a voice. We requested Mr. Hayden to ask Rep. Fattah to please urge all other members of the House Appropriations Committee to lead by example with their votes when it comes to critical legislation that saves millions of lives. Mr. Hayden thanked us and said he would certainly pass on the specifics of our meeting to Congressman Fattah. Meeting with your Member of Congress this August is extremely important while they are in-district so they know their constituents support them in the fight against global poverty and disease. I hope all ONE Members schedule a meeting today with their respective elected official!

-Deesha Dyer, PA ONE Member