Silver Series by Invisible Children

Interview with Team Mid-Atlantic - featuring Thad McRae

His second home is Las Cruces. He knows it.

Click here to be re-directed to interview featuring Thad McRae

Alight

One of our team-mates, Jacob J. Watson is currently interning this fall semester as a roadie for Invisible Children. This is (a peace of) what he is doing, this is just the beginning. He is in our prayers, daily.

Alight from Jacob Watson on Vimeo.

First trial at the ICC Comes to an end

"The is the first international trial to focus entirely on the crime of child soldier recruitment and is expected to set significant legal precedents for prosecuting the use of children in armed conflicts"

http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/eCache/DEF/12/906.TGFuZz1FTg.html

http://invisiblechildren.com/history-of-the-war

Gulu Women's Choir and The Voice Project

So this is something cool I found! The Voice Project uses music to encourage the LRA soldiers to come home. And I think that's awesome. Here's a video explaining The Voice Project and also a clip of the Gulu Women's Choir joining in on the chorus of Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes.

The Voice Project from The Voice Project on Vimeo.

"Home" Edward Sharpe (MEGA FM Uganda - The Voice Project Gulu Woman's Choir Mix) by thevoiceproject

Emily Williams

Hi everyone, my name is Emily. I'm a follower of Christ. My major is music education for voice, although I don't know what on earth I'll do with that. I'm starting my senior year at New Mexico State University, and the most exciting part of it is my involvement in Invisible Children. I had never heard of Invisible Children until my sophomore year in Las Cruces, and I still knew nothing about it when I met Valerie in the fall semester of my junior year. We had a couple of classes together, and we quickly became great friends. It came time for NMSU's fall screening. I remember hanging out with Val and the rest of the club, waiting for the roadies to arrive. I didn't really know anyone, and I felt really out of place, but I also felt a connection with these people that I'd never known with anyone else. So when Val told me to go to the screening, I agreed to go. While I felt impacted by what I saw, I didn't really know what to do or how to process it. I have spent the majority of my life refusing to watch the news and refusing to accept that there is so much unnecessary killing in the world. I hate to have to deal with hearing about atrocities while feeling like there is nothing I can do. Then Val applied to be a roadie and ended up interning with IC for 7 months. Luckily for me, I became friends with the rest of the IC club here just before she was gone. I love all of them, so naturally, I ended up helping more with IC. I think the moment I really understood that Invisible Children was a way for me to acknowledge and combat some of the wrongs in the world was when we went to talk with Senator Udall's office about getting funds appropriated to the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act (https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2241/images/S1067%20Final.pdf). I was excited for weeks after, and I knew I was going to be more involved. Then 25 came. I read a lot of the history of the war through Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org) and that moved me substantially. Working on the 25 event and remaining silent proved to be an exciting challenge that got attention. I realized that I can spread the word, raise funds, and do something instead of just ignoring the problem. Now, with two of my best friends going on the road with the Frontline Tour, I want to take more responsibility. So that's been my journey with IC and how I've come to be part of Team Las Cruces.

You can be part of this too! http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise/ic-team?ftid=821

Greetings!

I’ll give you a shallow rundown on who I am.

My name is Amanda, I’m 20 years old, and I’m currently embarking on my third year at NMSU studying Journalism. I love Jesus. My favorite color is purple. My favorite poet is John Keats. My brother is my best friend. I’ve been listening to a lot of Van Morrison lately. I enjoy Kanye West way too much. If candy could sustain me, I would let it. In my head I'm British. I enjoy the oxford comma. Now...

My Invisible Children story is rooted in a book. I began college at NMSU in the Fall of 2009 and by the end of that semester apathy was pumping my blood. While walking through Barnes & Noble one December morning, a display probably titled “Inspirational”, caught my eye. A vibrant lime green foreground zeroed on the chilling image of a shoeless boy, under a hot sky, towing a sinister gun on his back. This was the cover of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of A Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah.

Wanting to rid myself of the apathy that had been harvesting in my heart, I bought it. After finals, I began to read and those few days were some of the most emotional I have ever had. This is an autobiography of the atrocities Beah encountered as a child soldier in Sierra Leone, including the difficulties of his rehabilitation and reintegration into society. It absolutely plowed the hardness of my heart.

That Spring semester a childhood friend told me about some wonderful people heading up the Invisible Children Club at NMSU and encouraged me to go to their first meeting of the semester. “Invisible Children uses film, creativity and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony’s rebel war and restore LRA-affected communities in central Africa to peace and prosperity” (http://www.invisiblechildren.com). I walked in at the end of the meeting (I’m still working on my punctuality) and awkwardly explained that a book had brought me there. I did my research, and have yet to encounter a more flexible, creative, and innovative non-profit organization like Invisible Children.

Their adaptability is something I appreciate deeply and consider it one of their strongest traits. Funds raised are spent wisely: preventing attacks through early warning systems, building radio towers, as well as an emphasis on rehabilitation (schooling, medical, and psychological).

I just returned from The Fourth Estate and with a revived passion and confidence in IC and ICTLC, I know we can positively impact the people and areas affected by the LRA and finally bring this war to an end. I encourage you to look into Invisible Children, read Beah’s work, understand and let yourself be moved. Together we can “prove the Universal through the specific”.

Best,

Amanda

Brianna Stewart

Hello everyone, I am Brianna Stewart and I am nineteen years old. I am thankful to be apart of the wonderful "IC: Team Las Cruces". I have been aware of Invisible Children since my junior year in high school, but aware of the treacherous attacks of the LRA since my sophomore year. I found about these tragedies due to my high school English teacher that challenged me to take my research papers to another level. It was not until I entered college in New Mexico to study film a few years ago that I was re-introduced to I.C. and became heavily involved. Being apart of such an involved and innovative team I realize our roles shift, from leadership to creativeness, and I appreciate it deeply.

In Spring of 2011, I had the privilege to take part in the "Breaking the Silence" campaign and gain the support from you, my friends and family. This changed me, with everyday life challenges happening I saw love exemplified like never before...from YOU.

Today, I am here to let you know my efforts are not complete. The LRA is still breaking apart homes viciously. I only hope that through my humility, passion, and dedication I will continue until I finish strong. I need your support. Whether it is by mention, through prayer, or donation. I cannot accomplish it alone. I deeply believe that completing this 'mission' is apart of God's call on my journey. Please follow along, as I am serving frontline.

Frontline Video

lovelovepeace.

Introduction

Hello! Welcome! Thank you for visiting our blog. First take a look at the picture above, we are merely some of your team leaders. We are Invisible Children's Team Las Cruces. We have so much to share with you and are thankful of your attention.

For the next few days our Frontliners will be posting their stories, look out for them and scroll around!

Be Intentional.