A wildly successful awareness event

On April 27th, a large coalition of faith groups, refugee service organizations and STAND students came together to put on a wildly successful genocide awareness and prevention event in Chapel Hill, N.C. To make a long story short, these groups planned and worked for months to put together an event for Holocaust Remembrance Week and Genocide Awareness Month that celebrated survivors and liberators in our community, screened “The Last Survivor” documentary and held a discussion with the film’s co-director.

We squeezed 260 people into the sold-out theater and turned away about 50 people. We had three local mayors, two town council members and a state representative attend and participate in the celebration ceremony. We celebrated 12 survivors of the Holocaust and violence in Congo and celebrated 6 U.S. army veterans who liberated Nazi concentration camps. In fact, a veteran met for the first time a concentration camp survivor that he liberated – both now living in our community.

The movie had its usual powerful effect on the audience and especially drew praise from the survivors – who celebrated the film’s attempt to focus not just on the past. The conversation afterwards with the film’s co-director was powerful and inspiring, with a good conversation about what people can do to help prevent future crimes against humanity. People left motivated and engaged and determined.

The success of this event stands in stark contrast to the first Interfaith Coalition meeting held so many months ago at the beginning of my fellowship year - where only one person showed up. Some of the reasons why I think this event worked so well include:

**Strong coalitions. There was not one single group that planned this event. We made sure to involve groups such as the local Jewish federation, local church and mosques, refugee resettlement agencies, a Holocaust Speaker’s Bureau, and the local STAND chapter right from the early days. Asking them to come, have a booth and participate gave them ownership and motivation to promote to their constituencies.
**Involving local survivors. Bringing real survivors who live among us brought a very tangible, emotional power to the evening that simply showing the film would not have achieved.
**Planning far in advance. We began planning for this event late last year – a full five months before it happened. Of course, most work was done closer to the event but we got on elected officials’ calendars early, got out in front of other Holocaust Remembrance events and were well organized to get media attention.


What made some of your events better than others?

STANDFast: Stories of Survivors (12/1/09 at UNC-CH)

Here’s an upcoming event at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I’ll be there – come out and join us!


On December 1st, join UNC’s chapter of STAND, formerly SUDAN, in fasting from a luxury— like coffee, facebook, or food— for a day.

Sign up to fast at www.mysignup.com/standfast

Last year, participants raised almost $2,500. That money helped build two wells for 1,000 villagers in Chow Lek, Sudan. They no longer have to scoop their drinking water out of a shallow, muddy hole used by animals.

But we can’t stop there.

On the night of Dec. 1st, we will break the fast in the Student Union Great Hall at 6:30 p.m. Your donation ($5 suggested) will go to support one of STAND’s humanitarian aid campaigns. We will explain more the night of the fast!

There will be food donated by local restaurants like Jimmy John's, Jack Sprat and Chipotle! And UNC student dancers and singers will perform!

Following dinner, genocide survivors will share their experiences and answer questions.

Co Sponsors: James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence and the Student Life Enhancement Fund

Please sign up to fast at www.mysignup.com/standfast and join the facebook event at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204864078059&ref=ts Invite friends!!

Event this Friday

Spread the word! Free food and film screening this Friday!

The Interfaith Coalition for Sudanese Peace invites you to join us for a free pizza dinner and screening of the documentary “Facing Sudan.” This documentary captures the stories of various “ordinary” people like you and me and highlights their courage and the fight to end genocide in Darfur. Scott Sutton, a 2009 Carl Wilkens Fellow with the Genocide Intervention Network, will lead a brief discussion and provide an update on current events in Darfur.

This is a low-key, informal event that will be thought provoking as well as encouraging. It will be a great opportunity to introduce new people to the current situation in Darfur. Even if you can’t make it, please invite at least TWO other people to attend the screening.

What: Free food and film screening hosted by the Interfaith Coalition for Sudanese Peace.
When: Friday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.
Where: Connections Community Space, 1280 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh, NC
Why: Because you want to learn more about Darfur, because you are moved to stop human suffering, because you want to do your part to raise awareness, and because there is free food!
RSVP: Send a reply to Scott at suttonsa [at] gmail [dot]com by Wed., Nov. 18

A note regarding children: The event is open to everyone and children are encouraged to attend. However, there will be graphic images in the film as it deals with the real death and destruction in Darfur.

I look forward to seeing you on the 20th.