Rate This Blog
 0 rating(s)
Categories
• NCC
• Conference • Climate change • Blog Action Day • HALF THE SKY event • Child marriage • Children • Girls • Maternal health • water • CARE • Budget • Foreign aid
Archives
• Current Entries
• March 2013 • February 2013 • January 2013 • November 2012 • August 2012 • July 2012 • June 2012 • May 2012 • April 2012 • February 2012 • September 2011 • June 2011 • April 2011 • March 2011 • January 2011 • November 2010 • October 2010 • September 2010 • August 2010 • July 2010 • April 2010 • March 2010 • February 2010 • December 2009 • November 2009 • October 2009 • September 2009 • June 2009 • May 2009 • April 2009 • March 2009 • February 2009 • January 2009 • December 2008 • November 2008
Latest Entries
Loading...
|
Policy and Advocacy
Day One
“ It’s our call to build on the movement of voices for affecting change,” Co-Chair Susan Crown said of the 7th annual CARE National Conference and Celebration as she opened the breakfast plenary on Tuesday, May 5.
When Crown introduced the theme of this year’s event (“Many Voices. One Movement”) and CARE president and CEO Helene (“the great equator of CARE”) to approving nods from the crowd, it was clear that the more than 600 participants were eager to heed the call -- and prepare to become a voice for the voiceless at visits to policymakers from 250 congressional districts.
In the crowd: state chairs, student winners of a Yahoo! contest, one former supermodel, CARE USA’s Board Chair, Bo Cutter, as well as CARE supporters from dozens of countries. In her remarks, Dr. Gayle acknowledged a handful of participants who’d attended the conference every year, building the event up from its original group of 20 to this year’s largest-ever gathering. Gayle also stressed the importance of key issues – including climate change, hunger and food security, and preventing child marriage – especially at a time when the world is in economic turmoil.
“We’re in the midst of an extraordinary year as global citizens,” Gayle said. “It’s easy to turn inward and focus on our own problems during a financial crisis, but that’s short-sighted,” she warned. “53 more million people have been thrown into poverty, and our problems and theirs are intertwined. There’s no luxury in waiting until the financial crisis is over. It’s important more than ever that we act now.”
As a volunteer from Georgia who interacts regularly with CARE staff in Atlanta, I am privileged and honored to be here in DC to “act now.” This morning, I am heartened by the mood and enthusiasm: I have seen many familiar faces from the recent A Powerful Noise Live! event in NYC in March, as well as many new faces I am eager to meet and reconnect with, including guests David Lane (President and CEO of ONE – I’m also a ONE volunteer co-leader) and musician Michael Franti (whom I interviewed years ago).
Full from bagels, juice, and apple, I’m now off to the briefing on hunger and food security. I’m ever mindful of the world’s ironies and disproportions, but also very thankful for my many blessings, and that’s why I’m here lending my voice today.
--Kristi York Wooten
Send This | Categories:
|
