Derived from the “Global Activism Series” hosted by Worldview’s Jerome McDonnell, the Global Activism Expo has become WBEZ’s largest event of the year and we are thrilled to again present this remarkable celebration – complete with music & food – gathering of literally hundreds of Chicago-area global activists, each providing ways you can immediately get involved and join their efforts. Doors open at NOON on Saturday and stay open until 6 pm; it’s FREE – so bring your classes, your children, your neighbors, your friends and family.

HELP SPREAD THE WORD: download the Global Activism Expo 2011 flyer here

Representing work taking place in over 100 countries, the services these organizations provide range from buying cows for Kenyan families to helping victims of human trafficking in Vietnam to shipping bicycles, shoes, backpacks, books, medicines, and even bridges to people all over the world.  In addition to learning about these incredible organizations, event attendees also have the unique opportunity to participate in volunteer activities on-site, as well as shop for interesting art, free-trade jewelry and apparel (where proceeds go to fund organizational efforts).

GET INVOLVED: you can bring hygiene kit items for assembly or donate other needed items

Again this year, the lead on-site volunteer activity will be provided by Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach (HSMO), an organization that responds to the sick, poor, and needy through a medical equipment and supply recovery and distribution program, education and awareness opportunities, and cross cultural mission experiences all over the world.  HSMO will be collecting items and assembling hygiene kits. You can help by bringing necessary items & stopping by to assist with kit assembly.  Last year Expo attendees assembled nearly 2,000 kits, which HSMO sent worldwide.  This year, the assembled kits will be sent to Japan; they are currently one of the most important items requested by the US Navy.

2011 Participating organizations will include:

New to this year’s event, WBEZ will produce a two-hour live broadcast from the Expo floor simulcast on both WBEZ 91.5 FM and Vocalo 89.5 FM.  This special radio presentation will feature in depth discussions on the economics of philanthropy and the future of giving, a look at how communities of color participate in global activism and the special place young Chicagoans hold in the landscape of world issues and activism.

Additionally, there will be on-site demonstrations and activities presented throughout the day including: youth members from CircEsteem displaying circus skills and teaching guests how to juggle, spin a plate, or balance a feather; the opportunity to live video chat with children in India, presented by LIFT Foundation (Leading India’s Future Today); a chance for attendees to contribute to a community mural, courtesy of Project FOCUS; and an outdoor display of a solar Sun Oven, courtesy of Sun Ovens International Inc.

So come out and join us on April 30th!  Numerous WBEZ and Vocalo personalities will be in attendance to spend time with attendees, exchange ideas and participate in our simulcast radio event.

2011 PRESENTATION SCHEDULE: Each year we invite a number of organizations to offer break-out sessions to present on a specific campaign, project, initiative or experience they’ve had.  Now available here is the 2011 schedule, starting with three panel discussions we’ve put together specifically to address “How to Get Started” followed by presentations focused on “Women and Girls”, “Education”, and “Art/Media” -

*1 pm - Getting Kids Involved in Giving Back
Find out how to get young kids interested in global activism.  Mona Purdy of Share Your Soles Foundation and Ruth Stoneham of Kows for Kenyan Families will tell you how they’ve done it. Moderated by WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell.

*2 pm - Young People Creating Change (for youth, by youth)
Anoop Jain of Louisiana Himalaya Association, Aliya deGrazia of Small Planet Big Plans, and Jon Shaffer of GlobeMed are all young adults who head successful development organizations. Hear what inspired them to make a difference in the world. Moderated by WBEZ’s Michael Puente.

*3 pm - Picking Your Passion
Thinking about started or getting involved with a global development project but don’t know what you should do? Or, are you trying to start your own organization? It takes more than just a good idea to make a project happen.  But if you’ve got the passion for the work, there are ways around any obstacles.  Kevin Adair, of El Fuego del Sol and Mark Gold of 100 Friends tell you why they do what they do and how they’ve done it. Moderated by WBEZ’s Alison Cuddy.

Break Out Sessions: Women and Girls
*1 pm - Investing in Girls’ Education, Building Our Future
Tanzania Development Support raises funds in the U.S. to support education and community development in Northwest Tanzania.  Find out how investing in girls’ education and current efforts to build a girls’ dormitory at Nyegina Secondary School will help the school achieve its strategic goal of  becoming a Form V-VI high school. The project is 75 percent complete and TDS is taking volunteers to Tanzania in July 2011 to help finish the dormitory.

*2 pm - Teaching Sex Ed in Rural Kenya
Vumilia will present an abbreviated sex ed class with a few demonstrations and share experiences of teaching in rural schools, at chief’s meetings, and to community groups.  A training manual will be made available.

Break Out Sessions: Education
*2 pm - Boosting Graduation Rates in Guatemala
Graduation rates in Guatemala are among the lowest in Latin America. Only 58 percent graduate from primary school, 33 percent from junior high and a mere 25 percent from high school. Through Common Hope’s comprehensive approach, students are outperforming their peers. Learn how educator Maureen Cheever led a group to Guatemala on a teacher exchange program between Hubbard Woods School in Winnetka and Common Hope’s school, New Hope.

*3 pm - Higher Ed from Scratch: The Dream of Angola University
Guerra Freitas lost his wife and son during the civil war in Angola. When he came to the U.S., he founded SHAREcircle to help rebuild his war-torn home province, Bié. Join Guerra for a discussion about SHAREcircle’s ambitions to build Bié’s first university.

*4 pm - Creating Student Leaders, Changing Communities
What does it mean to provide education with accountability in India, where the illiteracy rate is 44 percent? How can NGOs develop young leaders who not only succeed as individuals, but work from within to develop their communities? As the former managing director of LIFT Foundation (Leading India’s Future Today), Alison Niederkorn tackled these questions head on. Join her for a discussion to find out how she did it.

Break Out Sessions: Art/Media
*1 pm - The Virtual Museum: Connecting People, Technology and Development
Virtual museums are interactive, online spaces for education and enjoyment. How cam they be used to help rural communities preserve their unique cultural traditions as well as contribute to a sustainable, just development process? “The Virtual Museum” will use case studies from Open Hand Studios’ projects in Jordan, Kenya, and elsewhere to explore how these spaces can help bridge cultural, educational, and economic divides.

*2 pm - Amplifying Voices in Latin America
Latin American solidarity organization Radios Populares helps communities in Nicaragua, Honduras, Bolivia and Ecuador build low power (100 watts and below) FM radios stations. Join Allan Gomez of Radio Populares for a discussion about radio’s ability to amplify voices struggling for social justice.

*3 pm - Art and Human Trafficking
Join creative director Leslie Thomas of ART WORKS Projects as she walks you through the outdoor photographic exhibition “At What Cost_Human Trafficking/Forced Labor/Child Labor.” The exhibit is designed to bring mainstream media attention to the global crisis of human trafficking and child labor. Come hear the stories of the people behind the images and find out what can be done to stop the abuse.

TRAVEL INFORMATION:
If you’re coming by CTA, take the Halsted (8) bus south to Roosevelt Road.
If by car, parking is $8.00 in Lot 5 (located at 1135 W. Morgan) - once that lot is full, attendants will divert cars to additional lots.

This event is sponsored in part by: