Backpacks for Peace: Project for Learning and Giving

In the spirit of this season of giving, we welcome your contribution to inspire 20 youth in making 300 Backpacks for Peace through our innovative training program. The cost of making a backpack is approximately $10, so a generous gift of $50 will get us that much closer to our goal. For the second year in the row, Uniting Distant Stars will invite some of Liberia’s promising young men and women leaders to participate in the March 6, 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum Youth Festival organized by youthrive, a Minnesota-based non-profit.

Three Liberian youth modeling our backpacks in each color--white, blue and red

The Backpacks for Peace project will instill peace building within the community and re-spark their creative flame by using recycled plastic to make the backpacks.  The first phase of the program focused on teaching four trainees on how to sew the backpacks and care for the sewing machines as future trainers of this program. The goal of the first phase was to make 250 backpacks to be given to the students at our adopt-a-school program as part of our 4th Annual School Supply Drive.

Video shows launch of our first phase of this project on 09/26/14; narrated by Kelvin Fomba, UDS Co-founder and Country Director.

Twenty young men and women from primary to post-secondary education will launch the second phase of our backpack training program the beginning of January 2015 by making 300 bags that they will give to the beneficiaries of the Straight From the Heart Center in Liberia. This center was founded by Agnes Fallah Kamara-Umunna to provide a space for rehabilitation, reintegration, and reconciliation for youth who were on all sides of Liberia’s Civil War. Agnes is the author of the book “And Peace Still Did Not Come: A Memoir of Reconciliation”.

Photos: Left is project team lead and professional tailor Charles Mamba sitting at his machine on left that he has donated for this project. Next two photos show three of the four trainees.

We have already raised $590 towards our goal of $3,000 to buy four more sewing machines and the supplies such as zippers and thread, to make 300 backpacks. Our partner—African Dream Academy—has been donating the recycled plastic drinking water sachets, the primary material for the backpacks.

No	Items	Qty	Unit Cost	Total Cost
1	Machine	4 each	190 USD	760 USD
2	Zippers	600 yards	2 USD	1,200 USD
3	Thread	3 cartons	50 USD	150 USD
4	Scissors	5 each	10 USD	50 USD
5	Machine needles	3 packets	25 USD	75 USD
6	Machine oil	8 bottles	4 USD	32 USD
7	Cloth Lining	3 rolls	50 USD	150 USD
8	Participant Benefits			583 USD
			TOTAL	3.000 USD

Your contribution is not only tax-deductible; it is also developing a sustainable youth training program that teaches life-long skills in sewing and marketing a product needed by many Liberian youth. The need for rebuilding from the Liberian Civil War is still relevan, and it is even more urgent now due to the Ebola epidemic that recently devastated many families in Liberia.

Our team has been working hard and made nearly 200 backpacks when this photo was taken.

Please support our Backpacks for Peace service learning project with a donation by PayPal or by check to Uniting Distant Stars, Inc. and mail to:

Uniting Distant Stars, Inc.

4010 Lawndale LN N

Plymouth, MN 55446

Thank You For Your Generous Support

Young Leaders Series Part 2: Advocating for Cultural Education for High School Students

Earlier this summer, Uniting Distant Stars (UDS) launched the Young Leaders Series to highlight three outstanding young people from diverse backgrounds on how they have challenged the status quo with business and education. Though we were sidetracked for three months by the Ebola crisis in West Africa, UDS is ready to return to this intriguing series. In June, Part 1 featured Gradieh Wreh on her rise as a highly successful young entrepreneur. Now for Part 2, we are elated to introduce Wenonah (aka Winona) Vizenor, who emerged as a STAR leader in 2013 during her senior year at Minneapolis South High School in Minnesota.

Wenonah successfully led a peaceful walk-out when her high school's beloved All Nation's program had been slowly dismantled due to lack of support. This program promoted the Native American culture, such as smudging and drumming. These are vital rituals for cleansing and uplifting one's spirit. Moreover, this act of civil disobedience was equally organized to learn and appreciate other cultures within their school. In the last few decades, Minnesota is home to a growing immigrant and refugee community that has led to greater diversity within its schools.

Wenonah talk during the Student assembly during the peaceful demonstration to restore the All Nations Program.

Wenonah, a proud member of the Ojibwe and Oneida Nations, is actively involved in volunteering and community service. She is currently designing a program through Youthprise that focuses on out-of-school programs to improve academic performance "inside" the classroom for Native youth within her community. She is a mentor and also running workshops at an event called "Sacred Voices" for Native youth in middle and high schools.

Wenonah at the left with her Youthprise group.

Her passion is improving the opportunities for young people. Her ultimate goal is to work with Native Youth to guide them in reaching their unique potential. She is currently attending Minneapolis Community Technical College to complete a degree in Human Services and Native Studies. She plans to continue her education at the University of Minnesota.

I was introduced to Wenonah through her mom, Lynette, via Facebook. Lynette and I had worked together for a few years at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. It was exciting to connect with Wenonah through Facebook, because I witnessed her organize this walk-out from the start to finish. It was quite inspiring to watch this young woman follow her heart and accomplish something that mattered to the well-being of her fellow Native students. This event spotlighted how Native American culture had been systematically stripped away by the forces of colonialism and religious assimilation for over four centuries--when the first European settlers arrived in North America.

She held a clear vision for this demonstration that restoring the All Nation's Program became the primary objective. As she organized the day's activities on Monday, March 11, she had the opportunity to meet with her Principal Cecilia Saddler, who allowed them to have an assembly in the auditorium and a round dance in the main commons area. Based on this effort of good faith, Wenonah called off the walk-out and commenced with the peaceful demonstration within the allotted area of the school. Approximately 1,000 students participated from various cultures and backgrounds.

Wenonah spoke at the assembly as cited by the Twin Cities Daily Planet: "Over the years, we have not been able to smudge, not be able to drum. We are segregated from the rest of the school. You guys don’t hear about us unless it’s something negative.  We want stability in our program. We want teachers that respect us. We are not the only culture at our school that feels judged or discriminated.  I am sick of being ignorant of other cultures. I’m sick of others of being ignorant of my culture."

Later on, Wenonah started receiving texts from fellow students stating they were not able to leave class to attend the assembly and this precipitated the walkout. About 300 students ventured outside for the walk-out to show their solidarity. They were later informed they would not be allowed back in the school if they participated. This is when local advocates intervened to offer their service. Most notably was Mysnikol Miller, who negotiated with the administration that the students' would be able to collect their personal belongings before returning home.

KFAI Radio interview with the students on their activism at South High School. Wenonah is seated second from the left.

Since this courageous act of leadership, Wenonah had other opportunities come her way. She was interviewed by the well-known Native activist Winona LaDuke for her success with her peaceful demonstration. She also participated in the Circle of Healing with Diane Wilson, an author of Spirit Car:  Journey to a Dakota Past. Both of the opportunities allowed Wenonah to share her experience in leading a movement that promoted the positive aspects of culture and cultivated harmony among a diverse community.

The success of this civil disobedience moved the All Nation's program in the forefront of issues facing the students at South High School. Though there were ideas in the works to revitalize this program, this student activism prompted a quicker implementation. Wenonah's leadership in bringing voice to her and her fellow students forced the decision makers to pay attention. It was through her work and others who assisted in organizing this demonstration that showed that the voices and views of young people equally matter.

UDS is very grateful to learn more of Wenonah's pursuits in life. She is a young person who leads by example and a strong role model for her peers in her community and around the world. We asked her four questions that would encourage other young people to become advocates by sharing her experience and insight that has guided her journey as a change-maker. 

1) When did you first discover your desire to advocate for Native Youth and realized that this was a path you wanted to take and why?

I have always wanted to work in my Native community. I come from a family who was heavily involved with AIM (American Indian Movement), and in the Native community. It wasn't until I had enough of the dysfunction and institutional racism that "we the students" faced in our school that I realized I needed to make a change. I loved organizing and making sure there was change for students who come into the All Nations program. That is when I realized what exactly I wanted to do in my community; this passion to serve is what I fell in love with.

2) What are the top three influences that supported your drive to be a change agent and why?
  
Seeing students who were younger than me struggle to achieve in school. It was frustrating to witness so many kids being transferred and mistreated. I couldn't watch it happen anymore or contribute to the dysfunction by not doing anything. I had Native women in my community who fully supported me, especially one of importance--Missy Whiteman. I vented to her my frustrations. I told her that I wanted to be a change, and she fully supported and encouraged me to do it! She was the first person I spoke to on organizing this protest.

3) In dealing with the barriers of age and race, what are some strategies you have applied to overcome them? 

Age was a huge barrier. I was organizing to promote change, and put some heat under the seats of "professional" adults. They thought they could deter my efforts from following through with the protest; they tried "negotiating" with me to save face. They were not doing their job, and they were intimidated by a high school student who did not take "no" for an answer. I just had to keep on with my plan...be firm, be smart, and be strong.

4) As someone who successfully led a group of people to promote positive change, what would be your five top recommendations that you would give a rising star that may feel hindered by any social biases? 

1: Connect and start conversations with those who feel the same way as you do--people who also seek the same change.
2: Try to ask questions of the right people about certain problems that you observe happening. Push for answers. Push for change.
3: Don't hold back; don't let anyone tell you that you can't make a change. Be strong.
4: Be peaceful; violence can influence negative reactions and sometimes the opposite outcome occurs of what was originally intended. As a minority myself, I understand the frustration and even the anger at times, but it is truly important to stay peaceful
5: Know your resources and who the right people are to talk with that can help or support the change that is needed. 

UDS Thanks Wenonah for sharing her incredible story to inspire others to realize their true potential and taking action to create positive changes in this world. Also, we wish her all the best as she continues with her passion to engage and guide her fellow Native youth in becoming shining Stars!!!