Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
February 28, 2008 issue
Act! Speak! Build!
Habitat for Humanity’s Week of Advocacy
Story by Garrett Simmons
In a time when everyone seems to be talking about change, Habitat for Humanity is taking action. Act! Speak! Build! Week is Habitat’s student-initiated week of advocacy.
Held from March 31 to April 5, ASB Week will host events focused on ending poverty housing. It will also mark the kick-off of Habitat’s Youth United, a program for youth ages 5 to 25 who collaborate to raise money and build a house within the community.
Act! Speak! Build! Week is an international program, organized in 2002 by the Campus Chapters Advisory Board, a group of student leaders involved with Habitat for Humanity. Originally called HabiFest, the event grew rapidly and centered its focus on advocacy efforts. In 2004, it became a nationwide program and introduced its National Advocacy Campaign, which included four national Habitat events.
By 2006, the newly renamed Act! Speak! Build! Week had expanded to include organizations outside the Campus Chapters such as scouting, religious groups, student government and other service-oriented groups. In 2007, ABS Campaigns created new opportunities for letter writing, encouraging students to make themselves heard. This resulted in the sending of more than 4,000 letters to government representatives requesting support for adequate housing and sustainable development.
Caroline Bond is the volunteer coordinator for Watauga Habitat for Humanity. Bond hopes to continue the success of Act! Speak! Build! Week in 2008, and said volunteers are working hard to prepare. “It is so important for our community to take action,” she said. “And this event is an exciting place to start.”
Bond is currently working with a committee of university and high school students to organize the schedule of events. The week will begin with a kick-off concert at Appalachian’s I.G. Greer Theatre featuring local bands and speakers. The days following the concert will include a hunger banquet at Earth Fare, a youth activity event, and several community advocacy events. During the entire week, a visual representation of poverty will be on display in the Boone Mall.
Every event during Act! Speak! Build! Week is a significant step towards solving one of the community’s largest problems. “We encourage everyone to participate,” said Bond. “This is a chance to make a difference.”
For more information, contact Bond at 828-268-9545, or click to www.habitat.org/youthprograms/actspeakbuild.
Tentative Schedule: