Tennessee
Apr 29th, 2011 12:20 PM UTC
By Field
Nearly 150 ONE super-members were in Washington, D.C. for ONE’s 2011 Power Summit, a four-day advocacy extravaganza. Abby Sasser from Tennessee writes about her experience meeting Sens. Corker and Alexander.
Senator Corker and Senator Alexander with ONE members
Fresh off of our victory in stopping cuts to critical programs in the 2011 budget, Tennessee ONE members headed to Washington, D.C., for the ONE Power Summit. During the summit, we visited Capitol Hill to discuss funding for global vaccines and agriculture for next year’s budget. We met both Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander and visited Rep. Jim Cooper’s office to remind them that more than 22,000 ONE members in the state would like Congress to save the 1 percent of the federal budget that supports life saving programs for the most vulnerable people around the world.
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Mar 2nd, 2011 9:36 AM UTC
By Field
ONE was busy this past week in Tennessee, taking to field from Nashville all the way down to Jackson. Tennessee residents collectively hand-wrote more than 150 letters, which were delivered to Senator Bob Corker’s staff in Nashville last week to discuss the effect budget cuts will have on the world’s poorest people. We shared the reality of what the cuts will mean, including staggering numbers like half a million more deaths from HIV/AIDS and nearly 20,000 more infants infected with HIV. We also shared our personal experiences from on the ground work in Africa, because the fact is these are not just statistics, these are actual human lives.
Senator Corker is on the International Affairs committee and has the potential to be a great ally in this fight. We hope we can gain his support in opposing these cuts which are disproportionately large, about 40 percent, compared to cuts elsewhere in the budget that vary from 10 to 15 percent. Senator Corker has done great work on behalf of the world’s poorest people in the past by co-authoring the Water for the World Act and his personal involvement in Haiti. It is our hope that he will continue on this path of helping the most vulnerable populations around the globe and combat these recent cuts.
The next day, students at Union University, led by Campus Leader Sarah White, delivered petitions and the handwritten letters to Sen. Corker’s Jackson office. Fourteen students tagged along to meet with Senator Corker’s staff, and we were well received. “We know ONE very well -– you’re a very well-respected group!” said one staffer. At both meetings, we presented a petition that had been signed by 1,139 Tennesseans as well the hundreds of handwritten letters asking the Senator to vote no on cuts that would inevitably cost millions of lives. There is still another week before the Senate votes on the budget. Tennesseans — if you haven’t yet, please write Senator Corker and ask him to vote against cuts for the world’s poor.
-Abby Sasser, Congressional District leader for Tennessee’s 5th District
Feb 24th, 2011 6:50 PM UTC
By Field
Last night, students and Nashvillians came together to be a voice for the world’s poorest people. We had more than 20 Nashville-area volunteers write dozens of handwritten letters and make phone calls to Senator Corker regarding budget cuts that will invariably effect those around the world who can least afford it. As a student, I loved the opportunity to connect with Nashville ONE and see people who are passionate in the fight to end preventable diseases and extreme poverty.
Sometimes being on campus, I forget that it is not just students who are in this fight, but that we are a part of something so much larger. Meeting with ONE staff members Mike and Robyn and hearing their stories allowed for us students to see the larger implications of our work on campus. I know it resonated just as well with those members of the Nashville community that were in attendance. As we were writing the letters, we felt empowered and honored that our voice could hopefully impact the future of so many people.
Most of us involved in Vanderbilt ONE have had some type of personal contact with these issues. Whether it’s a family member that passed away from AIDS or a summer internship in Africa, these issues are near to our heart. It was wonderful to meet total strangers, yet feel connected and united because of our passion to take a stand and give a voice to the suffering. Do your part and help us reach the new goal of 100,000 signatures on ONE’s petition.
Need to run — we’re meeting with Senator Corker’s staff in Nashville today! Will keep everyone updated as to how it goes!
-Alexandra Flynn, ONE member, Vanderbilt University
Dec 1st, 2010 5:28 PM UTC
By Field
On Friday, students at Belmont University joined me for a screening of (RED) & HBO’s documentary, “The Lazarus Effect,” directed by Lance Bangs. Following the film, we held a discussion about the effect HIV/AIDS continues to have across the globe and what is being done to treat it.
For instance, did you know that although we are now able to treat more than 3 million people in Africa, as opposed to 50,000 in 2002, 3,800 people still die on the continent every day from this preventable disease? Though amazing progress has been made in the affordability of the antiretroviral medicine needed to treat HIV/AIDS, and the cost is down to just 40 cents a day from $10,000 a year, for most people in sub-Saharan Africa making an average of $2.00 a day, it is still very expensive.
The good news is though that programs funded by the Global Fund are working hard to make this medicine free to those who need it. Through these programs, people do not have to choose between their health and feeding their children. We even believe that by 2015, no child will be born with HIV due to their efforts — that is, if we can continue to support these valuable programs and give them the funding they need to make this happen.
After the discussion, the students promised to tell at least one of their peers what they had learned during the screening. Through education, we can build an army of ONE to help fight HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases around the world!
-Abby Sasser, ONE congressional district leader Tennesee’s 5th District
Mike Phelan, Vice President for ONE’s Union University chapter, warming up for the big game. Photo courtesy of Sarah White.
The men’s soccer team at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee brought the spirit of ONE onto their playing field last week when they donned ONE shirts during a crucial warm-up session for the quarterfinal game in the TranSouth Conference Tournament. Despite the near-freezing temperatures, the always-professional players managed to not only get their heads in the game, but help raise awareness for the world’s poorest people.
This was a successful first event for Union’s newly formed ONE Campus chapter, which launched this fall. ONE chapter members were on hand in hats and gloves distributing ONE bands and signing up students, all while cheering on their team from the sidelines. The group received a high turnout despite the weather, generating excitement and interest from their fellow fans, all while engaging fellow students about the importance of being advocates for those living on less than $1.25 a day.
Union’s ONE chapter head, Sarah White, was inspired by the energy and interest in this summer’s World Cup in South Africa and felt that partnering with the men’s soccer team would be a good opportunity to help raise ONE’s profile on campus. And with the team attracting players from all over the world -– Bosnia, Serbia, Brazil, Croatia, Scotland, Honduras and Guatemala, to name a few -– White felt the team presented a perfect opportunity to showcase the power of coming together as a team and a campus to advocate on behalf of the world’s poorest.
Visit Union’s new ONE chapter blog and stayed tuned as they begin to establish themselves on campus this year. Congrats Union, can’t wait to see what else you’ve got in store!
Oct 7th, 2010 3:51 PM UTC
By Field
Over the weekend, ONE Nashville members participated in the city’s annual AIDS Walk. We began the day by setting up a table at the community fair in order to recruit new ONE members and educate participants on the valuable advocacy work ONE does for HIV/AIDS around the world. By the end the fair, we were able to sign up more than 120 new ONE members!
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Sep 10th, 2010 5:45 PM UTC
By Field
Last night, former President Bill Clinton was in Nashville, Tennessee in support of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter. Unfortunately, my prime place along the fence didn’t stick and I had to move when it started to rain, and some large men in black suits shortened the greeting line.
I did manage to scoot my way up in the crowd though, as fmr. Pres. Clinton worked his way down the line of eager supporters. I was several people back, but proudly held my ONE band high, managing to catch the former president’s eye.
He reached over several heads to take the ONE band then shook my hand and said “Thank you for what you do.” I had just enough time to shout back, “No, thank you!” before he was swept away. Though a brief interaction, it was a significant one. It’s important for influential people in global policy to know just how many ONE members are out there and how crucial it is that they continue to advocate for the world’s poorest people. Go ONE!!
- Abby Sasser, ONE congressional district leader for Tennessee’s 5th District
