ONE members around the country are hitting the presidential campaign trail, engaging and educating the candidates on the fight against extreme poverty for ONE Vote.
Last night at Ticoz Resto-Bar, the Phoenix ONE Vote team executed one of the most exciting campaign kick-off events I’ve ever seen. Nearly 50 people came out to learn about ways they can lend their talents to educate candidates and voters about global health and extreme poverty a policy priority during this election cycle.
While ONE member Samantha Kerley talked about the importance of the ONE Vote 2012 campaign, ONE University of Arizona cofounder Michael Weinand gave an inspiring speech on ONE’s successful campaigns on global health, including our recent HIV/AIDS petition deliveries. Long-time ONE members Dion Simte and Amy Campbell where there to help answer questions and make all the new ONE members feel welcome, and we owe a huge thanks to Alison Gwinn for taking these great pics.
Even first-time ONE event attendees were getting involved in the conversation. But I think across the board, we all agreed it was a privilege to have Kamra Sadia Hakim share the stage to discuss her recent trip to Zambia and South Africa for her Chegg/ONE internship. Kamra fired off examples of how US investments in health and agriculture were not only saving lives, but helping create an environment where healthy families pull themselves out of poverty and send their children to school.
This event, for me, was yet another example of what we know to be true around ONE. While many issues can divide us, the issue of extreme poverty is one that has no sides and no party lines. It is an issue we all can and must rally around together.
Whether you have a faith, political, academic or nonprofit background, I think organizers around the country know that special feeling you get when you see volunteers taking time out of their busy lives to create an opportunity that inspires neighbors to come out, get involved and volunteer.
This was certainly one of those moments for me. I couldn’t have been more honored to be a part of something that historically has had a impact on an election. A huge thanks to the Phoenix ONE Vote volunteer team and all the new volunteers who signed up to get involved in the ONE Vote campaign around Arizona this year. I definitely encourage you to contact your Regional Field Director to learn how you can get involved in one our most exciting campaigns at ONE: ONE Vote 2012!
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