Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The national Oxfam Action Corps blog goes live!

What is the national Oxfam Action Corps blog? Other than a mouthful, it’s a place for all Oxfam supporters to see what is happening across the country and to participate in a community of fellow volunteers. Today our new blog, with its stories to share and interesting experiences to highlight, goes live for the first time.  As an Oxfam supporter who has had the chance to intern with the Oxfam Action Corps at the Boston headquarters, I am so excited to be able to present this new way of sharing the Action Corps experience!
Here are some of the things we want to share on this blog:
1) Stories from the Oxfam Action Corps volunteers on the ground. Oxfam America has active groups of Action Corps volunteers in 14 cities across the country, from coast to coast and everywhere in between. As they put on great events, spread the word at the latest concert and educate their communities on the important issues we face, we will highlight some of the great things they do on this blog for everyone to see and be a part of.  
2) Individual Actions creating one national movement. As a single volunteer within a single group in one city in America, it can be easy to forget how the actions we take at home contribute to something bigger. Every time an Action Corps volunteer gets a petition signed, or makes a new connection with an ally, this adds to the national and global goals of Oxfam America. Through this blog we can share how all of the individual actions in our communities have had a country wide impact.
3) Reflections from Oxfam supporters and interns. For the first time, we can share what the experience of working at the Oxfam headquarters is like for an Oxfam supporter. As interns we get to take part in fascinating meetings and to watch how all of the Action Corps cities interact and come together. With this new medium, we can share our experiences and discoveries.
4) Place of community. Even though Oxfam Action Corps volunteers come in all types, sizes, ages and careers, there is one very important thing we all have in common: a desire to see the world change for the better. That is a powerful connection and we hope that this blog will help every Oxfam supporter with that goal to feel part of a community that they can share with and participate in.
From big annual events like International Women’s Day, to the daily stories of the Action Corps that table at farmers markets and community events, expect to see a lot from this new National blog and expect take part in all the experiences we have as a social movement for change. To stay even more connected, follow us on twitter and join our group on facebook, and please, share with us too!

GROW campaign successfully launches!



On June 1st, Oxfam America's GROW campaign officially launched. At the Boston headquarters, I saw a flutter of activity as we got together our GROW materials, brochures and information to be shipped nationwide in order to support our Action Corps volunteer's. However, if I thought I was busy packaging and sending the materials, it was only until I saw how much effort and work the volunteer's put into using them at their launch events! Over the last couple weeks, I've gotten the opportunity to see the pictures and hear the stories of how the Table For 9 Billion launch event went in over a dozen cities.

If you haven't had a chance to read up on the GROW campaign, it takes on the core challenge of fixing a broken food system and centers around the idea that every person deserves enough to eat. In a world that will host 9 billion people by 2050, we must create a new food system in order to feed them all. Even though our world produces enough food for everyone, one person in every seven will still go hungry. Oxfam America believes that hunger is about power, and with awareness and advocacy of Oxfam supporters, we can work towards a world where everyone has the power to feed themselves. 

Around the nation, and the world, supporters of the GROW campaign set a Table for 9 billion at farmers markets, community events and town centers to highlight the new campaign and to ask for support from their community. Below we have chosen a few city blog posts which explain how their events went and their experiences with the Table for 9 billion.

If you would like to read more about the city specific events, look to the left side bar for links to all of the Oxfam Action Corps city blogs.

New York GROW Launch Event

Launch of Oxfam America's GROW Campaign!



Yesterday we launched Oxfam America's new GROW campaign! Oxfam’s GROW campaign aims to build a better food system: one that sustainably feeds a growing population (estimated to reach nine billion by 2050) and empowers poor people to earn a living, feed their families, and thrive.

Events took place around the world to launch the new campaign. In NYC we set up a Table for 9 Billion in Union Square. From 11:30 - 8:30 PM a number of people stopped by the table to learn about the new campaign and show their support. The Oxfam Action Corps NYC collected over 200 signatures! If you were unable to swing by our table yesterday, you can still show your support and sign online.

You can also learn more by reading the campaign report, brochure, or watch a recording of a DC panel of experts talking about the launch of the campaign.

The campaign was also actively posted online. Other #Tablefor9bn took place worldwide. View our pictures from the day and read our Twitter and Facebook posts.

Minneapolis GROW Launch event

GROW: Food Justice Campaign Launches in Minneapolis

Oxfam Action Corps-Minnesota volunteers staged a fine dinning scene at the Midtown Farmers' Market on Saturday, June 4th. The formal attire, elegant candelabras, and free GROW buttons lured market-goers to the Oxfam table set for nine billion (the estimated human population in 2050). Volunteers took the chance to introduce Oxfam's newest food justice campaign, GROW, to the Minnesota public and garner their support by signing the pledge to help create a world where no one goes hungry.

What is GROW all about? Well, the human population is growing, and with it so is the demand for food. Current power structures prevent one in every seven people from accessing food (i.e., there are 1 billion people on Earth today who go to bed hungry). Armed with the knowledge that our planet produces more than enough food to feed every one of its inhabitants, Oxfam will use GROW to fight for a world free of hunger by targeting five specific areas:

  • Invest in small-scale food producers
  • End excessive speculation in agricultural commodities
  • Modernize food aid
  • Stop giveaways to the corn-ethanol industry, and 
  • Regulate land and water grabs
By tackling these issues Oxfam will help to build a better food system: one that sustainably feeds a growing population and empowers poor people to earn a living, feed their families, and thrive. Their strategy will be to urge governments and companies to make smarter investment in agriculture and climate preparedness, and create policies and program that protect farmers living in poor and marginalized communities around the world. 

You can learn more about the GROW campaign by visiting this link

Fight for food justice. Take action now by signing the petition here

Albuquerque GROW Launch event

Table for 9 Billion Launch Event


NM Oxfam Action Corps were out spreading the word about the GROW Campaign last weekend in Nob Hill. We set up a table with information and GROW goodies in front of the La Montanita Co Op. We met some wonderful local ABQ folks who were committed to sustainability, organic agriculture, and food security. Lively conversations about ending hunger, population numbers, and NM activism paired with the amazing early June sun left us feeling energized and productive.

Thanks to La Montanita for giving us table space next to their organic herbs and seedlings, which totally fits with the new GROW Campaign.

A big thank you to everyone who came out and supported the event and the GROW Campaign! More local ABQ and Santa Fe events to come later this summer. Let us know if there's somewhere nearby you think we should show up!