The jury is still out on whether I am really just another white woman with the weight of the world’s problems on my shoulders, but STAND truly has, most definitely, defied my cynicisms from the very first chapter meeting. Never have I encountered such thoughtful, genuinely passionate individuals so willing to adapt than the people I have met through STAND.

Over the past year or so, as chapter leader and as West Regional Organizer, I have met organizers, students giving up their free moments to learn and advocate, policy experts, and most importantly, survivors. Listening to women from Rwanda, Cambodia, Nigeria, Darfur, and South Sudan tell their stories of resilience shook me to my core. They reminded me of the power of the human soul like no religion class in my 13 years of Catholic schooling ever did.

Engaging with survivors, on-the-ground activists, and youth organizers to lead actions and campaigns has placed STAND and its leadership team at the front lines of a growing global youth network. It is a network of individuals ready to act, to hold even the most powerful human rights abusers accountable, and to provide students with the tools they need to make a difference. Taking part in this network has been the most fulfilling part of my STAND experience.

Beyond the concrete skills I have gained lobbying congressional offices and attending conferences and retreats, I have gained the support of amazing people in this movement to inform and uplift me. The best part is that, as a Managing Committee (MC) member, I get to welcome more student leaders into our network of solidarity and empower them with the tools to make us the Never Again Generation. Afterwards, I get to watch us all work together towards tangible policy goals at home and abroad.

Like I said, I was incredibly skeptical at first, but I shouldn’t have been. Every meeting and every conference I have attended was filled with leaders as eager to teach as they were to learn. Perhaps I could have gotten more involved sooner, and met these people earlier. That is my only regret. I am so grateful that I found a home at STAND, and cannot wait to see what we can accomplish next.

Check out available STAND Managing Committee positions for 2017-2018 here. Applications are due Friday, March 31 at 11:59 PM.

–

Darcy Gleeson is a sophomore at the University of Southern California and is originally from Louisville, KY. She is the Vice President of her STAND chapter at USC and STAND’s West Coast Regional Organizer for the 2016-17 school year.

Why did you first get involved in STAND and how have you been involved since then?

I first became involved with STAND when I started a chapter at my high school. I loved being involved as a chapter president, and when I graduated, I really want to stay involved and share what I had learned with other chapters. So I joined the Managing Committee as a regional organizer, and it’s been one of my very best decisions!

Name a favorite STAND memory!

One of my favorite memories was at the Lemkin Summit, when I got to participate in a lobby meeting with staffers from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In the meeting, we got to present our points about each conflict and have an amazing discussion about how to approach change in the Central African Republic. Hearing from the staffers about their commitment to the conflicts and faith in the power of student movements motivated me to work even harder this Spring!

What has your experience being on the MC been like?

Being a member of the MC has been a truly amazing experience and the best part of my year. While we often get sidetracked by food puns and cute animal pictures, the MC is a dedicated and hard-working group of people who are committed to the cause. Working in a community of people who care so much about genocide prevention is energizing, and I love being able to work with so many students across my region as well!

Can you tell us a little about what you do in your role as Regional Organizer?

I’m help run STAND’s Mid-Atlantic region, which means I work with chapters to help them get started, create new events, and build their membership. A lot of my job is connecting students with resources, discussing campaigns, and giving advice on the ins and outs of running their chapter and how to engage with national campaigns. If you like communicating, organizing, and helping other student leaders, this is the right position for you!

What’s one thing you’ve learned from your time in STAND, whether as a result of your experiences with your chapter, or being involved on the national level?

The biggest thing I have learned is that young people can make truly innovative change when we work together. From national emails, petitions, and lobbying to art campaigns, teach-ins, and blogging, students have demonstrated that they are capable of getting creative to make the change we need from the ground up. After seeing the energy and amazing events that chapters in my region have created, I know that students will stop at nothing to make meaningful change for a better world.

Carly is a freshman at American University. Reach out to her at cfabian@standnow.org.

One of my favorite things about STAND is the amazing community of passionate, inspirational students that it brings together. As a Regional Organizer on the STAND Managing Committee, you are part of two such amazing communities. The first is the Managing Committee (MC) as a whole. The people who make up the MC are some of the most talented, motivated, and kind people I have ever met. We create a (slightly dysfunctional) family that does all the important things together: celebrate successes, mourn tragedies, and come together at least once a week (and normally more) to talk about what’s happening next in our lives and for STAND.

The second is the community of chapter leaders that you interact with on a regular basis. As a Regional Organizer (RO), your main job is to support your chapters in whatever way they need and to ensure that they become empowered leaders of the anti-genocide movement. Through contact with chapter leaders, RO’s are given a unique opportunity to not only facilitate grassroots actions, but also see the incredible power that specific grassroots actions and movements have that make the world just a slightly better place. Throughout the year, you create strong bonds with the chapter leaders, and I consider my chapter leaders as really close friends.

I hope that you will consider applying to join this amazing STAND MC Family! If you have any questions about the Regional Organizer position in particular, or about any other position on the Managing Committee, feel free to email me atffreeman@standnow.org!

Francesca is a junior at the University of Chicago.

In the day-to-day of campus life, it’s so easy to lose sight of the something greater. This is especially hard for me as I go to school in a small town where the university is really the only thing around. My time is divided between class, Donkey Coffee on Washington Street, and the Smiling Skull bar on Union. Of course, as a student, my mind is divided as many ways as it can be between class, reading, papers, projects, summer, food, bills, work, money (money, money).

From the students that I’ve talked to, this is a very familiar slump that most of us experience. Even if we love what we study and enjoy the work we do, it’s so hard to maintain this double vision, a balance between the work that’s necessary now and the work that’s necessary for the something greater.

Last month, the Lemkin Summit pulled 110 of us out of this slump and gave us an opportunity to focus on this greater something: the movement to end genocide and mass atrocities. As I drove away from Athens towards DC with four other student activists from around Ohio and Michigan, I felt the excitement of this shared vision. Over the next three days, we explored this vision through educational sessions and trainings, then presented it to the elected representatives in Washington.

Just one week ago, President Obama confirmed that the U.S. would not apply the principle of “near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured” in its operations in Iraq and Syria, given that they are areas of “active hostilities.”  This news came with reports of dozens of civilian deaths in Syria following a U.S. airstrike in Kafr Daryan.  Bearing in mind that military action is bound by the principles of distinction, proportionality and necessity, the United States has a clear obligation to prevent civilian deaths, even in its crucial operations in Iraq and Syria.

Failing to take adequate measures to prevent civilian deaths not only violates international humanitarian law, but also runs counter to the stated strategy to degrade and destroy the Islamic State. Civilian casualties have already caused popular Syrian discontent with American bombings in the country and caused Syrian resentment toward moderate armed opposition groups the White House plans to train and equip. Several Syrian commanders of such groups have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the air strikes and the high civilian casualties that the strikes have caused. Ultimately, civilian deaths caused by U.S. bombing only strengthens support for the Islamic State and other violent extremist groups as they seek to portray the United States and its allies as the enemy of the Syrian people.

Acknowledging that information both from US military and groups on the ground is often difficult to verify, STAND would like to echo the questions of the letter drafted by The Prevention and Protection Working Group and addressed to President Obama:

• What special precautions is the U.S. taking to protect civilians endangered by U.S. military operations?

• What steps are being taken not to harm health facilities, medical personnel, or other first responders, and to avoid further damage to systems and infrastructure that support necessary services including water and food?

• What are the diplomatic strategies that the U.S. government is pursuing both with Iraqi tribal leaders in Sunni majority areas vulnerable to IS recruitment efforts as well as with partners like Turkey and Qatar, and civil society leaders and organizations? How is the U.S. engaging diplomatically with these same internal and external actors to peel away and present viable nonviolent alternatives to those who have joined IS?

• Underscoring the need for long-term solutions and recognizing that airstrikes are incapable of reaching a successful resolution to the crisis, how is the U.S. government engaging in peacebuilding and development in the short term and beyond to support a successful transition out of cycles of violence?

• What is the U.S. doing to investigate reports of civilians being killed and any allegations of violations of international humanitarian law on the part of U.S. armed forces or that of U.S. partners, including the September 23 incident in the village of Kafr Daryan?

Syrian civilians are already feeling the effects of United States airstrikes.  Many have been forced to flee, and those who have not face dire humanitarian crises ahead.  Furthermore, in Iraq civilians face conditions that the UN claims may amount to serious human rights violations and war crimes.  In light of these conditions, we urge the United States to be vigilant in protecting civilians in Iraq and Syria.

In Solidarity,

STAND: the Student-led Movement to End Mass Atrocities

This morning I woke up around 5a.m, which is pretty typical for me.  My pet human, Kat, however, is pretty lazy and doesn’t usually get out of bed until 8am.  I always wondered why Kat was named Kat even though she’s not a cat.  Humans are funny animals, huh?

I’m a dog and I’m from Rwanda.  My name is Waffle because my fur is the perfect golden brown level that humans try to achieve when making waffles.  I personally prefer bones, but humans have different taste preferences I suppose.

Anyway, this morning I tried to wake Kat up so she could get to her job earlier than normal.  She has an important job: she fights genocide.  Once a week I go into the office with her and make sure she stays on top of her work.  She doesn’t usually listen to me though.  I’ve been thinking about taking her to human training classes lately.  If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to send them to me (waffle@standnow.org).

Like I was saying, I tried to wake her up early.  I went over to her bed and licked her face gently.  For some reason, she didn’t like that.  She tried to push me off the bed.  I always tell her to use her words, but she’s not as sophisticated as dogs I suppose.  I decided to start barking to show her that she needed to wake up. My bark is nicer than that Kanye West song she listens to in the morning to wake up, that’s for sure.  I was doing her a favor.

Finally, Kat and I were ready to go to work at STAND.  Whereas I just have to lick a few spots here and there to get ready, Kat goes through a very lengthy process to get ready in the morning.  It’s pretty ridiculous, actually.  Sometimes I try to speed the process up by licking her, but she never appreciates it and then spends even longer getting ready!  Humans, right?

As we were walking toward our office at Punch Rock, I saw a squirrel and tried to run after it.  For some reason Kat thinks that if she puts me on a leash she can control me.  I know how to get out of my leash, but I usually entertain Kat and let her think she’s in control.  I mean, sure I get distracted by squirrels and other dogs and cats that I see.  But Kat gets distracted by the smell of blueberry muffins and the sight of other dogs that are nowhere near as cute as me!  She has no self-restraint.

Finally, we got to the office.  I ran inside and looked around, sniffing people here and there to get a sense of the place again.  I come in around once a week, so everyone is always very excited to see me.  I said hi to Shomya, the STAND community manager, and saw that she was g-chatting Hannah while looking at pictures of North West.  Typical.  I also saw our interns, Haley and Natasha—they’re adogable!

For the next few hours, I maintained a watchful eye on Kat and Shomya as they responded to emails and participated in various meetings while plotting out STAND’s future. I’m pretty much STAND’s unofficial mascot.  Without me, Kat and Shomya wouldn’t get any work done.  I don’t know how STAND functions on days that I’m not in the office.

Around 3, I started getting tired, as it was time for my afternoon nap.  I dreamed of President Obama’s dog, Bo, and wondered if Samantha Power has a dog too.  I also dreamed of life back in Rwanda, where Kat found me.  We’ve been best friends ever since.

When I woke up it was already 4 o’clock!  Sure enough, Kat and Shomya were talking about Beyonce.  This is a pretty normal activity for them.  They also like to talk abut Daniel Solomon’s dance moves and Mickey Jackson’s pick-up lines.  I yawned to show them I was awake and that I expected them to go back to work.  After a few more quips about Beyonce and Blue Ivy, they finally got down to business.  Kat is busy transitioning in the new Managing Committee and Shomya is planning the MC retreat, which is coming up soon.

I wasn’t at last year’s MC retreat, but I think I need to go this summer.  STAND has a lot of work to do: we need to plan our fall semester campaigns, chart out long term strategies, and learn some best practices!  How will the new Managing Committee do that without me?  How would STAND function without me?  I am, after all, the Student Dogrector.

I was recently asked how STAND has changed my life. I was pretty taken aback at the question, but I think when you’re forced to not think and just speak, that’s often when you say how you really feel. I responded that through STAND, I’ve learned just how interconnected our world is, which makes me feel like we each have some degree of moral responsibility to do what we can.

Before STAND, I can’t say I was very knowledgeable about the world around me. In ninth grade, I saw a girl in my world history class with a shirt that said “Save Darfur” on it and wondered what Darfur was and why it needed saving. In tenth grade, I joined STAND. And the rest, as they so often say, is history.

When the announcement that I was going to be next year’s Student Director went live, an outpouring of support soon followed. I received emails from countless STAND alum who are all pursuing amazing, diverse things post-STAND (not that you can ever really escape STAND). I got texts, I got Facebook messages, and yes, I got tweets. I had never met most of these people, but I still felt like I knew them.

It’s sometimes hard to describe what STAND is and what we do, so I usually just fall back on our tagline. But STAND is much more than “the student-led movement to end mass atrocities.” STAND connects people. And when you realize that you’re in some way connected to everyone else around the world, you know that you’re in it together– and that you want to do what you can to make our world a better place.

I could not be more excited to serve as STAND’s Student Director and to see what we can accomplish together.

Mickey, DSol, Mac, Matt, Ryan, and Jess: You’ve shaped STAND’s past, present, and future, and we are all so lucky to know and be known by you! On behalf of all STAND students and the entire anti-genocide movement, we want to say thank you!

Mickey Jackson, Student Director

I don’t really know where to begin talking about Mickey and his investment in STAND- what I do know is that without Mickey as Student Director this past year, STAND really, truly would not be what it is now. Mickey is the epitome of a leader- he is strong when times are tough, he is kind and supportive, and he is as humble as he is hard working (and he’s probably the hardest worker I’ve ever met!). During a year when major transitions could have broken even the strongest spirits, Mickey stayed optimistic and led. After being part of STAND and this movement for 8 years, Mickey is still able to inspire and energize all of those around him- and more than that, he is still able to be inspired to act tirelessly by the events happening from Syria to Sudan, and by the actions of fellow student advocates. I am incredibly lucky to have worked with Mickey, and STAND is incredibly lucky to have had Mickey as Student Director! That waiter at Dirty Martini has is right- you are the hardest worker in DC, and I wouldn’t have wanted to go through the ups and downs of this past year with anyone but you!

– Kathleen Fallon, STAND Senior Manager

I don’t think there’s a better way to describe Mickey than, “Oh Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind.” Mickey has been the life-force of STAND this year and the world’s most amazing Student Director: I could not imagine a better, more “mind blowing” Student Director than Mickey. The amount of time and dedication that Mickey has put into the MC is simply mind-blogging – he led the MC with such passion, drive, and his work was always impeccably and amazingly thought out! This year was definitely a year with a lot of STAND transitions, and without Mickey leading the way, STAND would not be in the place where it is now. Not only is Mickey the world’s most amazing Student Director, but I could not imagine a better person and role model than Mickey: he is kind, considerate of all other’s and their opinions, welcoming, and such a warm person. From STAND chats, to random group dance parties, to the most impeccable and well thought out weekly emails, to awkward silences on MC calls, Mickey, I will miss you more than you can imagine next year – you better keep in touch!

– Ashley Jowell, West Coast Regional Organizer

Daniel Solomon, Advocacy Coordinator

I wish I could explain Daniel in a paragraph, but I’m sure I would need an entire dissertation (with Anne Marie-slaughter as the advisor of course) to do that. When I first met him, I was floored that a student could possibly be so knowledgeable about EVERY subject. I mean, the only feeling I felt was complete intimidation. Some things you might think upon meeting Daniel:

“I don’t understand half the words this guy is saying, just keep smiling and nodding so he thinks you’re smart.” “How is he tweeting about mass atrocities while having a conversation with me, literally.” “Why does he keep saying ‘tweeps,’ and what the hell are ‘tweeps.’”

But if you’re so lucky to really know Daniel, he is infinitely more. He is someone that will rap to Childish Gambino lyrics with you at 3 in the morning. He is someone that will never hold a grudge. He is someone who despite his unfathomable intelligence never minimizes the thoughts and ideas that every individual has to offer. He is someone who will make more Community, Parks and Rec, and Friday Night Lights references than you can possibly pick up on. He is someone that will, without second thought, offer you a couch to live on when you’re homeless in your first month in D.C. He is someone that has given everything he possibly could to STAND, without ever expecting anything in return. Daniel is someone that you want to know not only because he’ll probably be covertly running our government’s foreign affairs one day, but also because people like Daniel are not easy to come across. You want to know Daniel because he will make you believe in the best in yourself and the best in others.

– Shomya Tripathy, STAND Community Manager

When I first met DSol at STAND Camp 2011, I couldn’t help but wonder, “How can someone be so well-versed, hilarious, wonky, and sweet?” all at the same time!?! He was a mystery. Luckily, I had the pleasure of getting to know him better this year on the MC – Daniel never ceases to amaze me, whether its due to his brilliant blog posts, incredibly well thought out emails, hilarious sense of humor, or delicious pictures of food! His passion and dedication over the years to STAND (whether as National Burma Education Coordinator, Student Director, or Advocacy Coordinator) is simply unbelievable, and I cannot imagine STAND without him! What’s equally impressive to DSol’s foreign policy brilliance is his kindness and ability to make me (and everyone) laugh. Without him, STAND would for sure not be in the place it is today, for he has truly led the students in our movement to having a greater understanding of the policy of the conflicts we focus on. His passion is clear, and I have learned so much from him this year (from mass atrocities policy to 3am heart to hearts). I love you DSol so much, and thank you for being such an incredible person, friend, and role model!

– Ashley Jowell, West Coast Regional Organizer

Mac Hamilton, Education Coordinator

If there’s anyone I have met in the last year that I want to just sit and listen to for hours on end, it is certainly Mac Hamilton. Her perspectives are always brilliant and the things she has done amount to some incredibly fascinating stories. She makes me jealous. But she has also taught me so many important lessons that the words here cannot explain. I know Mac will continue to grow and fascinate and teach valuable lessons about privilege and about mass atrocities, but I also know Mac will continue to stick it to the man until… until, well, she is the man.

– Jack Spicer, Midwest Regional Organizer

Before joining the MC, I didn’t know Mac. However, I had heard her name many times before- it seemed as though everyone (yes, everyone) both knew Mac and loved her. When I asked what it was, exactly, that they loved about her, I was never given a concrete answer but simply told that upon meeting her, I’d understand. They were right: soon after getting to know Mac, I understood. I understood why everyone loved her as well as the inability to describe in words her awesomeness, but I’ll try here anyway. First and foremost, she’s kind; but she’s also hilarious, thoughtful, and intelligent. Basically, you want her as your friend. I was lucky enough to nab her as my roommate at STAND Camp in 2012 and still like to think of her as my roommate to this day. From serving on the MC as Education Coordinator to being heavily involved with Smith’s student government to always “being there” for so many people, Mac has impacted many lives and I’m sure she’ll continue to do so after graduating from STAND. I can’t wait to see what she does next. #MacandHannahFoLyfe

– Hannah Finnie, Southeast Regional Organizer

Matt Heck, Online Communications Coordinator

Who is Matthew Heck? Can all of what the supposed Matthew Heck does really be done by one individual? No, I didn’t think so. So that’s why I am writing about the entity we’ve associated with Matthew Heck for the past year instead, and calling for all of those people that make up Matthew Heck to come forward once and for all. I’m kidding, but syriasly, Matt has one heck of a work ethic and I’ve learned that the knowledge and passion driving it are beyond admirable. His insight is simply unmatched. I can remember times when I would read Matt’s responses to email threads and immediately text him something super duper passionate like “your response to that thread is amazing.” He has accomplished so many things already and I am sure that his list of accomplishments will continue to grow at breakneck speeds and impress people so much that they might even make a youtube video about him or something. Oh wait, that’s already happened. Cheers, buddy.

– Jack Spicer, Midwest Regional Organizer

I first “met” Matt virtually: when he found out I would be on the MC (he had been interning with STAND in DC) he sent me the most friendly and hilarious message introducing himself, saying hello, and talking about how excited he was to meet me. This kind and funny message is emblematic of our relationship: he is one of the sweetest (and also most hilarious) individuals that I know and he adds so much humor and warmth to the MC and my life. This year would not have been the same without his gchats, snapchats, and just having Matt as a friend- besides being a great friend, Matt is also an unbelievable MC member. The amount of work he has dedicated to transforming the STAND website is mind-boggling, and it is without a doubt worth it (for the new website once released will be incredible!) The website will certainly be around for many more years to come, so that will definitely be one part of Matt’s STAND everlasting legacy; yet another equally important part is the kindness and hilariousness he has instilled in all he’s interacted with. I’ll miss you Matt, and you better keep snapchatting, g-chatting, and stay in touch next year!

– Ashley Jowell, West Coast Regional Organizer

Ryan Brenner, Mid-Atlantic Regional Organizer

One of my proudest accomplishments from the past year was creating the nickname Ryguy for our very own Ryan Brenner. Though she resisted at first (and Ryan’s power of resisting is quite strong), I think she eventually came around to it. Or maybe she still hates it. Either way, the nickname stuck. I haven’t known Ryan very long, but she’s quickly become one of my favorite STAND people. Her passion for STAND is evident, especially with regard to working with diaspora. She forged STAND’s relationship with Voices for Sudan and has used her extensive contacts with diaspora members to make sure they have a voice in our movement. Aside from being involved in STAND national and her STAND chapter at GWU, Ryan is also incredibly involved in Banaa, which is a scholarship program for students from Sudan to come to the US for college. Ryan’s dedication to Banaa resulted in giving Jacob, an amazing student from Sudan, a four-year scholarship to attend GW starting next year. In her spare time (what spare time? Ryan’s always busy!), Ryan also works at the State Department, and won a pretty cool award from them. She also tweets hilarious things and sends ridiculous texts. My latest text from Ryan says: “Get on da call I don’t want mjacks to cry.” And that’s why I love her. Good luck out there, Ryguy!

– Hannah Finnie, Southeast Regional Organizer

I’ve known Ryan since she was a sophomore and I was a senior at GWU. Even then, I knew that she was not just going to be a STAND leader, but one of those STAND leaders and one of those people- the ones who never lose their energy, passion, and drive because they actively feel this work. This is what I admire most about Ryan: even after four years of being a STAND and genocide prevention leader, she still feels every story and every news article. Some of the most shining and sincere praise I’ve heard about Ryan has come from leaders within the Sudanese diaspora community. Not only does she have an extraordinary ability to empathize, but she also inspires others to similarly turn their empathy into action. From protesting the ongoing atrocities in Syria, to working tirelessly to bring Sudanese scholars to the U.S. through Banaa, to making students feel that caring about genocide is cool, Ryan is the epitome of a passionate and effective activist. I guarantee that this girl is going to do big things.

– Kathleen Fallon, STAND Senior Manager

Jess Pham, Media Coordinator

I’ll admit it: I’m somewhat addicted to Facebook. But Jess is partly to blame. Over the course of a few months this past year, I’d often be looking at my newsfeed when I would stumble across a nonchalantly-worded post from Jess announcing the addition of a world-famous speaker to the agenda for the SAID Conference (Stanford Association for International Development) like Alejandro Toledo, the former President of Peru. This year, Jess managed to organize this amazing conference while maintaining her role as STAND’s Communications Coordinator and getting a decent amount of sleep. I’m not really sure how she was able to do all three (and more!), but my only guess is that she was able to get her hands on a time turner (a la Hermione Granger). Jess’s dedication to causes she cares about has been a stalwart inspiration for me over the past year that I’ve had a chance to work with her, and I’m sure she’ll continue to be a source of inspiration after she graduates from Stanford and the MC! Congrats Jess!

– Hannah Finnie, Southeast Regional Organizer

I first met Jess when we were both interning in D.C. two summers ago. From the moment I met her, I knew she was someone to keep around. Her heartwarming, humble, and incredibly genuine personality is not something to take for granted in a person as intelligent and accomplished as her. And when I say accomplished, I really mean it. It is rare that you meet someone who is just willing to rise up to any and all challenges, and Jess does so humbly. Whether it be her position on the MC, her role as conference coordinator, or studying abroad and being away from her home at Stanford semester after semester, she seizes the challenges and opportunities that come her way and takes them on gracefully. But in spite of all the advice and inspiration she has to offer, she is still a down-to-earth girl that you can happy hour with anytime. Jess, you’re one of a kind!

– Shomya Tripathy, STAND Community Manager