“What an experience! Standing in the pouring rain listening to amazing music and knowing that hundreds of people in the crowd just signed up to hear about how we can give a voice to the world’s poorest people and people suffering from preventable disease truly left me speechless. Thank you to everyone who joined the campaign!” -Molly McDougal

“Working with ONE during the Minneapolis U2 concert was an experience of a lifetime. Being able to educate and encourage the community to join the efforts of ONE gave great fulfillment and happiness and has driven me to further strive to promote the global fight against poverty.” -Lauren Baker

“I had a stronger connection to the global community as a volunteer for ONE at the U2 concert in Minneapolis. As I walked among the people in the general admissions line I soon discovered that all six continents were represented when signing them up to be members of ONE. It was great to chat with people who had an interest in joining their voices with ONE to help strengthen the mission in combating global poverty.

Even before and during the concert we were connecting with the people around us. They were interested in learning more about ONE since we were still in our T-Shirts. We may have started as strangers, but before the night was over we were friends.

As the night went on, Bono did is part in bringing awareness to the realities around the world. He took moments to sensitize the audience to critical situations like the drought and famine epidemic in the Horn of Africa. His compassionate and humble spirit really touches the crowd that probably caused more people to join ONE after the concert ended.

Overall it was a great day being a volunteer with ONE. And after coming home soaking wet from the rain, I can say it was pleasure to share a community shower with U2 and about 60,000 of my global neighbors!” -Heather Cannon-Winkelman

What’s happening in the Horn of Africa was particularly poignant given the significant Somali Diaspora community in the Minneapolis area. We were so pleased to see that Bono met with K’naan and Somali-born Minnesotans with Neighbors for Nations to discuss the crisis and draw attention to the urgent needs.

I have always known that ONE members are special. ONE is an advocacy organization, so members use the power of their voices for people who do not have one. ONE doesn’t fund raise…ONE doesn’t have a membership fee…ONE doesn’t directly deal with dollars, euros or pounds. We connect the dots. We’re a bridge. Our strength is in our numbers….people from around the world coming together as ONE. And the numbers that were gained along the way on the U2 360° tour proves that ONE is an extremely strong organization and getting stronger each day!

In total, just shy of 315,000 people around the world have become ONE members and are currently fighting against extreme poverty as a direct result of the efforts made by almost 3,000 ONE volunteers at the 110 U2 360° shows across the globe.

ONE volunteers that I have met along the way have been an incredible group of people. I have met people from around the world….People from different socio-economic, political and religious backgrounds. But in the true spirit of ONE, everyone came together to fight for those living in extreme poverty and dying of treatable and preventable diseases.

Every single day since I started on this tour, I have been constantly impressed and inspired by the ONE volunteers that I have worked with. Their passion, their commitment, their positive energy, kept me going…even when I was working off of two hours sleep! ONE members give me hope that we’re actually making progress on the ground, and for that, I thank you.

The community that was built on this tour is a solid one and ONE that is committed to making a real difference in this world. I played a very small role and I thank everyone that was involved in the efforts. I have faith that the ONE volunteers and the new ONE members will continue to come together as ONE and make sure that their voices continue to be heard. Far too many people are silenced so we need to make sure that we continue to make lots of noise.

Thank you to the incredible group of ONE volunteers I’ve worked with. Please continue to keep in touch and let me know how you’re doing. Thank you to the new ONE members who signed up at the U2 360° tours. You’re an inspiration.

Thank you to the unbelievable group of individuals that actually make the show happen day in and day out….My family on the road! I met some of the most talented people ever and I thank them for being my family and friends the past 10 months.

Like the band says, “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own.” Well I’m proud to say that ONE won’t let that happen.

What another exciting night on the U2 tour, this time at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. ONE volunteers signed up more than 3,000 new ONE members to join our movement to end extreme poverty and preventable disease. Throughout the day we met people from not only all over the country, but all around the world. After this show outside New York City, new ONE members can be found in Manhattan, Queens, Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and even further afield in Peru, United Kingdom, Germany, and Hong Kong.

Faith Rowland, a ONE volunteer who works at Episcopal Relief and Development had this to share:

“After much excited anticipation, the day of the show finally came around, and I can say that it was totally worth the two-hour bus misadventure just to be there with all the other fans and ONE volunteers. I got to meet loads of really nice and social-justice-minded people while canvassing in the parking lots for new ONE members, and just getting into the show was a thrill, since it was my first U2 concert. I totally cried during ‘Mysterious Ways,’ and loved just watching the guys play. But the best part was getting to actually walk on stage with other volunteers during ‘Walk On,’ which the band dedicated to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the thousands of others who have been imprisoned for their political beliefs.”

U2’s spaceship landed in Pittsburgh, Penn., this past Tuesday for the final show of their US tour. As with previous shows, we had a group of very excited and energetic ONE volunteers ready to greet the fans. From the general admission line, to tailgaters in the parking lots, volunteers spent the afternoon speaking with fans about ONE and explaining how they can help eliminate extreme poverty by using their voices.

“ONE doesn’t want your money, we want your VOICE” could be heard from all around the stadium. After a long afternoon we had well over 3,000 new ONE members!

During the show, Bono — ONE’s cofounder, thanked the volunteers and all the fans who had signed up. He also told the crowd that because of ONE members’ hard work and dedication, US investments have provided funding to put 5 million Africans on antiretroviral treatments!

Thank you Pittsburgh for an absolutely magnificent day! If you’d like to learn more about what ONE is doing in and around the Pittsburgh area, please visit ONE’s Mid-Atlantic Facebook page.

-Barb Barrar, ONE Congressional District leader

Hours before U2 rocked Chicago’s Soldier Field, ONE volunteers from all over the country made some noise outside of the gates. About 30 ONE members — coming from as far as Alaska and as close as a couple blocks away — gathered in the Windy City to engage the 80,000 attendees of U2′s July 5th concert. Through some old-fashioned pavement-pounding, those volunteers helped the ONE Campaign grow by 2,747 members. We are proud to welcome these new supporters to the community of more than 2.5 million members who can say “I Am ONE.” The volunteers that showed up asked concert goers to sign a petition to government leaders asking them to support the U.S.’s promised funding to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).

With the funding ONE members asked for, GAVI will be able to widely distribute two vaccines against pneumonia and diarrhea, two of the deadliest killers of kids in developing countries. If our elected leaders listen to the voices of the thousands of ONE members who have spoken up, we can help to prevent 4 million child deaths from these diseases by 2015 — and that’s a cause worth making some noise over.

-Jim Watt, ONE member

One of the best parts of working the U2 concerts is getting to see the passion shared by ONE’s volunteers. After the show, I talked to a number of them about their experience. Everyone was equally exhausted yet thrilled to be part of such a great evening. I wanted to pass on what a few shared.

Kjerstin Johnson, who just wrapped up her junior year at Notre Dame University, was able to spend the evening back home with her father Todd Johnson, a professor at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena.

“Volunteering for ONE at the U2 concert in Anaheim was an incredible opportunity. Although I’ve been a member of ONE for almost six years, this was a way that I could truly represent what ONE stands for — using my voice to be an advocate and campaign about current issues regarding the fight against preventable disease and poverty. I hope that through using my voice yesterday, I encouraged others to make a difference in even the smallest way, and intensify our one voice calling to improve our one world.”

Philippa Firestone was our leading volunteer on Saturday night, signing up nearly 210 people to take action on our vaccines petition. Because of her efforts, Philippa was one of the lucky few to participate on stage during “Walk On.” She shared her thoughts here:

“First off, it was a pleasure meeting the ONE team and all the other volunteers on Saturday. I felt lucky and proud to be able to participate as a ONE volunteer, and enjoyed working with such a fun and enthusiastic group of people. I really enjoyed approaching potential new ONE members and having the opportunity to reach people about the importance of fighting extreme poverty and treatable disease. I love being able to contribute to a cause I feel very passionate about!! The rest of the night was unbelievable!! The show was amazing and to be able to go up on stage was thrilling!! Thanks so much for the opportunity to participate, it was a lot of fun!!”

Patrick Carmitchel, who runs a software start-up just north of San Diego, was happy to pound the pavement, too:

“It would have been enough to run around and meet over 200 other strangers who were willing to support ONE and share a mutual passion for helping those in extreme poverty and enjoying great music. Being able to support a real cause that produces real results for people in real need was very fulfilling. I’m not too upset about having to go up on stage and let the light shine with our friends at Amnesty International. And, of course, U2 — true artists who continue to use their talent, passion and influence to breathe hope and life into a world that needs it. Yeah, it was pretty epic.”

Look for other fellow ONErs out on the tour and be sure to join us!

ONE volunteer Brian says “we are just going crazy out here.”

And Micah says ONE members should come out and volunteer…

So amazing, so meaningful, so sensational
“Day in and day out, we walk ourselves to and from what many would call the mundane, tedious pathways of our lives. Occasionally we stir out of our restlessness, seeking to be a part of something that feels like it matters — something that truly makes a difference in this world.

This aching need has become more persistent in my life. Living in San Francisco has only intensified the need I feel to be presently active in the social causes smothering every single one of us — yet somehow, so many people maintain the blinders of denial. I can’t ignore it — any of it. And the intensity to give back compels me.

Last week, I was given an amazing opportunity. My responsibility for the afternoon was to talk to people and encourage them to join ONE. I wasn’t seeking donations, simply awareness and participation. ONE is an advocacy group fighting extreme poverty. ONE strives to activate as many voices as possible on behalf of all of those suffering without a voice.

Democracy gives us so many privileges, one of which is the power to speak openly about the plights of this world — such as children dying needlessly from pneumonia and diarrhea — because they can’t obtain vaccinations. Five hours of pavement-pounding left me feeling really good about the time spent dialoging with people about suffering and the roles that we can play to strive towards overcoming it. For the most part, I found people extremely receptive. I was riveted by the sense of purpose from that afternoon as more than 2,800 new folks became ONE members.

I realize that I have been profoundly impacted by this experience. It is clear that the human spirit really is alive in moments like these. What an unbelievable privilege to be a part of something so amazing and so meaningful, so sensational.”

-Shannon Carroll, ONE member

Eye-opening and extraordinary
“This experience was nothing short of eye-opening and extraordinary! My friend and fellow ONE member Maritza Shafer shared time and experiences with great people from ONE as well as other organizations. The shocking thing to really understand is that people — real people — in countries that otherwise have been cut off from basic rights are now receiving them through the smart US investments that ONE members champion every day.

Millions are receiving much-needed antiretroviral medication, vaccines and immunizations. Thousands of children are going to school –- often for the first time. Parents, rather than spending weeks in a hospital with a sick child, are returning to work and generating revenue for their communities. Any person can think that these issues are too big to make a significant difference, however, we’re proving everyday that smart solutions are within our reach. It’s invigorating to be a part of an organization that advocates in this way. ONE members, simply put, are the voice of millions!”

-Brian Castellani, ONE member

Contagious
“Okay, I’ll admit it, I’ve been a U2 fan for years. Bono’s passion for making a difference in the world through advocacy and through empowerment is contagious. My experience recruiting new ONE members alongside my fellow volunteers was enlightening. Some responses were “Sorry, I have no money.” Yet it was wonderful to be able to respond, “I don’t either, but your voice costs nothing and is as powerful.”

Another gentleman asked, “Why should I care about children dying in Africa, when kids are dying right here?” He obviously cares about the well-being of children, and I responded “Whether or not they live here or in another country, we have the ability to make an impact in the poorest parts of the world for less than 1 percent of our budget, and the national security and economic opportunities for us all surpasses the small investment we make.”

As a health insurance broker, I know the overall health care costs in America. But the overall economic costs and benefits of an immunization shot are fractions of a dollar and lasts a lifetime. With smart investments into programs like GAVI, collectively we maximize our dollars, they bargain for lower prices, incentivize companies, and we get families healthy and working towards pulling themselves out of extreme poverty. For being an initial nay-sayer, he signed up right afterward. Concert-goers’ reactions varied (of course). Approaching them with information and asking them to add their voice and help us take action was empowering. Each day we all strive to be influential and strive to unveil our gifts and talents. ONE gives us the springboard to share them and make a difference.”

–Michelle Droz, ONE member

Compassionate, progressive, courageous
“During the concert I was moved by the passion of not only the band, but the people in the crowd. The energy was infectious. Bono’s words were resonating in my thoughts when he said that “the Bay Area invented the 21st Century.” I wholeheartedly agree with this statement, but with great blessings come great responsibility. We have the responsibility to be courageous in the fight of poverty and disease and be a beacon for progressive and compassionate action to the rest of the world. I felt empowered to embrace this responsibility.

ONE is an incredible organization with an effective mission statement -– I was proud to represent the organization for the day. In fact, I just downloaded the ONE app on my iPhone!”

-Mike Wood, ONE member

“It’s a beautiful day/ Don’t let it get away.”

U2′s “Beautiful Day” song must have been written on a day like this past Saturday in Seattle. As volunteers from around the Pacific Northwest gathered to hit the streets with the message of vaccines, there was not a cloud in the sky. And for that reason, those lyrics echoed in my head as I challenged myself to talk to as many people as I possibly could about the ONE Campaign. I figured talking to hundreds of strangers about global poverty would be draining, but at the end of the five-hour frenzy, I actually felt incredibly inspired. I never could have guessed how invigorating it would be to add member after member to ONE or to spark someone’s realization that their unique voice could be an incredibly powerful tool.

Sometimes the conversation started with difficulty because let’s face it, the facts are completely overwhelming. Once I began to talk about extreme poverty around the world, people’s eyes glazed over and they absentmindedly reached for their wallet as if on autopilot to fork over a few bucks and go on their way. “No, we don’t want your money,” I would say. That seemed to penetrate through people’s blank stare and grab attention. “We don’t want your money. We want your voice.” Now, let’s talk about the solution.

If the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) is given adequate funding at the June 13 conference, they can save the lives of 4 million children, nearly double the number of ONE members, in five years. Put into context, every single ONE member has the opportunity to speak out for two children somewhere in the world who don’t otherwise have a voice. Put all together, these voices have the potential to make a clamor that echoes around the world.

Just as the U2 concert is a catalyst to engage fans with ONE, parallel movements are building all over the country. In two weeks, 1,000 young people in their 20s and 30s will gather in Seattle to party… (wait for it…) They will Party With A Purpose! This year, they echo the sentiments of ONE to say that vaccines are the most cost-effective way to save lives and prevent disease for a lifetime. And I think people are going to listen because when 1,000 young people dressed in cocktail attire decide to make tuberculosis vaccines the topic of conversation on a Friday night, they make quite the statement.

As I heard the deafening cheers of U2 fans packed in Seattle on Saturday, I realized this is how loud unified voices can be. What would it be like if all 75,000 fans marched right out of the stadium all the way to our state’s capital? What if they could speak together to say that extreme poverty around the world is not acceptable? What if they stood firm together that something must be done to end extreme global poverty?

This is what ONE is doing, one city at a time, to create a global movement that says enough is enough. In Seattle, I am proud to say that in one afternoon, an incredible group of volunteers added 3,620 new ONE members to the movement!

That is the power of one voice multiplied around the world. We are ONE, are you?

-Stephanie Grow, ONE member

Simple. Imagine teaming up with 30 equally enthusiastic ONE volunteers. There you are, you’ve got your ONE shirt on, your bag of bracelets and information packets packed into your shoulder bag, and you are ready to spread the word about ONE’s vision to as many people as you can. You are ready to speak on behalf of those who are unable to speak for themselves. You are ready to be an advocate.

And that’s exactly what we did.

Along with invigoration, inspiration is top of my list of emotions to describe how it felt as I informed fellow concert attendees throughout the Rice Eccles Stadium grounds in Salt Lake City.

As I spoke of ONE’s current efforts to save 4 million children by 2015, people’s ears began to perk up. The number was shocking to… but that number is a reality. A harsh reality, which caused several people to ask questions about what they could do.

And ONE volunteers love questions — that means people are already beginning to use their voice to promote justice and equality! And don’t you worry, before too long, as word was getting around throughout the queues at the stadium, people were coming up to me and tapping my shoulder, asking what they could do to help.

What I learned last night was comforting to my activist heart: People want to help! People want to give a voice to those who are unable to speak for themselves. They just are looking for the an outlet to do so, and ONE is able to offer that outlet, whether it be by information, petition-signing, writing to the White House, or better yet, becoming a ONE member and volunteering themselves.

With that said, it is my pleasure to report on behalf of my fellow Utah ONE volunteers and the 3,572 new ONE members: We are ONE! Are you?

-Sara Vranes, ONE community volunteer, Provo/Salt Lake City, Utah