An invite from a STAND Alum:

NOI New Media BootCamp for recent graduates
July 1-8, 2010, Washington, DC
All-expenses-paid new media training
Apply Here by April 30th
Know someone who should apply? Recommend someone here.

As anyone who knows me can attest, I pretty much have the market cornered on enthusiasm. But there is nothing I am as enthusiastic about as student organizing. STAND students share that same enthusiasm. You’re dedicated beyond measure and willing to do the tough work to make your goals happen. Now, you can take your organizing to the next level and sustain your activism after college, by participating in the New Organizing Institute’s 2010 New Media BootCamp.

As a STAND alum myself, I can attest that the organizing I did in STAND equipped me with the tools to make it in the professional world of politics. As the 2007-2008 College Programming Coordinator, my involvement in planning and creating campaigns and events gave me invaluable experience in event planning, writing, fundraising, and strategy that I definitely wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. My time in STAND proved to be the most significant experience on my resume when I applied for BootCamp 2009 with the New Organizing Institute. A week-long, all-expenses-paid training focused on training young progressives in the skills to run campaigns, BootCamp was a life-changing experience. During the day, we learned from the game-changing innovators in new media and organizing. At night, we worked into the wee hours on mock campaigns: superheroes for Mayor of DC. I have never been so dedicated to a win for Batgirl, the candidate of action and change. Even though we didn’t win the mock election, I did learn everything from how to build a website to how to write a field plan.

Nine months later, I’m back with NOI, this time as a Fellow. My primary job is to organize BootCamp 2010, which promises to be even better than last year. STAND students would be perfect for this kind of training, so if you’re a graduating senior, recent college grad, or just an amazing organizer looking for some new media training and employment, apply now! The training that you get at BootCamp will make you more competitive in the difficult job market, as well as connect you with people who are looking for exciting rockstars like yourself to work on campaigns or with civic engagement organizations. If you’re not ready for BootCamp this year, but know someone who would be perfect, recommend a BootCamper! The application deadline is April 30th, so don’t wait!

It’s true what Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”

Every successful organization has little groups within it, completing the larger body. Arizona State University STAND is no exception. The ASU chapter is small, a group of 8 committed members. Size, however, does not matter. As long as those individuals are eager and passionate, anything can happen.  

This past year has been a year of development for this chapter, and ASU STAND believes it is just the beginning. As activists around the world participated in Holocaust Remembrance Week, ASU STAND hosted Genocide Awareness Week. This week was comprised of daily events to promote awareness and understanding of why and how genocide occurs and what we all can do to stop it. ASU STAND networked with other social justice organizations on campus such as Nuru International, Invisible Children, and Student Advocates for Global Justice and United Students for Fair Trade.  We also worked with two incredible community activists in our area – Carl Wilkens Fellows Cory Williams, first year Fellow, and current Fellow, Kim Klett. The events during this week entailed freeze flash mobs, panel dinners and walks along campus.

ASU STAND members joined up with the other organizations on Monday and Friday to demonstrate the importance of global awareness on campus grounds. They made shirts that stated “Imagine” with different statistics about the issues in Darfur, Congo, Uganda and Burma.  On Tuesday, forty students signed up with Nuru International and STAND to walk one mile on campus carrying a bucket of water on their heads. The reason for this mile trip was to raise awareness about the women in Africa who miss out on school because they have to walk miles for somewhat clean water to survive. Wednesday night STAND showed the documentary, “God Grew Tired of Us,” that tells the story about three Lost Boys of Sudan who settled in the U.S, and local Lost Boys came to the event to raise money for their Phoenix Shelter.

The week ended with a big bang on Thursday night as a dinner titled Humanitarian Crises and Genocide: Survivors and Experts Speak Out. The dinner featured survivors from the Holocaust, Rwanda and Bhutan who told their stories and why they thought students should get involved in this movement. ASU STAND could not have put on this week without the help of the two amazing Carl Wilkens Fellows, Cory and Kim, all of the organizations on campus that came out to support our cause and the students at ASU willing to take a stand. Never think that any dream is too big because we all can make a difference.

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), one of the key rebel groups in Darfur, signed a ceasefire with Khartoum this past Saturday. In the spring of 2008, JEM launched an attack, aiming to reach Khartoum, but managed to reach nearby Omdurman. The signing of this agreement was overseen by neighboring Chad, which is widely believed to have been supporting JEM rebels in their efforts against the Sudanese government in a proxy war which the two countries recently declared over.

This deal is a preliminary framework agreement setting the rules for the discussions and agreements to come, while the March 15 deadline for a final peace agreement with Darfur remains. After the final agreements, JEM will be a political party in the government. In addition, Khartoum agreed to cancel 100 death sentences on JEM rebels.

The Beijing Olympics are just around the corner, and much of the world is waiting for the Games to begin. But the people of Darfur have been waiting much longer for something much greater: the stability and safety they need to return to their homes.

The Beijing Olympics represent many contradictions. The Chinese government is hosting the games who’s slogan is "one world, one dream" while sheltering the Government of Sudan, responsible for a heinous genocide in Darfur. The Chinese government is selling advertising rights while selling the Government of Sudan arms that are used for killings in Darfur. The Chinese Government is keeping sacred the Olympic torch while keeping Darfur in flames.

And the Chinese Government is not alone in such contradictions: Obama and McCain are both spending countless amounts of campaign money on Olympic ads despite having both been relatively vocal on Darfur. Meanwhile, those who have been truly vocal on Darfur, such as Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek, have been denied visas to enter China.

Now, with the Olympic Games around the corner, these contradictions are even clearer. We see who is really speaking up for Darfur and who isn’t, who is really holding the torch for human rights and who is just using it as a publicity stunt. As the Games approach, we must be ready to act. Start by checking out this petition from Dream for Darfur. Show the international community that we refuse to settle until it upholds the Olympic dream!

Get the latest on what’s going on in the Democratic Republic of Congo! Learn more about the conflict and get the most up to date news available from the ENOUGH Project’s Congo Campaign Manager, Candice Knezevic. Candice just returned from the region and will be joining us on the call this Thursday at 8 PM EST to answer your questions!  Don’t forget to jump on the call!  Simply dial (269) 320-8300 and punch in the access code, 349902#, when prompted.

As we continue to build a truly permanent constituency of citizens dedicated to not just ending genocide, but preventing future atrocities, we must continue to monitor other areas of concern and human rights violations around the world.  To be prepared to take action when opportunities arise first requires each and every one of us to stay fully educated on the issue and our potential role in bringing the crisis to an end.  So spread the word and join us this Thursday at 8 PM EST to learn more about the DRC and how we can hold the world accountable to their pledges of never again!