SDC: How did Des Moines for Darfur get started and have you done anything like this in the past?

I had just assumed there was already a group here in Des Moines. I was shocked when I found out that not only was there no group in Des Moines, but there were only a handful of groups in the entire Midwest. I had never participated in any kind of activist or humanitarian group before, let alone started one. But I felt so deeply impassioned about the crisis that I was determined to do something. And I just assumed that there had to be others in our community that felt the same way. Someone just had to take the initiative to get us organized. A priority for me was not only to educate but empower the community to help stop the genocide. I was sick and tired of feeling sad and sorry and helpless. I wanted to act.

I created a simple flyer on Word and started hanging them up around the community. I e-mailed everyone I knew about the newly formed group, got the word out to newspapers, public radio, posted it on several websites and spoke about it to anyone that would listen. A local publication caught wind of the new group when I posted the meeting on their on-line community calendar, and they wrote an article. I received an overwhelming response from that article. Several people offered to create and host a website, while others offered up their talent or connections for any purpose we might have. Now I have over 150 people signed-up on the e-mail distribution list. There clearly was a need for the group, just as I'd thought. It was simply just a matter of putting together a very basic framework and doing a bit of P.R.

SDC: You organized a rally Global Day for Darfur rally in Des Moines at the state capitol. What was that experience like?

I had never been to a rally, let alone organized one, so I really learned a lot in a short time period. It was a bit stressful but incredibly rewarding. Fortunately, there were some members of the group that had connections in the community and experience in rally organizing, so they were a huge asset. We were the only rally/event in the Midwest, which was a major reason why I decided we needed to have one in the first place. The highlight of the rally was seeing about twenty Darfurian refugees arrive with their signs and pictures. For me, their presence was what the rally was all about.

SDC: How have you been so successful in getting media coverage for your events and activities? Do you have recommendations for other activists looking to get media coverage?

From what I have been told, the media is looking to cover Darfur but they need something to talk about specifically within their community.
I guess I have been both persistent and blessed. I make sure the press is aware of what we're doing, no matter how large or small. There has to be a story, though. Often the story is simply the fact that there is a group of average citizens with no activist background whatsoever, rallying together for a humanitarian crisis thousands of miles away.

It isn't easy, however, to get coverage. For example, I thought our rally was quite successful and news worthy. We had over 200 people attend on the State Capitol steps. We had a terrific, diverse group of speakers. We blasted out press releases far and wide. Yet the coverage left something to be desired. It can be really frustrating when we feel like there is a story worth telling and then the headlines are about the recent high school football game. I guess worthy news is very relative.

SDC: Iowa is a politically crucial state with the presidential caucuses coming up and the recent election of two new members of Congress.  What plans do you have to educate these new members and the presidential candidates about Darfur and the actions they can take to end the genocide?

We will definitely plan to meet with the newly elected officials. Our organization is also part of a larger coalition, the Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa, which is like having a bunch of hands linked around you to support you. Their mission is to "facilitate networking, build mutual support, carry out and support educational activities, do advocacy, and serve as a catalyst in establishing two-way communication with elected officials, community leaders and candidates for public office." We have just joined this coalition and I'm sure they will be a great asset for us. I would recommend joining a group like this, if you already have or are thinking of starting an activist group for Darfur.