Ubuntu in Action

A big “thank you” to United Methodist Women and the 12 members who joined us to canvass a Durham neighborhood last week! The group was in town for a young women's leadership conference, and they joined NCAAN to celebrate their Ubuntu Day of Service. “Ubuntu,” the group explained, is an African concept that can be summed up as “I am human because you are human,” and it is a foundation for community action and service.

The 12 women joined our organizer, Shawn, for some training on the basics of community organizing, and information on resources for designing their own organizing projects. After practicing reading scripts, the group knocked on more than 100 doors, raising funds and recruiting new members for NCAAN’s Action Team. The 10,000-strong Action Team is the foundation of our work to shape state policies and communities that support the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS, their loved ones, and those at risk for acquiring HIV in North Carolina.

If you have a group of 12 or more people and would like to organize a one-day service project, contact Shawn at shawn@ncaan.org or (919) 817-8960.

The team with their canvassing essentials – clipboards, pens, postcards, walking shoes, and a story to tell.