With the temperature hovering around 22 degrees, I banded together with people from all walks of life to stand on the footsteps of the Capitol to watch Barack Obama become the 44^th president of the United States. 

While waiting for the ceremony to start, I made small talk with all those who stood around me. I met families from Florida to California, Canada to Turkey. We all gathered together because each of us cares about the issues affecting our country and world. We are all so hopeful about the future. 

My journey to the inauguration started this past August. I have been concerned about the standing of my country in the international community and I wanted to do more. As a new member of CARE’s staff, I learned about the CARE Action Network (CAN) and joined right away.

CANis a network of CARE supporters working together to educate our nation’s leaders about issues of global policy. Together, we ask our elected officials to adopt policies that address underlying causes of poverty, such as gender inequality and poor governance.

Equipped with information and a mission to make a difference, I sought out my elected officials to share CARE’s decades of experience with all who would listen. I joined e-mail campaigns and wrote letters to editors of newspapers. I always spare a donation, but I can always give ten minutes of my time.

The response to my work with CAN has been so empowering. As inauguration day approached, I knew I had to be in Washington to witness the inauguration of the person who so inspires our country with the promise of a brighter  tomorrow. And that’s how I ended up, on the lawn of the Capitol, freezing in the cold, excited to be a part of that historic day and thinking, “I’ll send my next e-mail to President Obama!”

In the coming months, CAN will be partnering with policymakers – new and returning, Republican and Democrat, in the White House and the Capitol – in an effort to make U.S. foreign aid more streamlined and effective to better serve the world’s poor.

Please join us today at can.care.org and be a part of the global movement to end to poverty and create a better world for all.

Sincerely,

Jon

CARE Action Network

On February 5, 2009 CARE is partnering with the National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions to engage college campuses and their broader communities in raising awareness about climate change.  Not only is it important to encourage the U.S. to do more here at home, but we must also recognize the devastating impact climate change is having on millions of men, women and children around the world who already live in extreme poverty.

Participation in the National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions can be as simple as screening a short film and discussing it, or as ambitious as a community-wide event.  Visit http://www.nationalteachin.org/ to learn more about the National Teach-In, find out if an event is already taking place in your area or organize your own event on campus or in your community. 

The National Teach-In has organizers in each state to help you along the way.  They can arrange for your member of Congress to attend your event, help you strategize, connect you with another campus or organization in your area, and provide you with the materials you need to get started.

Now is the time to start planning for this historic national effort to create real change!  We at CARE will post regular updates on CARE Connections and encourage all supporters to do the same. 

On February 5, 2009 CARE is partnering with the National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions to engage college campuses and their broader communities in raising awareness about climate change.  Not only is it important to encourage the U.S. to do more here at home, but we must also recognize the devastating impact climate change is having on millions of men, women and children around the world who already live in extreme poverty.

Participation in the National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions can be as simple as screening a short film and discussing it, or as ambitious as a community-wide event.  Visit http://www.nationalteachin.org/ to learn more about the National Teach-In, find out if an event is already taking place in your area or organize your own event on campus or in your community. 

The National Teach-In has organizers in each state to help you along the way.  They can arrange for your member of Congress to attend your event, help you strategize, connect you with another campus or organization in your area, and provide you with the materials you need to get started.

Now is the time to start planning for this historic national effort to create real change!  We at CARE will post regular updates on CARE Connections and encourage all supporters to do the same.