Liberty in North Korea Presentation - Monday, 3/30, 3:00PM

RAPP welcomes Liberty in North Korea back to UC this Monday, 3/30/2015, at 3:00PM in the 6th Floor Open Space of Steger Student Life Center! Find this event on Campus LINK and Facebook.

From LiNK:

The international narrative on North Korea has created an environment of fear and isolation. This disempowers ordinary North Koreans, who have nothing to do with the political circus.

We are launching an exciting NEW initiative this spring to give millions of people the opportunity to send a personal message of support TO: the North Korean people.

Our goal is to show North Koreans that the world is united in support for them. We need YOU to change the narrative on North Korea by adding your community's voice of support to our collective message.

This event includes:

Multimedia Presentation
LiNK events are engaging and educational presentations. We use a combination of speaking, videos, audience interaction and photos to connect audiences to the people behind the stories and provide a comprehensive look at North Korea. This event is unique and offers a look at North Korea most people have never had.

Questions & Answers
We give you the opportunity to ask any questions and get answers from our highly trained representatives. The purpose of these presentations is to not only educate but also connect with you and your community.

Get Involved Table
LiNK Nomads will invite anyone who's interested to visit with us to learn more about how to get involved. This is a great time for those interested to have deeper discussions about the issue, buy merchandise to support the work LiNK does, and find out more about how you can stand alongside the North Korea people.

Snapshots of the Soul

 



Hello out there! Its been a while since I last checked in but don't you fret. I'm bringing you news of celebration from the heart of the right for all American citizens to vote; Selma. Last weekend, I was able to travel down to Selma, AL with Pastor Peter and the Wesley House. Before this trip, I wasn't familiar with that organization but let me first say this, Ms. Becky, the house mother at the Wesley House, is a beautiful soul. I am so thankful to have been able to meet her and allow her spirit to minister to me. I was also glad to meet Pastor Peter who was like meeting a familiar friend that was always there but didn't have a name or face...

Well, enough of that! This journey with this amazing group of people could not be more perfect. This trip was called "Snapshots of the Soul" and with good reason. We were asked to think long and hard about where we were individually and as a people. We were asked what bridges were we crossing and what is holding us back.

 

For two days, we were totally submersed in a historical walk back in time. We visited the home site of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth as well as Bethel Baptist Church which served as the headquarters to many movements within the civil rights era. As moving as this was, the next site upped the "anty" on emotional disarray. The bombing of 16th Baptist Church really forced America to open its eyes and see the cruelty carried out on its citizens. From there, we saw The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. This had the biggest impact on me because it highlighted things from this era that we rarely see. There were entire cities of African Americans thriving and creating better futures for their children but most importantly, the generations that follow. 

Facilitator Break

 

After these first three events, our group became a lot more vocal about the issues at hand. I felt like this was a perfect time to ask some questions and get a few reactions from folks. Because I knew that these words, sights and images would trigger everyone in different ways, it was important for me to stay neutral to allow my respondents to feel safe in their emotions. We were all introduced to the notion of having a love that forgives. I asked questions specific to this idea to see if the answers would have similarities.

 

Being involved with RAPP has given me the tools I needed to take myself out of the equation and be passionate to other peoples ideas. Meeting people where they are is big. It says that we all have the capacity to see beyond ourselves through someone else's lens. I was also glad to bring the knowledge gained from Kingian Non-violence Training. I felt like I was a part of something much greater that the older people already knew and that I was just learning.

 

 To see the places and witness the climate that  fueled civil rights is breath taking. Standing in the exact spot commemorating the 50th anniversary of the successful march across the Edmond Pettus Bridge can only be compared to winning a prize that you didn't know you were competing for.

My fellow RAPPer's made this trip unbelievable as well. I felt like we were training all year for the moment to see a piece of living history and stand together. As we crossed the bridge. there were cries of joy and jubilation through the crowd. I was glad to have shared this event with everyone present and in my heart.