A Big Week for Global Health!

Although it didn't make huge headline news, last week was full of successes for global poverty activists here in the United States. We saw the results of years of work by thousands of activists working on worldwide hunger, infectious diseases, and education. Honestly, each item could be a separate blog, but it's so fun to celebrate all three together! Please read on...

Global Malnutrition Bill PASSED Congress!

Image: Cindy updates Woodridge UMC
church about progress on HR 4693

After years of working on this bill (and even more time working on the resolutions that led up to it), the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act H.R. 4693 passed the House earlier this year and then passed the Senate by unanimous consent on September 21. This passage represents incredible work by the volunteer advocates of Bread for the World, RESULTS, and other partner organizations to get this pushed through in an election year. Nobody is actively promoting world hunger, but global malnutrition is one of those issues that can get pushed to the side and forgotten as members of Congress turn their attention to getting re-elected by campaigning on high-profile issues. 

Now, it heads to President Biden for his signature. It will make existing U.S. global nutrition programs even more effective and support countries in their efforts to prevent and treat child and maternal malnutrition. Read this update from Bread for more details.

$14.5 Billion Pledged for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB & Malaria

Image: Cindy with Senator Hawley's aide
delivering letters about the Global Fund

The Replenishment Conference for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is a time when country leaders gather together in partnership to make commitments to one of the most effective programs for fighting disease across the globe. For American advocates like me, this year was especially meaningful because the U.S. played host in New York City with President Biden in attendence. The promises made there would set the stage for the next three years of Global Fund activities. As a reminder, the Global Fund fights infectious diseases of poverty with full participation from the low-income countries receiving aid from international government, corporate, and civil society donors. 

Image: Cindy delivering constituent letters to
Rep. Wagner's office for the ONE Campaign

On September 21, the conference culminated with the President announcing that the conferenece had raised an historic $14.25 billion in pledges! This number includes $6 billion over the next three years from the U.S. alone. ONE Campaign volunteers were on the streets in the city calling attention to the event. Advocates like me acted in solidarity by delivering letters from constituents to members of Congress in support of the Global Fund. Why? Because no matter what the President promises, Congress has to approve the budget every year. So, we want them to always remember the great work of the Global Fund and how much constituents want to support it.

Yet as big as $14.25 billion sounds, the job is not quite done. RESULTS Executive Director Dr. Joanne Carter wrote in her update to volunteers: "Our full goal for this campaign is $18 billion, which means we are not there yet. But the total so far doesn't yet include the UK or Italy, who both promised to announce their pledges soon. And the UK has historically been one of the single largest donors to the Global Fund." Since the U.S. is matching every $2 from other donors with $1 from the United States, up to $18 billion total, our $18 billion goal is still within reach. Stay tuned!

READ Act Reauthorization Passed the House

Image: My daughter in 2010 advocating for
global education legislation that would
become the READ Act of 2017

Just when I thought I should start writing up a blog about those other two success, I heard a THIRD piece of good news! The READ Act Reauthorization passed the House of Representatives! 

The 2017 READ Act was legislation enabling the U.S. to have a leadership role for global equity in access to education. But that legislation needs an update. The Read Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 will allow the U.S. to continue to help improve literacy and numeracy in basic education for children around the world. It will demand even better monitoring and evaluation efforts, improving our ability to achieve key global education goals.

The next step in the process to pass this reauthorization is to get it passed in the senate. Visit the RESULTS web page here to send an email message to your senators immediately. 

Image: Book cover

Buy an autographed copy of "From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started" at my website www.changyit.com or order it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any independent bookstore!

No Need to Riot...We Need to Organize!

Image: Cindy phonebanking from home

Image: Tweet from AJ B Bosamcmugu saying
"Well, hot girl summer just became riot girl summer."

Not so many months ago, I used to see a lot of posts from women saying things like, "If they overturn Roe, we riot!" When Roe Vs. Wade was overturned and dangerous abortion bans swiftly went into place, there was a lot of "We ride at dawn!" type memes. Indeed, there were protests! People like me stretched comfort levels and hit the streets. But gradually, the crowds dwindled even as the effects of abortion bans started affecting the lives of women across the country. I think most people just got frustrated and didn't know what to do anymore.

I'm personally glad the calls to riot were not literal, but am disappointed the protests fizzled out. We still need to capture our outrage and direct it toward change. What if there were a way we could harness all this energy we feel about abortion bans, gun violence, poverty, and inaction on climate change, that did NOT require massive protests or arrestable offenses? People who know me might think I'm about to say "advocate" or "vote," but no...right now, I'm telling you to ORGANIZE for elections.

My friends, we are smack in the middle of that special, magical time of year called Election Season, when we can actually affect who we will advocate to over the next few years. As a longtime advocate, I can tell you it's a heck of a lot easier to lobby someone who agrees with your basic values. 

Image: Cindy canvassing for gun sense 
candidates with Moms Demand volunteers

I'd also like to say with all kinds of redistricting going on around the country plus the shenanigans we've seen in the last years to discourage fair voting practices, it's not enough just to show up on Election Day and cast your own vote. Each of us needs to double, triple, or quintuple our influence by convincing others to turn out to volunteer sessions and polls. Like Georgia organizers did in the races for Senators Ossof and Warnock, we have to make up for votes that will be lost due to people not being aware that they are now in a different district or don't know the rules for valid absentee voting. For instance, absentee votes in Missouri must be notarized to be valid or they get tossed out! We're not just trying to win with all the votes that are cast, we need to win with all the votes that are counted.

No matter where you are, these are the kinds of things that always need doing in campaign offices:

• Canvassing neighborhoods handing out literature with your kids or your friends
• Phonebanking from the comfort of your home with tasty snacks and your favorite music
• Addressing postcards in an office with others or at home watching Netflix
• Distributing yard signs
• Throwing a house party fundraising event for a candidate you believe in

Image: Cindy and friend addressing postcards

You might also find that your local office appreciates other skills, like the time I volunteered for an office full of high-school and college-aged organizers. They all came to call me "Mom" as I brought them homemade, healthy food and fussed at them to take breaks. You can even use some of your advocacy skills like writing letters to the editor to tell your community why you support your favorite candidates!

Here's a fact that never gets talked about too much...volunteering for campaigns can be fun, too! You're bound to find other like-minded voters there, which can be a big deal if you live in a neighborhood where most people have different political views from you. Today, I went down to the Trudy Busch Valentine senate campaign office to address postcards to donors. I was happy to see a familiar volunteer who worked with me years ago for other candidates!

One last thing: When you start to think, "Gosh, I don't have the time this week," consider those volunteer hours to be a very low cost to secure your bodily autonomy. Think of them as a bargain price for protecting democracy. Isn't writing postcards or walking a local neighborhood with friends way more fun than gathering 1,000 people to drive to your nearest city center for yet another protest? Isn't it WAY more convenient than doing something that gets you arrested for your cause?

Image: Trudy Busch Valentine speaks to a
West County St. Louis audience

Don't know where to start? Begin by rounding up friends and bringing them to a campaign event. Be vocal, clap like crazy, and meet the candidates. Tell them what you hope they will do for you. Your enthusiasm will help build momentum among the crowd! Make sure you and your buds sign up on the ever-present volunteer forms and make a donation if you can. Any campaign worth its salt will contact you quickly with a list of more things you can do. 

Image: Cindy and Cori Bush with 
a copy of "From Changing Diapers 
to Changing the World"

St Louis folks, I invite you to join me Sunday, October 2nd at the opening of the Webster Groves field office for Trudy Busch Valentine and Saturday, October 8 for a rally and voter registration drive with Congresswoman Cori Bush. Trudy is our pro-choice, gun sense candidate for Missouri's U.S. Senate seat this year. Rep. Cori Bush is a champion for reproductive rights, gun sense policy, and climate justice policies. I'll be there with friends and clapping like crazy! See below for details on upcoming campaign events for these two Missouri candidates.

Trudy Busch Valentine Field Office Opening

Sunday, Oct 2, 2022

12-1:30PM

7817 Big Bend Blvd

Webster Groves, MO 63119

Register to attend: https://mobilize.us/s/sspMkG

Roe the Vote with Cori Bush- STL County

Saturday, Oct 8, 2022

10AM-12PM

Location private, register to find out

Register at this link to attend

Roe the Vote with Cori Bush- St Charles

Saturday, Oct 8, 2022

1-3 PM

Location private, register to find out

Register at this link to attend

Roe the Vote with Cori Bush- STL City

Monday, Oct 10, 2022

5-7 PM

Location private, register to find out

Register at this link to attend

Image: Book cover

Buy an autographed copy of "From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started" at my website www.changyit.com or order it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any independent bookstore!