Scroll through the regional directory of our North America Speakers Bureau to find a speaker available in your area.

Mid-Atlantic Region
The Mid-Atlantic region includes the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, and also includes Washington D.C.


Courtney Howard is a high school Global Studies teacher in Western New York. She is currently completing a Masters Degree in Social Justice, Peace, and Reconciliation. On a recent trip to Uganda she was able to spend some time in IDP camps in the north. Humbled by the joy and resiliency of the people she met there, she has decided to devote her time to contribute to the possibility of a peaceful future in the region. Courtney is currently Uganda-CAN's Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator.
Area of availability: western/upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania
Topics of speciality: grassroots organizing, general conflict background
Contact: courtneyhoward@adelphia.net

Alison Jones graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2005 with a degree in political science and is originally from Bellingham, WA. She currently works as an advocacy officer on African issues for Franciscans International, a non-governmental organization at the United Nations, and lives in New York City.
Area of availability:
Topics of speciality:
Contact: ajones@ugandacan.org

John Kiweewa is from Rakai district in Uganda and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in counselor education and supervision at Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York. He traveled to northern Uganda to work with ex-child soldiers in Unyama IDP camp in Gulu district in December 2005 and has since been a Uganda-CAN grassroots organizer in New York State.
Area of availability: central/upstate New York
Topics of speciality: child trauma in northern Uganda, general conflict background
Contact: kiweewaj2@yahoo.com

Sasha Lezhnev just returned from 2 1/2 years in Uganda as Senior Program Officer with Northern Uganda Peace Initiative, a USAID contractor assisting the peace and reconciliation process on the ground in northern Uganda. While in Uganda, he worked directly with mediator Betty Bigombe on the peace process, and managed a reconciliation project for 1,500 ex-LRA combatants and their communities in northern Uganda. Lezhnev previously worked as a conflict researcher with the International Crisis Group’s Africa Program, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and Makerere University’s Refugee Law Project. He is the author of a new book Crafting Peace: Strategies to Deal with Warlords in Collapsing States (Lexington Books, 2005). He holds a Master’s in International Relations from Cambridge University and a B.S. in Foreign Service Magna cum laude from Georgetown University.
Area of availability: Washington, DC area
Topics of speciality: conflict dynamics, peace process
Contact: sashalezhnev@yahoo.com

Michael Poffenberger hails from Puyallup, WA and is a 2005 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he studied anthropology and international peace studies. He currently works as assistant director of the DC-based Africa Faith and Justice Network, the host organization for the Uganda-CAN campaign. In the spring of 2004, he studied in Uganda, where he was first exposed to the horrors of the war. He spent several weeks in Uganda and DR Congo recently in a fact-finding trip.....
Area of availability:
Topics of speciality:
Contact.mpoffenberger@ugandacan.org

Paul Ronan, from Rushford, NY, is a senior geography/international relations major with an interest in political ecology at Syracuse University. In the spring of 2005, he spent six weeks in Uganda studying the tenuous land security of people displaced by the war from their rural farms into crowded camps. Seeing with his own eyes the intense suffering of northern Ugandans led to his involvement in Uganda-CAN. He is currently captain of the Uganda-CAN Web Management Team.
Area of availability: central/upstate New York
Topics of speciality: land security in northern Uganda, general conflict background
Contact: pronan@ugandacan.org

Midwest Region
The Midwest region includes the states of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin.

Peter Quaranto is the founding director of the Uganda Conflict Action Network, and a soon-to-be graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a degree in international peace studies and government. Peter traveled to Uganda in 2005 where he witnessed and researched the war in the north. Since founding Uganda-CAN, Peter has spoken about the war on BBC News, Chicago Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Radio and many other media sources. He returned to the war-torn region in March 2006 in a fact-finding trip. Recently named a Marshall Scholar, Peter will begin graduate study in international politics at the University of Bradford in the fall.
Area of availability:
Topics of speciality: politics of the war, role of the international community, grassroots organizing
Contact.pquaranto@ugandacan.org

New England Region
New England includes the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusets, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
There are currently no speakers available in this region. Please email Alison at ajones@ugandacan.org if you are interested in becoming a speaker in this region.

Southeast RegionThe Southeast region includes the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
There are currently no speakers available in this region. Please email Alison at ajones@ugandacan.org if you are interested in becoming a speaker in this region.

Southwest Region
The Southwest region includes the states of Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.
There are currently no speakers available in this region. Please email Alison at ajones@ugandacan.org if you are interested in becoming a speaker in this region.

Northwest Region
The Northwest region includes the states of Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
There are currently no speakers available in this region. Please email Alison at ajones@ugandacan.org if you are interested in becoming a speaker in this region.

The North American Speakers Bureau is an initiative of the Uganda Conflict Action Network that aims to allow grassroots communities to find informed and impassionate speakers for northern Uganda advocacy. The time has come to empower and strengthen the many voices across this continent that are calling for peace in northern Uganda.

Find a Northern Uganda Advocacy Speaker
Visit our North American Speakers Bureau directory, divided by region, to find someone that can speak about northern Uganda to your grassroots advocacy group, religious organization, student group or other organization you might be involved in. The directory includes a short biography and contact information for each of the speakers.

Join the Uganda-CAN North America Speakers Bureau
If you have visited, worked in or just know a great deal about northern Uganda and would be willing to speak about the crisis, please email Alison at ajones@ugandacan.org.

• Americans Hold Charity Walk for North - The Monitor (Uganda)
  April 24, 2006 by Evelyn Lirri



• Ongoing Tragedy for Children in Northern Uganda - The Buffalo News (New York, USA)
  April 21, 2006 by Bob Schooley



• GuluWalk Calls Attention to Plight of Uganda Children - The Buffalo News
  April 5, 2006 by Keenan Parker



• Listener Commentary on Northern Uganda - WBFO Buffalo Public Radio
  March 27, 2006 by Courtney Howard



• We Must Speak for Those Who Aren't Being Heard - The Buffalo News
  December 4, 2005 by Paul Ronan

Steven A. Browning was recently appointed the new U.S. Ambassador to Uganda. Within his first two month in the country, Ambassador Browning scheduled two week-long visits to northern Uganda and witnessed first-hand the effects of the war. This visit is a sign of the growing concern amongst policymakers about the gravity of this crisis. Help us to translate this concern into effective action to end the war!

Join us in thanking Ambassador Browning for his visit and asking for his leadership to help end the suffering of the people of northern Uganda.

Three Ways to Write:
1. E-mail the Ambassador via the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs officer, Alyson Grunder, at: grunderal@state.gov.
2. Mail a letter to the Ambassador at: U.S. Embassy, Plot 1577 Ggaba Road, P.O. Box 7007, Kampala, Uganda.
3. Fax a letter to the Ambassador at: 256-41-259794.

Key Points for Letters:

• Thank Ambassador Browning for his recent visit to the war-torn northern region and for his concern for the plight of the people caught in this crisis.


• Urge his continued leadership to make ending the war in northern Uganda a priority for the U.S. Embassy in Kampala and for the U.S. State Department.


• Ask that he urge his superiors to advocate for increased involvement by the United Nations Security Council through a UN Regional Envoy and Panel of Experts to determine how the LRA is supported.


• Ask that he request that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer visit the region.

Download 2-5 minute documentaries made by Act for Stolen Children, a Uganda-CAN partner, to learn more about the hardships that children face everyday in northern Uganda.

• Josephine - This mini-documentary follows Josephine, a 14-year old girl living in Pabbo IDP camp, as she struggles to send her four siblings to school after her father is killed by the LRA and her mother dies of HIV/AIDS.



• Henry - Watch as Henry, a former child soldier, struggles to rebuild his life after escaping from the LRA.



• James - This mini-documentary follows James, one of the 35,000 "night commuters" in northern Uganda, as he walks into Gulu town from his home each night to avoid abduction by the LRA.

US Legislation:

Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2005 (S.1462/H.R.3127): The Darfur Peace and Accountability Act is currently being considered by the Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. Senate and the International Relations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation addresses the interrelatedness of the conflicts in the Great Lakes Region and recommends that "the President should appoint a Presidential Envoy for Sudan to provide stewardship of efforts to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for Sudan, seek ways to bring stability and peace to the Darfur region, address instability elsewhere in Sudan and northern Uganda, and pursue a truly comprehensive peace throughout the region."

S.RES.366: The Senate also passed Resolution 366 (2006) this year calling for increased attention to and a national week of prayer for northern Uganda.

Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act (S.2264): The Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act was passed by Congress in the summer of 2004. Among other things, the bill calls on the Bush administration to support efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in northern Uganda, to work with the Ugandan government and the international community to provide humanitarian aid and development assistance, and to ensure that provisions are being made to guarantee the protection of internally displaced civilians. Senator Feingold (D-WI), an original sponsor of the bill, said, “This law signals the resolve of the United States to work with the Government of Uganda and the international community to address this crisis and to protect the innocent civilians who are suffering in the region.”
Click here to read the US State Department's February 2005 Report to Congress about the conflict in northern Uganda, as mandated by the Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act of 2004.

Relevant UN Resolutions:

Security Council Resolution 1663: The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1663 on March 24th, 2006. It condemned the attacks of the Lord’s Resistance Army and urged the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) to use its capabilities and mandate to stop such attacks and disarm rebel combatants. It asked the Secretary-General to draft recommendations for the how the Security Council, specifically through UNMIS, could more effectively address the LRA.

Security Council Resolution 1653 (pdf): The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1653 on January 27th, 2006 after a series of briefings on peace, democracy, and human rights in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. It expressed the Council's "deep concern at the devastating impact of conflict and insecurity on the humanitarian situation throughout the Great Lakes region and their implications for regional peace and security". The resolution further called for the LRA to end its campaign of terror on innocent civilians, and for regional governments to fulfill their responsibility to protect civilians and to cooperate in finding resolution to violent conflict.

Paragraph 139 of the World Summit Outcome Document: From 14-16 September 2005, the world's leaders met at the United Nations headquarters in New York to discuss a range of global issues confronting the international community. The World Summit Outcome document was produced as a result of the meeting and it included a section titled, "The responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity."

Paragraph 139 of the document says that the international community has a responsibility, in accordance with Chapter VI and VII of the United Nations Charter, to help protect populations when national authorities are manifestly failing in their responsibility to protect.

The Outcome Document also addresses the need for adequate protection of internally displaced persons and and a commitment to uphold the Rights of the Child.

Security Council Resolution 1612 (pdf): Adopted in July of 2005, this is the latest Security Council resolution to address the role of children in armed conflict. It again emphasizes the concern of member states over the continued recruitment of child soldiers and stresses the responsibility of primary Governments to provide relief and protection to all children affected by armed conflicts. It also establishes a working group of the Security Council to investigate more effective ways of protecting children from the effects of military conflict.

Security Council Resolution 1539 (pdf): Resolution 1539 was adopted in April of 2004 and like Resolution 1460, focuses on the protection of children in armed conflict. The resolution emphasizes the deep concern of member states over continued use of child soldiers in various military conflicts and reiterates the commitment to address these violations of international law.

Security Council Resolution 1460 (pdf): The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1460 on January 30, 2003. The resolution emphasizes the commitment of the Security Council’s member states to the protection of children and reiterates their commitment to “address the widespread impact of armed conflict on children.” It also calls upon all members of military conflicts to immediately halt the recruitment and use of children.

Click here to download a pdf version of these tips.

1. Before you begin, choose your contact. Effective advocates often target those officials who represent them. Those are the individuals over whom you as a voter have the most influence.

2. Preparation is essential; a little time and research go a long way. Learn the background of the person you are contacting: What is their legislative record and general philosophy? How has he/she responded in the past to the war? Be sure to thank them for past leadership if he/she has been active on the issue.

3. Always be polite. Governments don't respond to critical or condemnatory letters.

4. Be sure to include all points, but a good rule is not to write more than one page.

5. Different political officials have different power. Make sure to target requests to the government official you are contacting. Uganda-CAN has suggested advocacy points on its Web site and also in sample letters included in this packet. Draw further attention to these requests with bullet points or by highlighting.

6. Send letters to elected officials to the district office nearest you. The addresses for the district offices can be found on your elected officials’ websites.

7. Personalize your letter. If you have any special interest or link with the situation, mention it. If appropriate, briefly explain who you are and what you do. Explain why ending the war in northern Uganda is important to you. This indicates sincerity, and shows that people with different backgrounds are concerned.

8. If you choose to write via email, make sure to personalize your letter and remember to always include your contact information. This is especially true if you are contacting your legislator; that is the only way your legislator knows if you live in his/her district.

9. Visit the Uganda-CAN Web site to gain the latest information and legislative opportunities.

10. Follow up on your letter with a phone call. Be sure to ask for further information on how the official has followed up on your requests.

Click here to download a pdf version of these tips.

1. Preparation is essential; a little time and research go a long way. Learn the background of the person you are contacting: What is their legislative record and general philosophy? How has he/she responded in the past to the war in northern Uganda? Be sure to thank them for past leadership if he/she has been active on the issue.

2. Be clear on your talking points. Visit the Uganda-CAN Web site for the latest updates and information.

3. Ask to speak with the legislative aide handling the war in northern Uganda. If the person is unavailable, leave a message with your name, address and phone number.

4. Remember to mention that you are a voting member of their state calling to express concern about the crisis in northern Uganda to request that they take serious action.

5. Always ask the name and contact information of the person with whom you speak.

6. If the person you speak with asks you a question for which you do not know the answer, don’t panic! It is perfectly acceptable to tell them you will get that information and send it to them.

Follow-up with letters and phone calls.

Sustained high-level engagement to bring peace in northern Uganda will only happen if we demand it of our leaders. Call the White House, the U.S. State Department, your congressperson and your senators demanding that they make peace in northern Uganda a priority. Use the below talking points.

Enter your ZIP code in the box below to find contact information for your elected representatives.

U.S. Department of State Uganda Office: (202) 647 6453
White House: (202) 456 1111

Calling tips from the Uganda-CAN team.

Talking Points

The most important part is that you state your concern for the crisis in northern Uganda and call for greater U.S. action to support peace.

Asks of U.S. Congress (Senate and House)

• Hold hearings to further examine the situation in northern Uganda and put forth recommendations for US policy action.


• Continue the effort that began in 2004 with the passage of the Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act (S.2264) to engage the Bush Administration and leaders in the international community through Congressional letters and phone calls with recommendations for ending this regional crisis.


• Appropriate increased resources to support humanitarian needs to end the conflict.


• Enact legislation addressing the needs and recommendations to end this conflict.


• Encourage below actions by U.S. State Department.

Asks of U.S. State Department and U.S. Ambassador to UN

• Introduce the crisis to the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, as the LRA pose a serious threat to peace and stability in Uganda, Sudan, and Democratic Republic of the Congo.


• Utilize high-level diplomatic pressure to encourage the government of Uganda to better protect people displaced by the conflict, and to urge the government of Sudan to stop all LRA activities within its borders.


• Support a process for political resolution of the conflict, including political and financial backing for the mediation efforts of former government minister Betty Bigombe.


• Invest additional resources in improving conditions in the camps for displaced people, where emergency-level conditions currently cause an estimated 1,000 deaths every week.


• Travel to northern Uganda to see the crisis firsthand and to demonstrate its priority status for the U.S. government.

Sustained high-level engagement to bring peace in northern Uganda will only happen if we demand it of our leaders. Send a letter or e-mail the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, the White House, the U.S. State Department, your congressperson and your senators demanding that they make peace in northern Uganda a priority. Use the following sample letters or feel free to write your own.

• U.S. Ambassador to United Nations John Bolton


• U.N. Security Council


• President George W. Bush


• Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice


• Senate


• House of Representatives

Letter-writing tips from the Uganda-CAN team.

Enter your ZIP code in the box below to find contact information for your elected representatives.

Be prepared for your next Uganda-CAN meeting with sign-up sheets, brochures, background information, and our policy recommendations to the US and UN about how to act for peace in northern Uganda.

• Understanding the War


• Fundraising / Information Handout


• US Policy Recommendations Handout


• Timeline of the Conflict


• Key Actors and Terms


• Sign-up Sheet


• Uganda-CAN Poster


• Uganda-CAN Frequently Asked Questions


• Introductory Brochure about Uganda-CAN

Download many of these materials and more in a single pdf file by downloading Uganda-CAN's 2006 Northern Uganda Action Packet.

Participants should plan on driving straight to the Abright-Knox Art Gallery. Registration and sign-in for the GuluWalk will take place in Delaware Park directly behind the gallery.

From the east
NYS Thruway to Exit 51W (Kensington Expy.) towards Buffalo.
Proceed 4 miles. Merge onto NY – 198 W (Scajaquada Expy.).
Proceed 2 miles. Take the Elmwood Ave. South exit toward Art Gallery.
Turn right on Elmwood Ave. At the second stoplight, A-K Art Gallery in view on left.

From the south
Rte. 400 N, then merge onto NYS Thruway I-190N via exit 53 towards Downtown Buffalo.
Proceed 8.8 miles. Merge onto NY – 198E/Scajaquada Expy. Via Exit 11.
Proceed 1.6 miles. Take exit toward Elmwood Ave./Art Gallery/History Museum.
Turn right, then immediate left onto Elmwood Ave. Art Gallery in view on the left.

From Canada
QEW to Peace Bridge. Exit to I-190N towards Niagara Falls.
Proceed 2 miles. Merge onto NY-198E/Scajaquada Expy. via exit 11.
Proceed 2 miles. Take the Elmwood Ave. South exit toward Art Gallery.
Turn right to Elmwood Ave, go left on Elmwood to lot.
or
Turn left at stop sign of exit 11 to park behind the Gallery.

For more directions, visit the Albright-Knox Art Gallery website.

Parking
Visitors may turn into the Gallery parking area off Elmwood - $5 parking fee or find street parking across Elmwood or on the road by Hoyt Lake behind the Galllery

For comments or questions, contact Courtney Howard at
choward@crcs.wnryic.org or (716) 498-2917