Welcome to the Mid-Atlantic Region's Activist Homepage!

Mid-Atlantic Region
Delaware - District of Columbia - Maryland - Pennsylvania - Virginia - West Virginia

» Sign up for the bi-weekly email update from MARO
» Read the MARO Newsletter (PDF) New!
» Check out the Mid-Atlantic Region Events
» Find us on Facebook- Join the MARO Fan Page!
» Highlights from the 2009 Mid- Atlantic Regional Conference

Updates from MARO

Watch a Film for Human Rights: The Secret Policeman's Film Festival

Celebrating three decades of "mock" 'n' roll for human rights!

Starting on Thursday December 10 - International Human Rights Day through December 15 - the American Film Institute is presenting a week-long film festival saluting three decades of great comedy and music performed for the benefit of Amnesty International at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, MD

FREE screening of festival highlights to celebrate Human Rights Day Thursday December 10 at 6:00pm

For film times and screenings, visit the AFI website: http://www.afi.com/silver/
Regular tickets are: $10. Amnesty members get a 15% discount.

2009 is the 30th anniversary of the first in Amnesty International’s pioneering “Secret Policeman’s Ball” series of benefit shows co-created by Monty Python’s John Cleese. The 1979 show in London was a landmark in galvanizing comedians and rock musicians to use their talents and influence as entertainers to raise funds and consciousness for human rights and other social and political causes – and helped inspire 1985’s “Live Aid”. Artists who cite the series as the starting point for their social activism include Bono, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Bob Geldof. The success of the shows also inspired the US section of Amnesty to stage its historic 1980s concert tours – the 1986 “Conspiracy Of Hope” US tour and the 1988 “Human Rights Now!” World Tour. The Secret Policeman's Film Festival presents 12 films drawn from the past three decades of shows and concerts by entertainers to raise money for - and awareness of - Amnesty International.

2009 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights

More than 250 AIUSA members and supporters from DC, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia attended a remarkable and memorable Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference which concluded last weekend in Richmond, VA. This year’s conference included intriguing workshops, dynamic speakers, strategic state planning sessions, an incredible resolution process, many opportunities for people to get involved, and even a marriage proposal! As with any successful event of this magnitude, the outcome was the result of collective efforts in the truest sense of the word. Special thanks to everyone who helped including the Regional Conference Planning Committee, workshop facilitators, plenary speakers, volunteer leaders, DC interns, student and local group members, and everyone who attended. In order to ensure that next year’s conference is even better, please send any conference feed back to us at egutierrez@aiusa.org

Activists at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference 2009

FREE FILEP AND YUSAK!

On Saturday, May 9th, over 60 Amnesty International supporters gathered at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, DC to rally in support of Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage, the Mid-Atlantic Region’s Special Focus Case Prisoners of Conscience. The rally included speakers from ETAN, Amnesty International and NonViolence International. Activists chanted and waved flags made by activists from across the region in support of Filep and Yusak. We would like to thank everyone who attended the rally, made flags, and helped collect petition signatures. We sent a strong message to Indonesian embassy officials that this is an important case and that we demand justice for Filep and Yusak. » Learn more about Filep and Yusak

Activists came out to the Indonesian Embassy on May 9th to demand freedom for Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage!

We would also like to acknowledge the hard work of Claudia Vandermade, our volunteer Special Focus Case Coordinator, for all of her help in organizing the event, promoting flag making kits, and helping to support the work of activists throughout the region on this case.

Monthly Vigil for Filep and Yusak Outside of the Indonesian Embassy

Join us each month to demand the release of prisoners of conscience Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage. We have not forgotten them and we must apply maximum pressure on the Indonesian government to release them immediately! The vigil will be held on the third Thursday of each month outside of the Indonesian Embassy until these human rights defenders are released.

Where: Embassy of Indonesia
2020 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
(Close to Dupont Circle Metro Stop, on the Red Line)
Dates: The 3rd Thursday of each month
Time: 12:30-1:30pm

Filep Karma ©ELSHAM

5 Years Later- Still in Jail for Raising A Flag!

On December 1st, 2009, help bring awareness to the 5 year anniversary of Filep and Yusak raising a flag in a peaceful demonstration. After 5 years, Filep and Yusak are still in jail, facing many more unless we continue to show our opposition to this atrocity. AI Activists are expected to come in and protest the detention of these two Prisoners of Conscience and demand their immediate release.

Join us in front of the Indonesian Embassy and demand dignity for Filep and Yusak.

Yusak Pakage © ELSHAM

Where: Embassy of Indonesia
2020 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
(Close to Dupont Circle Metro Stop, on the Red Line)

When: : Tuesday, December 1, 2009 @ 12:00-1:30pm

Human Rights Day!

Drop by Busboys and Poets to celebrate Human Rights Day with Amnesty International and partake in Amnesty's Global Write-a-thon! You can write a letter to government officials and ambassadors on behalf of a prisoner of conscience, learn more about Amnesty's work, join a local group, or just contribute by ordering food and drink. Busboys and Poets will be donating 5% of the day's revenue to Amnesty International USA.

This year's event will focus on the case of Birtukan Mideska of Ethiopia, a leader of Unity for Democracy and Justice, serving a lifetime jail sentence for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression and association. To learn more about her case, please go to www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon

Busboys @ 5th & K. 1025 5th Street NW, DC
:6:00-8:00 PM --(202) 387-7638
Featuring: Human Rights Advocate Fitsum Alemu*
Human Rights Defender Ebenezer Akwanga**
Busboys @ 14th & V. 2021 14th St, DC
:9:30-11:30 PM --(202) 789-2227
Featuring: Human Rights Advocate Fitsum Alemu*
Human Rights Defender Ebenezer Akwanga**
Shambel Belayneh; Ethiopian Cultural Singer

*Frequent writer and speaker on Ethiopia and Birtukan Mideska
**Jailed in Cameroon for fighting for the rights of others at the age of 20. Former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience.

For more information please contact Emilia Gutierrez at egutierrez@aiusa.org
Or for more information on Busboys and Poets, please visit their website at http://www.busboysandpoets.com/

MARO Volunteer Opportunities

Student Area Coordinator – Maryland & DC

Want to take your human rights activism to the next level?

Amnesty's Mid-Atlantic Regional Office (MARO) is currently looking for Student Area Coordinators (SACs) to help build robust student groups and to strengthen student activism in the Mid-Atlantic. SACs are an elite group of human rights activists who are responsible for working closely with Amnesty International staff to educate their communities about priority human rights campaigns, connect with student groups around the state, and develop creative ways to build support for Amnesty International's critical human rights work.

SACs become intimately involved with our grass roots human rights campaigns and get valuable experience volunteering within a renowned human rights organization.

To apply:
1. Read the job description: http://tinyurl.com/nbdcua
2. Complete and return this application by 11:59 pm on December 1, 2009: http://tinyurl.com/mem92u

Questions? Contact Folabi Olagbaju at 202-544-0200 ext. 284 or folagbaj@aiusa.org or
Emilia Gutierrez at (202) 544-0200 ext. 344 or egutierrez@aiusa.org

Know anyone who might be interested in applying? Please forward this announcement to them.

Learn more about Amnesty International at: www.amnestyusa.org

Become a State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator (SDPAC) -DC, DE,WV, MD

Want to help your state take action to prevent/abolish the violation of human rights through the death penalty?

Amnesty’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Office (MARO) is currently looking for volunteers to serve as AIUSA’s expert on the death penalty in their state and to help keep volunteer leaders, Amnesty groups, and staff informed and updated with information and news on the death penalty in their state. SDPACs also help to mobilize activists to take fast action when executions or initiatives (e.g state legislative work) is scheduled, bring new members (especially those who are already doing abolitionist work) to Amnesty and work with various organizations and organizers throughout their state to coordinate an overall statewide strategy.

To Apply: Contact Emilia Gutierrez at 202-544-0200 ext. 344 or egutierrez@aiusa.org

Human Rights Education Service Corps

Human Rights Education Service Corps (HRESC) is an Amnesty International, USA program to further AIUSA and Human Rights issue awareness through classroom education. The program began in 1997 as a way for Amnesty to work with urban high school students to discuss and analyze human rights issues on the local, national and international levels. HRESC currently operates in Washington, DC. The next phase of expansion will occur in Chicago and San Francisco. The HRESC team, comprised of staff, interns and volunteers, trains undergraduate and graduate student facilitators to engage high school students on human rights issues through partnerships with DC public and charter schools, teachers, and after school programs. Our volunteers receive intensive training then work with teachers to integrate our 8-10 weeks human rights curriculum into their unique classrooms. HRESC can also provide one-time lessons for classes that are interested in a particular human rights topic.

Currently recruiting applicants for the Spring Semester
To apply: Contact hresc@aiusa.org

Graphic Designers and Web Developers

The MARO office is looking for creative and talented web designers and graphic artists to assist with upcoming special events and projects. Work will include design and development of event logos, web pages, and other materials. If you know someone else who has the skills and abilities to donate their time, please let them know of this wonderful opportunity to help fight for human rights!

To Apply: Contact Emilia Gutierrez at 202-544-0200 ext. 344 or egutierrez@aiusa.org

Intern at Amnesty International

Want to see what it is like to work for the world's largest grassroots human rights organization? AIUSA needs hardworking, dedicated interns in our offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

To Apply: Contact Alison Collins at 202.544.0200 ext. 267 or acollins@aiusa.org
You can also visit our website at www.amnestyusa.org for more information.

Activist Resources

Get involved!

For MARO Groups

For Volunteer Leaders

About MARO

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
5th Floor
Washington, DC 20003
1-866-A-REGION
202.544.0200
FAX: 202.546.7142
aiusama@aiusa.org

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Office works with Amnesty International USA activists in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia to mobilize and educate people. The goal of the office is to support our local groups, student groups, and volunteer leaders, and provide information and resources to the general public. We do this through direct interaction with our members, education, media, public speaking, events, and outreach to and with other organizations and communities.

Meet the staff*

About the RPG

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Group (RPG) is a volunteer body which acts as a voice for the membership (local and student group and action team members, network members, volunteer leaders, and individual members) and as an advisory board to the Regional Office. The RPG helps formulate policies and programmatic goals for the region and to craft a regional budget, which reflects these policies. The Regional Office consults the RPG on all fundamental policy matters relating to their program, including long-range and annual plans, major policy or program changes or initiatives, and program evaluation.
» Contact the RPG

Apply for a seat on the RPG (PDF)
RPG Conference Call Schedule (PDF)

Conference Call minutes

March 4, 2009 (PDF) *
January 6, 2009 (PDF) *
July 15, 2008 (PDF) *
June 9, 2008 (PDF) *
April 14, 2008 (PDF) *
RPG Charter (PDF)

Training Opportunities

MARO and the National AIUSA office offer a variety of training opportunities throughout the year. See the attached document for the current MARO training calendar.

Training Calendar (PDF)

Training Calls: The Mid-Atlantic Region has begun hosting regular training calls to help our members become informed about our priority issues and build the skills needed to take effective action! Please see the calendar above for more information.

Special Regional Projects

» Human Rights Education Service Corps (HRESC)
» MARO 2008 Action Camp: Incite Action - Inspire Change

* Requires a password for the Members section. AI members can apply for a password by filling out this form.