Advocacy group forms to help ‘world’s poorest people’

By Jonathan McFadden
mcfaddenj@mytjnow.com

Members of ONE attended GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain’s on-campus rally on Sept. 16. They only managed to meet with him briefly and snap a quick picture. Photo courtesy of Judith MyersThey don’t want any money, just voices.

They don’t represent one particular political party, but they’re made up of Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Tea Party supporters. 

They’re ONE, a grassroots, nonpartisan campaign striving to fight world poverty and preventable diseases, particularly in Africa.

They’re also on campus. 

Started last year by senior social work major Judith Myers, the organization also seeks to appeal to any political leaders who may make their way to campus this year.

In spring 2010, Myers attended a ONE event in Rock Hill.

From there, she was hooked.

Alongside other Winthrop students and Alice Burmeister, associate dean of visual and performing arts, Myers attended ONE membership workshops and training sessions. 

In the fall of 2010, the team came together, received charter and learned the ropes of space reservations and getting others involved.

This year, they want to keep the momentum going.

“We’ve taken baby steps,” Myers said. “We hope now to be more involved in events on campus, other organizations on campus, co-sponsoring events, trying to get bigger names on campus to help our organization.”

The group also wants to spread the word about its cause to the faith community and encourage students to talk to members of Congress, Myers said. 

“Our goal is to strictly get students involved,” she said.

For Myers, the appeal was all about giving people without a voice a voice. She was also attracted by the collaboration across political party lines.

Thelma Williams dons her ONE T-shirt. Photo by Sarah Auvil • Special to The Johnsonian“It was great that we had Republicans, we had Democrats, we had everybody, we had Independents and Tea Partyers and we all came together for this one important issue,” Myers said. “And that was helping the world’s poorest people.”

Help for the impoverished and famished also comes from the decisions made by political figures.

“Luckily, because there’s an election coming up, there are a lot of presidential candidates coming in and out,” said Thelma Williams, junior middle level education major and vice president for ONE’s on-campus chapter.

But they’re not restricted to presidential candidates.

When political officials of any caliber come to campus, the organization plans to inform them about ONE, the group’s cause.

When former U.S. Rep. John Spratt was still in office, the group approached him about its mission.

The group is still working to establish itself, Williams said, but did acquire 300 e-mail signatures of people who wanted to join or support the campaign.

Williams stressed that the organization doesn’t accept donations or conduct any fund raisers. 

Williams found ONE appealing because it boasted no political party affiliations, she said.

“Everyone can see that we need to end poverty,” Williams said. “Everyone believes that this is something that needs to be worked on.”

She said joining the group and perusing the website also sheds light on bigger world issues most people may not know if they don’t pay close enough attention.

This semester, ONE will participate in CROP Walk, help out with other hunger-awareness week events and take part in the Global Games, slated for Nov. 8, Williams said.

“We’re here to represent the world’s poorest people,” she said.

If anyone wants to learn more about the organization, they can visit one.org. If they are interested in joining Winthrop’s chapter, they can visit the ONE Campus Chapter Winthrop University Facebook page or send an e-mail to one@winthrop.edu.