I don't want my cell phone to fuel a war.

I want peace in Congo.



Back story:



Want to get involved? Check out the Enough Project's take action page. Find out how a list of tech companies rate on conflict mineral use. If you're a college student then check out the Conflict-Free Campus Initiative. It's a movement to encourage students to pressure universities to support the conflict-free movement.

Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, Enough focuses primarily on crises in Sudan, South Sudan, eastern Congo, and areas of Africa affected by the LRA.

Political Engagement in the Millennial Age

Stumbled upon this on the Poptech website. Super good!

It was filmed at the annual Poptech conference, held in Camden, Maine. Approximately 600 people gather together to discuss using technology and innovation to tackle global problems such as climate change, poverty and disease.



Erica Williams is a Washington, D.C.-based activist and commentator who currently serves as the Deputy Director of Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress.

Help pass the DREAM Act in the US Senate! Now's our chance!

On Tuesday Senator Reid announced that he'll put the DREAM Act up for a vote in the US Senate as early as next week. It'll be an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill.

SO EXCITING! But now it's time to get to work, to make sure it passes!

Earlier today, DREAM Act advocates from the United States Student Association, United We DREAM, Reform Immigration for America, Center for American Progress, and One America held a press conference at the Center for Community Change in order to urge the US Senate to pass the bill.



I took this from a write up about the event. I can't read it without crying:

Felipe Matos, who walked 1,500 miles on the Trail of DREAMs told his own story of being born into dire poverty in Brazil. When his mother got sick, the only way forward for her son was to send him to the United States.

When I arrived in Miami, my family here told me that I could achieve my dreams if I worked hard enough. And I took that to heart. That’s why I walked 1,500 miles – in WINTER! I’m from Miami, and I don’t know anything about how to handle the winter! But I walked. And I fought. And I did it because I love this country. I did it so that people could see us and know that we are human beings.

You can help!

* Call both of your Senators at 1-888-254-5087 and tell them to support the DREAM Act amendment:

“Hi I am calling to ask that Senator _______ vote in favor of the DREAM Act. This bill will allow for thousands of undocumented youth to fix their status by getting a two year college degree or joining the military. This is an investment in our country's future. Support the DREAM Act.”

* Take literally 10 seconds to send both of your Senators an email with the same message, here.

* Lastly, write a letter to your local newspaper's editor, here.

Thanks for your help.

Making College More Affordable

I received the below message today from the Center for American Progress -

As you know, the US House of Representatives passed a student aid bill last month, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (HR 3221), that will cut $87 billion in wasteful subsidies for student loan companies and instead put that money towards making college more affordable and accessible.

Now the bill's on its way to the US Senate, but student loan companies are doing everything they can to stop it.

Student loan giant Sallie Mae has already spent more than a quarter million dollars(that we know of) on newspaper ads trying to stop the bill, along with at least $3 million on lobbying. Another anti-student aid group hired the PR firm Qorvis Communications that offered to pay "experts" to write op-eds and appear on TV to criticize an investigation into AIG a few years ago.

To fight back, we need to make sure the newspapers know what actual students think of the bill. We're set up a system for people from across the country to email letters to their local papers and say that congress should invest in students, not banks.

Click here to write a letter to your local paper.

We've put up a sample letter & talking points to make it quick and easy, and you can use our online system to find your paper and send your letter with just two clicks.

Thanks for all that you're doing,

Pedro de la Torre III
Advocacy Senior Associate for Campus Progress
The Center for American Progress


If you are interested in this issue then check out the United States Student Association. The Nation did a great piece on the nonprofit last week, which you can read here.

Fortunately Obama is on our side -- speculation is that if the the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act makes it onto his desk, then he will sign it into law. This video came out in May --