Hear Her Voice Advocacy Delegation Day 1

This year's DC conference for HHS Stand is the Hear Her Voice Advocacy Delegation organized by Jewish World Watch and the Enough Project. We caught a Southwest flight this morning from Logan to BWI then took shuttle buses to the Courtyard by Marriott on 2nd St NE. 

From the hotel, after rethinking Mr. Dickson's original plan to walk, we rode the Metro to the Smithsonian stop then found some food at the American History    Museum. After checking out the Star Spangled Banner, we headed over to the Holocaust Museum. For most of the group, this was their first visit - a powerful experience to remind us of why we are here. 

Overcoming Mr. Dickson's ongoing directional challenges, we made it back to the hotel in time for the first conference event - a dinner and panel discussion about women in Darfur and Congo featuring Niemat Ahmadi and Nita Evele - stories of hope in the midst of atrocity, of women who are survivors not victims rebuilding their villages in the face of genocide. 

The keynote speech was by Mukesh Kapila who was the UN official who defied orders and blew the whistle on Bashir - first making the world aware of the genocide in Darfur. He talked about how courage is about survival and how true power lies in a person of principle.

He gave us five strategies to be an effective resistance worker:

1. Be Well Informed

2. Be Vigilant

3. Give of yourself - take responsibility 

4. Organize - work together

5. Be Optimistic and Humble

 A great start. Looking forward to tomorrow!