Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference
October 2006
Wilmington, DE
Dear MARO Members,
With the conclusion of our 2006 regional conference in Wilmington, Delaware, we want to thank all of our members who contributed to the conference's success! With over 200 in attendance, the conference offered inspiring speakers, interactive workshops and thought-provoking plenaries. Members were provided the opportunity to meet other activists, learn more about Amnesty's priorities, participate in the organizational governance through the resolutions process, and gain knowledge on activism and organizing strategies.
The conference got off to an amazing start with speeches by AIUSA Executive Director Larry Cox, along with POC's Rebiya Kadeer and Carlos Mauricio. Barbara Olshansky and Jumana Musa wrapped up the conference with a remarkable closing plenary. Lunches on Saturday and Sunday were accompanied by panel discussions on human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo and civil rights as human rights in the USA. Workshops in between covered topics from violence against women in Darfur and AIUSA's work to abolish the death penalty, to conducting write-a-thons and organizing effective demonstrations. The conference also highlighted AIUSA's new strategic planning process, as well as our membership growth priority. The featured action was a global write-a-thon. Participants wrote 400 letters on behalf of more than 15 POCs and individual defenders in 14 countries. We are very pleased to announce that Eritrean gospel singer Helen Berhane, one of the individual defenders featured in the write-a-thon, has since been released from prison! This is a powerful testament to the power of collective action.
We wish to extend our deepest gratitude to all of the planning committee members (Eric Merlino, Natalia Kieniewicz, Diana Hartley and Caitlin Wheeler), staff, interns and volunteers who helped to make this event a success. Special thanks also go out to all of our amazing speakers, panelists and workshop facilitators who offered us their stories and their expertise. Finally, we want to thank all of the members and activists who attended. You are the heart and soul of Amnesty's work, and your enthusiasm and energy continue to inspire us every day.
Sincerely,
The MARO Staff
Photos courtesy of Jihad Saleh, AIUSA Bunche Fellow
