Falling Whistles

New non profit Falling Whistles is seeking interns for the fall and continuing their efforts to spread the story of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to interning, the organization encourages young people to spread the story by hosting awareness events and wearing a whistle as a symbol of protest.
According to the organization’s website, the ongoing conflict in the Congo has lasted over ten years and resulted in over 6 million dead. In this region, children are forced to be child soldiers. According to the organization, if the children are too young to hold a weapon, they are given a whistle and sent to the frontlines of the fight. The lessening cries of a whistle indicate to rebel leaders, the extent of the fighting. Mineral trade is a definite factor in the instability of the region.
Founder Sean Carasso was traveling in the DRC in 2007 when he learned of this situation. He began to tell the story upon his arrival back home and the non profit was formed. Melissa Chambers, a recent college grad, shares why she wears a whistle.

The movement is fueled by people who wear the whistles to spark the attention of others, and spread the story. The organization is also in the process of networking options with community leaders in this war torn area, to aid the escaped child soldiers.
This process is funded by whistle sales. To help spread awareness, you can host a speakeasy by emailing david@fallingwhistles.com. For more information and a history of the conflict, visit www.fallingwhistles.com

Pride Profile: Final Project

This June Oklahoma City held its 23rd annual Pride festival to spread awareness and acceptance of sexual orientation. The festival lasted three days and included vendors, a block party, live performances and a parade. One college student, Josh Lindsey, shares his story of growing up gay in a small Oklahoma town. He has been influenced in a positive way by being in a larger city. Oklahoma City’s gay community is breaking new ground with their efforts in the fight for equality. Runs: 2:00



And now some additional voices on why Pride is important....

Invisible Children picks new roadies for fall tour:

Non profit Invisible Children seeks to spread awareness about a 23 year long war in Uganda. Their movement uses young activists called roadies to spread the message by traveling and speaking to people around the world. They are now in the final stages of selecting new roadies for the fall tour.
According to the organization's website, the tour will last from September to November and will help benefit the organization's Schools For Schools program to rebuild schools in Northern Uganda. Joining the tour will be 11 Ugandan students ready to tell their stories to American youth.
Invisible Children began in 2003 and has since sent numerous tours across the country, and the world, to show media documentaries and grow their movement organically. The Schools for Schools program alone has raised over 4 million dollars for the 11 partner schools supported.
Roadies chosen will travel and speak publically as well as gain experience from the internship as a whole. Newly picked roadie Lauren Grace is excited about the upcoming opportunity.

The roadies will be scheduling stops on their tours. To have them visit your school or to look into applying to be a roadie on the next tour, go to www.invisiblechildren.com
Below, a former roadie discusses the experience...

TOMS: New Line: Same mission

Who said helping others couldn't look good? Toms sure didn't when they introduced their new summer line Calypso as well as a fresh batch of their original style. The humanitarian focused shoe line is following up their nationwide spring awareness event with a new take on their popular shoe. Simply buying a pair will provide a pair of shoes for a child in need.
Toms currently delivers shoes to children in need in developing countries. There, many do not have access to simple protection for their feet. The resulting implications of potential disease and illness prompted the creation of Toms. To date they have delivered 600,000 pairs of shoes.
Since the organization began in 2006, they have been steadily introducing new designs and creating an awareness movement. In April Toms hosted "One Day Without Shoes" an awareness event where, according to the organization, 250,000 people went sans shoes for an entire day.
Lindsey Burleson, a student at OU, owns at least six pairs of Toms and believes in what the company is doing. She recently bought the new wedge design, Calypso, and comments on why she chose Toms.



The new design can be found at Shoetopia in Norman, among other metro locations. Toms is already gearing up for next year's "One Day Without Shoes." Check out www.toms.com for ways you can get involved today.

Regional Food Bank in Urgent Need of Volunteers

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is already doing the seemingly impossible. Now, they are in desperate need of volunteers. With a recent grant, they aim to have an almost 4 million pound increase in food distribution in the form of emergency family boxes.

Already, the organization feeds over 77,000 people in need on a weekly basis. They accomplish this through the help of numerous volunteers. According to the organization, this new initiative will equal an added 51 pallets of food and utility items to be boxed up per day by their volunteers.

The emergency family food boxes come at a time of increasing need in the summer months. The organization has been in operation since 1980 and last year their volunteers numbered in the thousands.

“They’re hoping to get out about 50 pallets a day just of the emergency family boxes. We cannot get that packaged without volunteers. We have about 200 today and we’d like to have that many all summer if possible,” says a representative in volunteer retention. She adds that they are seeing triple the workload. “The volunteers don’t see it go into the hands of the people but they know the benefit of it.”

Volunteer sessions are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1p,m, to 4p.m. Individual volunteers do not need to make an appointment. Groups can call 405-600-3154.

Midterm Project

What began as a dream between a mother and her daughter has now evolved into an extensive therapeutic riding program that is changing the lives of children with disabilities. Lucille Fancey and her daughter Joy Milligan started Coffee Creek Riding Center. The organization provides free riding for approximately 180 children each semester and is staffed with three instructors and 150 volunteers. The children involved range from 3 to 12 years old. Coffee Creek is located in North Edmond, OK. Run: 2:04

Pride Needs Volunteers

In efforts toward awareness and celebration, the LGBT community will host a parade and festival for Central Oklahoma. The weekend, called OKC Pride 2010, will take place June 25 through 27 and according to OKC Pride Inc, the festival is impossible without the support of volunteers.

OKC Pride seeks to improve services in regards to health and education, as well as increase pride in sexual orientation within their community. They will be offering free HIV screenings at the event.

This is the 23^rd annual event for Oklahoma City. The event is open to all, regardless of sexual orientation. Awareness and acceptance has become increasingly important as topics such as gay marriage dominate our politics and the Aids virus continues to spread.

Performances will abound over the weekend. Talented displays, specifically by drag queens, offer a fun and lively addition to the festivities. Popular club The Boom is helping to sponsor the event and hosts weekly performances year round. One such performer, known as Elecktra, comments on why everyone should come out to Pride as a way to see all the community has to offer.

The event will kick off with a block party Friday, June 25 with many events to follow. To volunteer, email volunteer@okcpride.org for more information.

Clip of performance, one of many happening regularly at The Boom, sponsor of Pride.



Another Performer; "Elecktra" comments on why you should attend Pride.

Wildcare:Up for Pepsi Grant

Hawk: in recovery at Wildcare

This month Oklahoma based wildlife rescue and nonprofit WildCare needs help more than ever. They are currently in the running for a $250,000 dollar Refresh Grant from Pepsi. This comes at a time when the facility is inundated with rescued baby animals.
Summer sees a regular influx of animals born in the spring that are now in need of help. WildCare currently has approximately 800 wild animals they are caring for and rehabilitating. The center is entirely donation based. They are calling out for people to vote for them to win the grant from Pepsi, which will provide the facility with new education, clinic and nursery space.
We’ve been rehabilitating injured and orphaned wild animals with the goal of releasing them back into the wild for 25 years,” says Director Rondi Large. She adds that they take in on average 4000 animals a year.
The grant, “would change Wildcare dramatically in terms of what we’d be able to offer the public,” says Large. This is in reference to more education opportunities as well as increased space to house animals brought in by the public.
Votes and volunteering are ways to get involved. Large says they take volunteers year round with a three-month commitment, but that summer is especially busy. “This is our baby season, so this is when it’s most hectic.”
Volunteers assist in a wide variety of animal care activities. Voting for the Pepsi Grant takes place everyday in the month of June. To place your vote, visit www.refresheverything.com/wildcareeducationbuilding

The following is audio directly from the facility. The many species of wildlife make music.

Fair Trade

Norman Oklahoma has finally become an official fair trade town, according to fairtradetownsusa.org. This recognition makes Norman the 17^th town to attain this status. It comes as the direct result of the efforts of Norman Fair Trade, a local organization that seeks to localize global issues.

TransFair USA is a non profit behind the certification process for fair trade products in the United States. They cite that fair trade currently benefits over one million farmers in 50 different countries, growing a range of products from coffee to flowers.

According to the Norman Fair Trade website, there are now many places in Norman where people can directly impact issues of injustice by shopping for products that qualify as fair trade. The group advocated for support from the local government as well as more products available that were produced locally or imported with fair prices and minus child or slave labor.

The Campus Corner restaurant Café Plaid is one such place. They offer fair trade coffee and teas. "It's just the right thing to do," says manager Jason Skeel. "It's our style of business," he says. Within the business they believe in the justice behind the products which give "appropriate wage for appropriate work." Skeel also says that the products themselves are a higher quality and that, due to the global implications, "our customers almost demand it."

With this recognition, "Norman serves as both an example and a leader in terms of supporting and promoting social justice and environmental responsibility worldwide," says Stephanie Bates, a member of Norman Fair Trade.

However, the trend will not stop with Cafe Plaid and Norman. The number of fair trade towns is growing due to increased awareness and support. Bates says that their group is constantly seeking new members and in general, for people to shop responsibly. Visit transfairusa.org to learn more.

Five Graph:OKC Holdout

Young Oklahoma activists have influenced international political policy first hand. Their efforts were officially recognized this May when President Obama signed the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act into law.

This law requires the Obama administration to develop a plan to stop horrific atrocities, namely against children, committed by Ugandan rebel group the Lord's Resistance Army. This passage comes in response to a political campaign spearheaded by young people around the world.

The rebel group, led by a man named Joseph Kony, has waged a civil war for 23 years in Central East Africa. According to policy based non profit Resolve Uganda, the bill, which would require United States involvement and provide recovery aid to ravaged parts of Northern Uganda, hit a road block in February when Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn placed a hold on its passage through the House. That is when young Oklahomans, mostly college students, rallied and held a peaceful protest outside of Coburn's office.

The protest lasted 11 days in freezing temperatures and gained attention throughout Congress. Finally, Coburn lifted his hold on the bill. This spelled success for the activists. Jessica Walizer, a student at the University of Central Oklahoma participated in the campaign and felt committed to their cause. "We were just ordinary kids who saw a need and fought for what was right. It is evident now that we are changing the course of history for the better," she says.

The Obama administration has 163 days left to come up with their official strategy. This could finally mean peace for Uganda and the neighboring countries affected by the LRA.

PWOP/SOP

To use an image of belongings to capture the essence of a person, I utilized my love of travel and Africa to compose this piece. I believe it illustrates my desire to see the world as much as possible and for this class, reminds me how I hope to use journalism as a means to show other people parts of the world as well...

For capturing a sense of place, this photo is where my heart is, in a barn near my horses, as the morning light cascades in from the east...