FUNdraising for Nepal!

On Thursday, May 21st, Oxfam Seattle's Action Corps witnessed the power of dedicated volunteers coming together to work towards a better world. That evening, we saw a high school student, Alex Cole, take time out of her busy schedule to hold a wildly successful fundraiser for the people of Nepal, people she will likely never meet. From contacting the Nepalese restaurant in Seattle, to negotiating profit sharing for Oxfam's relief efforts in Nepal, to day of set up, Alex focused, sacrificed her time, gathered friends and family, and with very little oversight, raised over $1,300 in just one night. Those in attendance, young and old (and two Seattle Action Corps Co-Leads) left the event inspired and hopeful about the future.

Alex Cole (second to the left) with event attendees.

And then there was Alison O'Neil, Oxfam Seattle's phenomenally talented Co-Lead, who on her birthday, chose to spend her evening supporting the fundraiser and Red Nose Day. Alison delivered a great speech towards the end of the event to catalyze the crowd into donating through her clear articulation of Oxfam's mission and programming.

This is the power of people. With enough compassion and energy, we can move mountains.

The event coincided with Red Nose Day-a national telethon to raise money to fight poverty.

Action Corps Organizers Ben Wiselogle and Melissa Watkinson show their support!

Oxfam Action Corps takes on food aid and Nepal earthquake relief at annual training in DC

By Brian Rawson

On the morning of Saturday, April 25, thirty-three of our newest initiates to the Oxfam Action Corps filed into a small conference room in Washington DC as news of the earthquake in Nepal was breaking.  The group of Oxfam supporters, including navy veterans, nurses, professors, development workers, high school coaches, facilities managers and other professions, had come to the 9th annual Action Corps training to lobby Congress for US food aid reform and to train for a year of leadership service to Oxfam in the 14 US cities they call home such as New York, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, and even Washington DC.  

As they took their seats and greeted one another, another matter became clear:  one of their members was awaiting devastating personal news from her home country, Nepal. Rallying to her support, by the second day of the training they were using their break time to mount a fundraising drive for Nepal, complete with a homemade video. 

On Tuesday, April 28, Action Corps members took to Capitol Hill to hold 54 meetings with Congress to urge reform of US food aid-5 of which were member level! In fact, one prominent Senator, Dick Durbin (D-IL), agreed to co-sponsor the very same day while others responded favorably and provided intel. The earthquake underscored the urgency of our call to modernize the program. Since the 1950s the US has shipped food aid slowly across the oceans, but the Food for Peace Reform Act of 2015, Senate bill 525, would permit US food aid to be purchased locally near the crisis and delivered faster and cheaper, thus reaching 12 million more people in need without additional cost to the US taxpayer.

If you’re not yet familiar with the Oxfam Action Corps, they are dedicated Oxfam supporters from a variety of professional backgrounds and ages in 14 US cities. They volunteer to build 

our US constituency and voice before Congressional and corporate targets. In its first 8 years the Action Corps held more than 600 lobby visits (half in-district, half in DC), gathered more than 65,000 petition signatures, hosted or presented at 1,650 public events and collaborated with more than 500 local allies.  

On behalf of the Action Corps team of Community & Engagement, including Brian Rawson, Clara Herrero, Bob Ferguson, Nancy Delaney, Alexandria McMahon and Anoushka Barpujari, we would like to thank all our new Organizers for dedicating themselves to this project, and our Peer Advisors for their support (see our prior blog post for their profiles).  We would also like to thank the Oxfam staff who gave their time to help make our training a success, and to all those who provide support to the Oxfam Action Corps throughout the year in their home cities.  THANK YOU!

Announcing the first US Red Nose Day comedy telethon, May 21 on NBC, with proceeds to go to Oxfam America and several other organizations

Please welcome the 2015-2016 Peer Advisors and 
Oxfam Action Corps Organizers!

Happy International Women's Day!

I am looking forward to hearing about the many International Women's Day events held by Oxfam Action Corps cities across the country. If you have photos from your event, please feel free to share them with me on Facebook, where I just posted a request in the OAC Organizers Group.

In the meantime, in honor of International Women's Day, I'd like to share Oxfam America's "Six women who will make you believe we can end hunger". It's an inspiring overview of six women with links to full-length stories.

International Women's Day events are on near you!

Every March 8 for more than a century, millions of people around the world have come together to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. Here in the US, Oxfam Action Corps members are hosting events that raise awareness and public action in support of women’s efforts to overcome poverty and injustice worldwide. Here's quick look at some of our events, with active links to event pages below the map:

Click the links below for event info!

Albuquerque, NM, Monday March 2nd, 7-9pm Mountain Time.  Come hear an exciting panel of women leaders from our community who inspire doing good for our world!  Click for info

Austin, TX, Sunday March 8th; noon-6:30pm Central Time. at Darwin's Pub, Austin.  Come all to hear from women musicians and supporters for an Oxfam Jam! Click for info.

Berkeley, CA, Join us at the Berkeley Women's Film Festival. Click for info.

Chicago, IL, Saturday March 7, 11am Central Time.  Join us for a screening of "No Land No Food No Life" at the One Earth Film Fest. Click for info.

Des Moines, IA. Tuesday, March 10, 6-8pm Central Time. The event "Empowered Women: Protecting Rights and Resources" will feature a networking reception as well as remarks from distinguished women leaders from our community. Click for info. 

New York, NY, Saturday March 7, 4-6pm Eastern Time.  Join us for a film screening and discussion. Click for info. 

Seattle, WA. Monday, March 2nd, 6pm Pacific Time. Join us for a dialogue between Hannah Owusu‐Koranteng  (Deputy Executive Directo (WACAM), Ghana) and Joanna Manu (a farmer, community activist, and District Assembly representative from southwest Ghana) regarding fair and equitable land rights. Click for info.

And if you want to organize something too, see our webpage at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/take-action/events/international-womens-day/ 

Reminder: It's Time to Become an Action Corps City Organizer!

Hello Everyone!

Let's talk about Action Corps: it is awesome. Period. No two ways about it. And luckily, it is once again that great time to join this amazing group of individuals as an Organizer!

Check out our page for more information about our locations in 16 different cities, the job description, and the application! And look below at what other Organizers have said about their experiences...

"This is leadership in practice. You can't just read a book on leadership. You have to put it into practice." --Jill Mizell, Researcher, New York

"Oxfam Action Corps has given me a ton of confidence... Gaining knowledge and being able to speak to people about the issues." --Amy L., Business Operations Analyst, Des Moines

"This has become one of the best parts of my life... I can't express enough how satisfying it is to be organizing with people who are just as committed and dependable and passionate. It is so great to have the support from the Oxfam America staff, and I've been really impressed by their accessibility, competency and friendliness." --Isaac E., Educator, New York City

Ready to join them? Apply to be an organizer or if you aren't ready yet, consider volunteering with any Action Corps in efforts to help Oxfam fight hunger and social injustices! Remember, Oxfam is here to Right the Wrong so come join us!

Local action. Global change. Become an Oxfam volunteer!

It's time for annual recruitment of volunteers for the Oxfam Action Corps. If you are a new or returning volunteer, sign up is now available online - apply now. Applications are due on February 1.

For current organizers, I've pasted a letter from Brian below. Please feel free to copy and spread the word.

Letter from Brian:

Each day, I work with Oxfam volunteers, supporting community efforts to create global change through local action. Now is your chance to get involved!

Our Oxfam Action Corps volunteer leaders are based in 16 cities across the country and, in just the last year, they have helped change the world by:

• Delivering reports and petitions to big food companies like Kellogg and General Mills to push them to stand up for farmers rights and fight climate change;
• Visiting Congressional offices – in DC and in their hometowns – to advocate for poverty-fighting foreign assistance, lifesaving reforms to food aid policy, and more;
• Mobilizing marchers at the People's Climate March in New York City;
• Hosting Oxfam America Hunger Banquets, World Food Day Dinners, and other events to raise awareness about the global fight against poverty, hunger, and injustice;
• Recruiting hundreds of new Oxfam supporters at concerts, music festivals, and other events;
• ...and so much more.

We're looking for skilled volunteers of various ages and backgrounds for our free national training in Washington D.C., April 24-28, 2015. We also provide online training and opportunities to meet other volunteers in your city. If you have some organizing experience and a passion for global justice, we want you! This is a great opportunity to develop your leadership skills with support from Oxfam staff and to take meaningful action locally to help change the world. Apply now >>

Our volunteers include people of all ages and backgrounds, including moms and dads, professors and students, nurses, pastors, bank tellers, tech experts, retirees, food workers, musicians and, yes, even rocket scientists! Here's what a few of them have said about their experiences:

"This is leadership in practice. You can't just read a book on leadership. You have to put it into practice." – Jill Mizell, Researcher, New York

"Oxfam Action Corps has given me a ton of confidence...Gaining knowledge and being able to speak to people about the issues." – Amy L., Business Operations Analyst, Des Moines

"This has become one of the best parts of my life...I can't express enough how satisfying it is to be organizing with people who are just as committed and dependable and passionate. It is so great to have the support from the Oxfam America staff, and I've been really impressed by their accessibility, competency and friendliness." – Isaac E., Educator, New York City

Check out more info here, and then apply to join the Oxfam Action Corps here. Applications are due on February 1.

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email me.

Thanks so much, and we looking forward to hearing from you.

Brian Rawson
Senior Advisor, Community Organizing
Oxfam America

Make 2013 the Year you Join the Oxfam Action Corps!

Fight global hunger, support women farmers – join the Oxfam Action Corps! 

Oxfam America, an international relief and development organization, invites you to join the Oxfam Action Corps, an exciting grassroots effort to stand up to poverty, hunger, and injustice around the world – starting right in your community.  The Oxfam Action Corps is a group of dedicated volunteers in fifteen US cities who work alongside other local volunteers in support of our GROW campaign for policies that will save lives, defend the rights of women and farmers, and protect communities worldwide from rising food prices and climate change.  It includes a free national advocacy and leadership training for select participants. You will gain leadership skills, have fun, and change the world!

Sign-up February 14 to volunteer with your local group or to apply for Oxfam’s free four-day leadership training in Washington D.C. April 13-16, 2013:  www.oxfamactioncorps.org  Anybody can join the local effort.   All levels of experience are welcome. 

We are looking for volunteers in every city and at every commitment level. 2013 will bring about new projects, inspiring campaigns, and enriching opportunities, become a part of the Action Corps and Sign Up Today! or if you are interested in nominating someone, send us an email actioncorps@oxfamamerica.org

We are recruiting for the Oxfam Action Corps in these cities:

Albuquerque, NM	Columbus, OH	Minn./St Paul, MN
Austin, TX	Des Moines, IA	New York City, NY
Boston, MA	Indianapolis, IN	Philadelphia, PA
Burlington, VT	Kansas City, MO	San Francisco, CA
Chicago, IL	Madison, WI	Seattle, WA

Here is what previous Oxfam Action Corps volunteers said:

“Oxfam Action Corps has given me a ton of confidence… gaining knowledge and being able to speak to people about the issues.”  Amy , Business Operations Analyst, Des Moines

“I liked it, loved it, actually.  I now have a better appreciation for activism and I do believe that it can really make a difference!”  Debby, Graduate Student, VT

"This has become one of the best parts of my life… I can't express enough how satisfying it is to be organizing with people who are just as committed and dependable and passionate." – Isaac., Educator, New York City

          Sign-up by February 14 at:

            www.oxfamactioncorps.org

Celebrating a 40 Year Tradition with Oxfam!

Across the country, Action Corps cities are participating in Oxfam America Hunger Banquets. The very first Oxfam Hunger Banquet took place nearly 40 years ago, and today it’s a tradition that takes place all over the US in synagogues, temples, churches, schools, offices, libraries and community centers. Hunger Banquets are a simulation, where luck controls where you sit and what you eat. No one Hunger Banquet is the same but all participants leave with more knowledge about the harsh realities of global hunger. 

This year, 8 Action Corps cities held an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet, contributing to the over 400 held this year!  Nearly 600 people participated in one of the following Action Corps hosted events, and many more learned about global hunger through Action Corps outreach.  For more information on hosting your own Oxfam America Hunger Banquet, click here.

Take a look at the photos from these inspiring simulations:

Boston

 This Oxfam America Hunger Banquet drew local college students, activists, and Oxfam enthusiasts!

For more on the Boston Oxfam America Hunger Banquet click here!

Des Moines

Des Moines was the host of two Oxfam America Hunger Banquets this year!  One, with the Global Youth Institute drew a crowd of 300 high school students during the Borlaug Dialogue in Iowa.

300 high school students participate in this Oxfam America Hunger Banquet

Hunger Banquet with the ONE Campaign!

Hunger Banqueter chooses her fate 

For more on the Des Moines Oxfam America Hunger Banquet and the Borlaug Dialogues, check out the Iowa Action Corps' blog here!

Minneapolis

Minneapolis joins in with CHANGE leaders at Macalester college!

For more on the Minnesota Action Corps, check out their blog here!

Seattle

University of Washington Bothell Clubs and Organizations, Cascadia Community College, Human Equality and Rights Everywhere, and the Seattle Oxfam Action Corps came together to host an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet!

Participants are split by lower, middle and upper income

Keynote speaker Ray Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America

To see more from the Seattle Action Corps, click here!

Columbus

Columbus Action Corps partnered with the Salvation Army of Central Ohio and the Foundation for the African Diaspora for the annual Oxfam Hunger Banquet. 

Participants discover what their meal will look like

Chicago, Madison, Kansas City

Chicago hosted an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet with North Central College.  Stay tuned for pictures of their Hunger Banquet with Loyola University coming soon!

Madison hosted a Hunger Banquet with the University of Wisconsin Madison!

Kansas City joined with Adelaide College to host one too!

In total, Oxfam America Hunger Banquets were hosted in 8 Action Corps cities, at colleges with participating CHANGE leaders, and at a variety of high schools, community centers, and religious gatherings around the nation!


For almost 40 years Oxfam America Hunger Banquets have drawn in people of all ages, leaving participants with an unique perspective on global hunger. This year, thanks to the Oxfam Action Corps, over 600 people attended Oxfam America Hunger Banquets and experienced how global hunger affects each and every one of us.


For information on Oxfam America Hunger Banquets or how you can host your own, click here. You can also follow Oxfam Hunger Banquets on Twitter, check out events in your area, and read a first-hand report of an experience at the Boston Oxfam America Hunger Banquet to get a feel for what these events are like.

                                                     

A Coldplay fan tries out a week on GROW

From the October 19, 2012 post on the Oxfam On Tour blog, a blog dedicated to following the Coldplay Tour and Oxfam fans around the world! Click here to read more about the Coldplay tour and blog posts from fans!

-   -   -

Coldplay Fan Sian came to our attention when she tweeted about her fundraising blog.  Sian, from Darlington, England, decided she was going to do something to create change in her own way and support Oxfam through living the GROW method for a week. She asked her friends and family to sponsor her for a week full of vegetarianism, buying local food and reducing her food waste.

So of course we interviewed her for GROW week and asked her to share her diary with us. Check out what song got her through the week and her discovery of new food.

Name: Sian

City: Darlington, England

Coldplay activity: Living the GROW method for a week

Money raised for Oxfam: £50 and still counting!

How did you find out about Oxfam?

I looked into Oxfam a lot more after attending my first Coldplay concert. I already knew how involved Coldplay were with the organisation but I learnt to understand it a lot more after noticing the Oxfam campaigners at the gigs. This made me do some research into Oxfam and get more involved.

What inspired you to get more involved with Oxfam?

My school is very ‘into’ fundraising and encourages others to do so. I’ve always been a busy person and felt very guilty for not doing my own fundraiser and I wanted to feel good about helping others. Also I felt as being a Coldplay fan that it was my duty to get involved.

What did your family think about your GROW method week?

Surprised! That I’d decided to do something I’d never normally do and organise it all by myself. I think they realised how independent I can be!

What did your friends do to help you?

Well they all sponsored me! They also came round with me to collect donations and kept my spirits up during the week!

Did you discover any new foods?

Veggie burgers and soup! I’m usually a tomato soup girl, but I realised how much variety there is and they are a very helpful way of creating a dinner from your leftovers.

Did you have anything that kept you going through the week? A song, snack, picture etc.

My friends definitely did and Oxfam. I can’t thank Oxfam enough for all their support and encouragement. Also of course a bit of Coldplay! ‘Every Teardrop is a Waterfall’ was on constant replay!

I love your quotes, what made you start a daily quote?

It was to encourage people to get involved, words are powerful things and used in the right way can make a huge impact on people.

What was the most important thing you learnt from doing the GROW method week?

I never realised how much work Oxfam does with people internationally and what an impact their work makes on others. Since completing the GROW method week I am much more efficient now with food and try to buy local to reduce air miles and support local farmers. It made me realise that although I may have a bad day at school, there are millions of people out there who are much worse off and need your help.

What advice would you give people who wanted to do something like you too?

DO IT! It gives you such a buzz helping others and doing something. Using an idea you’ve thought of and developed is also a lot of fun and changes people’s mindset towards you. It’s hard but it’s a great way to help people less fortunate than you and although the challenge is hard it’s so easy to get involved and Oxfam, who are extremely helpful and supportive!

Sian’s GROW week diary. 

What’s is all about?

I recently got a email from Oxfam and they’ve opened up my eyes to this campaign all you need to know about the GROW method is here  and if you want to know more about getting involved click here  and to Join GROW click here.

I’m going to get people to sponsor me on a GROw method week, if you want to do the same download a sponsorship form here, wish me luck!

The GROW Method- DAY 1

I’ve started my GROW method week and I’m over the moon with the amount of interest I’ve had from class mates, friends and Oxfam. I can’t thank you all enough. From all my sponsors (I’m still getting more at the moment) so far I have around £50. This week will be challenging and I’m sure I will enjoy it! So here goes my weekly diary of living GROW method.

Breakfast: I kick started the day with a breakfast of toast and homemade jam!

Lunch: For lunch I had some potatoes, vegetables and a slice of margarita pizza. To finish I had a pot of strawberry yoghurt to which one person decided it would be funny to read out the ingredients and tell me it contained crab-which of course it did not!

Dinner: For dinner I had planned to go out for a meal with friends and devour another margarita pizza! But got stuck in traffic and couldn’t make it so had to settle for some tomato pasta and a cup of Yorkshire tea! For dessert I had a cheeky chocolate bar – but made sure it was fair trade!

The GROW Method – DAY 2 

Hello again! Going veggie today was proving hard as I had to resist some beef curry!

Breakfast: I had my braces tightened yesterday evening and I went down stairs and made some toast again but discovered I could not eat it! My teeth were hurting too much! Had to settle for porridge!

Lunch: For lunch I ate some vegetables and potatoes along with some vegetarian gravy and a pot of yoghurt to finish!

Dinner: I settled for some pasta again tonight but this time spaghetti!

I think soup is on the agenda tomorrow 

Today I went food shopping buy local/fair trade items as a key point of the GROW method is to eat local to support local farmers and ensure people globally get a fairer price for their produce.

Below are just a few of my items I managed to snap before they were cooked!

GROW method – DAY 3

Oh dear, having some technical difficulties with the laptop sorry for the late post!

Breakfast: Ok so I started off the day with porridge again as still having brace problems!

Lunch: I was very upset to find no vegetarian option at school today for lunch so had to settle for a jacket potato beans and vegetables! I then had to have my fair trade Kitkat as I was still hungry!

Dinner: When I got home I was welcomed to some lovely spicy tomato soup made from the tomatoes we didn’t use in our pasta. This proves it’s easy to eat your leftovers as the GROW method promotes being careful with your food to reduce food waste. It was yummy too!

All is well with the GROW method; it’s hard, but not as hard as I imagined but certainly not easy! Can’t thank Oxfam on tour enough for all their support so far! Here’s to Oxfam  I’m very excited to see how much has been raised! I’ll leave you all with these beautiful quotes I found!

Quotes of the day:

‘No one has ever become poor from giving’. – Anne Frank

‘You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give’. – Winston Churchill

GROW Method – DAY 4

WOAH, today I almost ate a haribo! We had a netball match against Darlington town netball team and we won so we were given haribo gummy sweets as a prize but I had to pass it on as gummy sweets contain gelatine. Gelatine is a protein product that is present in animals so I couldn’t eat it. Anyways hello again!

Breakfast: I finally got to have toast again Yey with chocolate spread mmmmm.

Lunch: For lunch I had some spaghetti pasta at school with some carrots and some chocolate sponge!

Dinner: For dinner I finished my day with beans on toast.

And here’s a quote goodnight!

Quote of the day:

 ‘I believe the world is one big family and we need to help each other’. – Jet Li

GROW Method – DAY 5 

Only two days left! Where has this week gone! It’s been extremely fun though and although people have tried to tempt me I’ve stayed strong!

Breakfast:  For breakfast I had weetabix 

Lunch: I then had some lovely cheesy pasta, peas and chips for lunch!

Dinner: I then had leak and potato soup for tea (aka dinner)! The recipe for it is below.

Quote of the day:

‘Every charitable act is a step towards heaven’ – Henry Ward Beecher

GROW Method- DAY 6

Hello! Sorry I didn’t post yesterday I was very busy at school helping with a school open day then had to go to Teesside shopping! Anyway

Breakfast: to start the day I had banana yoghurt and a cereal bar!

Lunch: I had carrot and coriander soup!

Dinner: I had a veggie burger and chips!

GROW Method- Day 7:

Breakfast: This morning I had eggy bread. This is cheap and tasty dish of bread soaked in eggs and then fried. Try it out to use up your left over eggs and bread.

Dinner: I was then naughty and skipped lunch! I just forgot and had some pasta for tea. I would have killed for a Sunday roast though WA :’)

Quote of the day:

‘I don’t wish to be everything to everyone, but I wish to be something to somebody’ – Javan.

So that’s it! My grow method week is done, sad face. I really enjoyed it and it has made me appreciate what I’ve got much more. I can’t thank everyone enough for supporting me particularly my friends and Oxfam on tour. So goodbye and a massive thank you!!

Leek,Onion and Potato Soup

Ingredients

4 Large Leeks

2 Medium Potatoes peeled and diced.

1 Medium Onion,Chopped small

2oz butter (50g)

11/2 pints water (850ml)

10fl oz Milk ( 275)

Salt and black pepper

1) Cut off the tops and roots of the leeks and get rid of the tough outer layer. Split them in half lengthways and slice them finely. Then wash them thoroughly and drain.

2) In a large saucepan melt the butter then add leeks potatoes and onion stirring them into the butter.Add salt and pepper to season and cover to let the vegetables sweat on a very low heat for roughly 15 minutes.

3)Add the water and milk and bring to simmering point and put the lid back on and let the soup simmer gently for a further 20minutes (or until the vegetables are soft).

4) Then put it into the liquidizer and blend to a purée or press through  sieve.

5) Return the soup to  saucepan and reheat gently and serve.