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.

STAND, the US-based student movement to end mass atrocities, is merging with the Aegis Trust as the US branch of the Aegis Youth Department. Founded in 2003 by a group of Georgetown students, over the following years STAND chapters sprang up at schools and colleges across the USA. Originally an acronym for ‘Students Taking Action Now: Darfur’, STAND subsequently expanded its focus to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities wherever they may occur. 

This is a mission shared by the Aegis Trust, which developed in 2000 from the work of the UK National Holocaust Centre. Aegis addresses genocide as a public health issue and works to prevent it in three stages; first, through commemoration and peace-building education designed to break long-term cycles of violence; second, through research, evidence-based policy advice and advocacy for people now at risk of mass atrocities; third, through support for survivors and communities trying to rebuild when genocide is past.

Responsible for the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda – a site where some 250,000 victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide lie buried – Aegis is now being urged by leading figures in Kenya, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic (CAR) to take its successful model for peacebuilding beyond Rwanda’s borders.

In particular, the move to help CAR is backed by a youth-led campaign launched in February by STAND and Aegis Students, the youth arm of the Aegis Trust. With STAND now sharing the Aegis umbrella, ‘Action for CAR’ (www.action4CAR.org) promises to be the first such international youth-led campaign.

“Aegis is an international leader in the field of genocide prevention and we’re excited to be a part of their expansion,” said Natasha Kieval, Student Director at STAND. Mac Hamilton, STAND Executive Manager added, “Merging with Aegis strengthens our impact and broadens our resources to fight against genocide and mass atrocities internationally. By joining Aegis, with their focus on youth empowerment for peacebuilding, we will only expand our commitment to experiential student leadership.”

“We have long admired the passion and commitment of our colleagues at STAND. The Aegis team is delighted to be joined by them in this merger,” says Swims, CEO of the Aegis Trust. “We know from experience just how important youth-led advocacy and peacebuilding are in breaking cycles of violence, and we look forward to working closely with our American colleagues not only for the Central African Republic, but ultimately for the prevention of mass atrocities wherever people are at risk.”

This past weekend, many fellow STAND students and activists came together for the national Women and Genocide Symposium co-sponsored by STAND and the Darfur Women Action Group. Though the conference was all the way in Washington DC, there were no limits to the distance the attendees traveled to get there – from New York to Colorado, there was a very diverse group of students present for the weekend. In addition, there were a broad range of interests and opinions that made the conference fun and engaging for everyone.

To begin the conference, a panel of scholars and officials spoke broadly on the topic of genocide, each with a different and informative perspective. Representing Sudan, Syria, the Congo, and the United Nations, the panelists spoke about why students and adults alike should care about care about these conflicts while also proposing viable, strategic plans of action. This was followed by several other informative speakers and powerful movie clips that clearly evoked empathy from the audience.

By the end of day one, everyone was exhausted yet invigorated. Debriefing discussions ensued once the day had come to a close and everyone seemed more knowledgeable about the situation in Sudan and the concept of genocide as a whole.

Day two opened with a panel of some of the most amazing and dedicated activists – students. Representing STAND was Mac Hamilton (former Education Coordinator) and Nate Wright (one of the founders of STAND at Georgetown University). Not only was their panel extremely engaging, it also showcased the value of student activism and the importance of the student voice within the anti-genocide movement. It showed students that their voice truly does matter and make a difference. Nate even emphasized the importance of “edgy” and unique campaigns in order to make the cause visible. This panel definitely left every student in the room feeling refreshed and excited to continue their work as part of the anti-genocide constituency.

As people said goodbye, it was evident that friendships had been established and important connections were made. The conference as a whole served as a great way to bring together people from all different communities to engage in one common goal – learning about and fighting against genocide.

After the conference, there was an optional lobby day on Monday. A few of us lobbied at the State Department, speaking with the Special Envoy to Sudan (well, his representative), and also Representatives of various states on Capitol Hill, hoping to obtain signatures on the Sudan Peace, Security, and Accountability Act – an act that would increase humanitarian aid to Sudan and put more international pressure on a comprehensive peace process. One of the Represenatives who was met with that day has already agreed to co-sponsor the bill!

Overall, the lobby day went very well, and even if the bill is not successfully passed, the STAND constituency, and anti-genocide constituency as a whole, will keep moving forward and pushing for a resolution to the conflicts in Sudan and everywhere that genocide exists.

If there was one thing students took away from this conference it was that every little action counts toward making a difference. My friend Shannon, a junior at the University of Colorado Boulder, was astounded at the knowledge she gained throughout the weekend. “I didn’t realize that the effects of sexual violence on a woman in Sudan are so detrimental – it’s shocking to think that one act of violence could destroy an entire culture,” she said.

Overall, this weekend served as a valuable resource for all involved, and was truly taken to heart by the participants. STAND students continue to show their commitment and dedication to the anti-genocide movement by attending events like this one- which is why, in time, perhaps a world without genocide will become a reality.

I never thought I would have a connection to the genocide prevention movement. I grew up in North Carolina, in a town of mostly white southerners with little international experience or knowledge. My time in high school, however, got me interested in international affairs and so I went off to N.C. State – a 15-minute drive from the house I grew up in – to pursue degrees in international relations and criminology.

While at State, I took many classes that dealt with conflicts around the world and I eventually became editor-in-chief of the university’s newspaper, which meant most of my day was spent glued to news sites, news on Twitter, and TV news channels. My relatively narrow worldview began expanding at a rapid rate, and to be honest it was a little overwhelming. There was so much going on in the world that I couldn’t come close to understanding!

Then I met Jon* through a mutual friend one night. He was very tall, very dark, and very quiet. But when he spoke, you listened. His words were always soft, but you could tell he said everything with purpose. During the traditional “tell me about yourself” line of conversation, I found out Jon was originally from Liberia and was in the U.S. to attend seminary. Then our mutual friend encouraged Jon to talk to us more about his past, and that’s when I became personally connected to the issues of war crimes, mass atrocities, and ethnic violence.

Jon was forced into becoming a child soldier in Liberia when he was a teenager, along with some of his brothers. He spent more than an hour detailing how soldiers raided his home, threatened his family with death, and swept him into a world of violence. He constantly feared for his life and followed orders to survive, but always thought about making it back home. Eventually he gained the trust of his commander, who left him alone to keep watch one night. After some deliberation, Jon decided to take his chances and escape. Although worried he would be hunted down and killed for fleeing, he made it home safely and never heard from his former commander again.

He was not comfortable talking about many of the specific horrors he faced, and I’m not sure if he will ever be comfortable talking about it – and that’s OK. While recounting his experiences, his mind seemed to wander away from the present and it felt like he was reliving that part of his life somewhere in his mind, not paying attention to the present company.

Meeting Jon and hearing about his life as a child soldier during Liberia’s civil war was life-changing for both myself and others in the room. So after moving to Washington, DC for graduate school I jumped at the opportunity to get involved with STAND. I want to be a part of the genocide prevention movement so I can stand up for people like Jon, whose story may never be heard elsewhere.

*Name has been changed.

When I was a freshman at John Carroll University, I was first introduced to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. All freshmen are required to take a First Year Seminar (FYS), and with human rights being something I felt strongly about, I decided to sign up for Human Rights and Social Justice with Dr. Clark. After hearing student after student complain about their FYS class, I honestly did not go into it with high expectations. However, this class not only strengthened my beliefs that I felt so passionately about, but it taught me how to debate and fight for them. Dr. Clark introduced me to a harsh reality that I had no idea still existed in our world today: genocide. Like most people, when I heard the word “genocide” I instantly thought about World War Two, Hitler, concentration camps, etc., a tragic event in history that would never happen again. Right? Sadly, I was wrong. How is it possible that such mass atrocities could be happening in the world today and so few people know about it? As the first Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. Then how is it possible that such atrocities and acts of genocide are occurring in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, and Syria? Why did I not know about this? More importantly, why isn’t anything being done about this?

As you can see, I had a lot of questions. Over the next few semesters at John Carroll, I continued to take Dr. Clark’s classes and grow stronger and stronger in my beliefs. At the end of my sophomore year, Dr. Clark told me about STAND. “Why don’t we have this at John Carroll?” Dr. Clark shrugged at me and said, “Why don’t you start it?” And so it began.

The summer after my sophomore year I was living in DC for an internship. Dr. Clark gave me a reference in the area that I met with who helped give me ideas about starting a chapter at my University. I came back to Carroll in the fall energetic and excited, ready to make STAND an official organization at John Carroll. The process was not as easy as I had thought. While balancing class, homework, cross country, and trying to maintain somewhat of a social life, I was emailing the Midwest STAND coordinator, Jack Spicer, other STAND chapter presidents, the president of my University, the CFCI regional coordinator, the Student Orgs rep on campus, and anyone who I thought could assist in making STAND possible at JCU. Despite the struggles we faced and through many, many hours of hard work, STAND was an official organization by the spring.

Then came the next challenge; how do we spread the word about our organization? We spent hours in the student center raising awareness about modern day genocide and getting signatures for a letter we sent to President Obama urging him to address the issue. Our big project, however, was One Million Bones. Originating from DC where the National Mall is covered with one million bones as a mass burial for victims of genocide, we simulated the same thing on our main quad at JCU. We lined the quad with signs offering facts about current day and past genocides in hopes of opening the eyes of students and faculty. The project was a great success and the first milestone for our chapter of STAND. I was so proud to see all of our hard work come together and the response of the campus to our One Million Bones presentation. I was reminded of a quote by Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Our chapter is not even a year old yet and has a lot of work to do, but I am so excited to see what the future holds for our chapter. The past year has been a huge learning experience for me and I am so thankful. If it was not for John Carroll, I doubt that my human rights passion would ever be sparked into activism and a possible career path for my future. Going to a university with the mission of “building men and women for others” has certainly shaped the person I have become, and STAND has been a huge part of that journey. Our chapter could not have been possible without role models to look towards like Dr. Clark and a supportive student body that is so passionate and service oriented. I hope others have been as deeply moved by STAND and its mission as I have.

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

Almost nine years ago, a small group of students at Georgetown University formed the first STAND chapter (fun fact: back then, STAND was an acronym for “Students Taking Action Now in Darfur). Since then, thousands of students from across the country have built and led constituencies for atrocities prevention in their communities. As a result, the “STAND Fam” does not just include our current crop of student organizers; it also includes several generations’ worth of “STAND alumni,” those who worked with STAND in high school and/or college and have since graduated.

Where can STAND alumni be found? Simply put, they’re all over the place! Some have gone to work as professional human rights organizers, others work in government, and many have played leading roles in political and issue-based campaigns. But one thing they have in common is this: if you ask them, chances are they’ll identify their time with STAND as an important formative experience, one that not only helped them decide what to do after graduation but also equipped them with skills that helped them to excel in their chosen career paths.

For many of these individuals, even those whose work no longer relates to atrocities prevention, their attachment to and involvement with this movement did not end with graduation. As anyone who has been to STAND Camp can attest, our alumni continue to play a key role in training and inspiring the next generation of STAND students. Over the next few months, our blog will feature intermittent posts by some of our most accomplished alumni, all addressing some variant of the following question: “What have you been doing since you left STAND, and how did your work with STAND affect your post-graduation life?” It is my hope that all of our readers, especially those who (like me!) are trying to answer the age-old “What the heck am I going to do with my life, anyway?!?” question, will find this series interesting, informative, and (just maybe!) inspiring.