Act! Speak! Build!

launches today
By Sherrie Norris
Staff Writer

A local effort to promote social advocacy among students will launch in Watauga County this week.
Act! Speak! Build!, an international student-initiated week of advocacy sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, will run from March 31 through April 5.

This week also serves as a kick-off for Youth United, a collaboration that allows those in the 5-25 age range to raise money and build a house.

“It empowers young people to educate themselves and their communities and move people to social action,” Caroline Bond, volunteer coordinator for Watauga County Habitat for Humanity said.

High school and college students are especially jumping aboard for this annual event, she added.

After months of planning and regular committee meetings to prepare for ASB Week, Bond said the main focus is centered on young people working in partnership with local affiliates to plan and host events focused on ending poverty housing.

Act! Speak! Build! Week was initiated in 2002 by the Campus Chapters Advisory Board, a group of student leaders from across the country involved with Habitat for Humanity.

The event, then known as HabiFest, grew to involve 175 chapters in 2003 and more than 225 in 2004. In 2004, the event refocused itself on advocacy efforts and introduced the National Advocacy Campaign, a series of four nationwide advocacy events.

The event continued to grow in scope in 2005, as more than 200 U.S. campus chapters and 11 international groups participated in the newly renamed and expanded week of activities. In 2006, groups of youth outside the Campus Chapters program were eligible to participate.

More than 280 groups of youth registered from diverse organizations, such as scouting, religious youth groups, student governments and service organizations.

Act! Speak! Build! Week 2007 focused on creating campaigns that included education, public awareness and advocacy. This was the first year that students were continuously driven to create letter-writing opportunities for students on their campus.

By the end of the event, student groups across the world had sent more than 4,000 letters to their government representatives asking for their support in legislation that supports adequate, fair housing and sustainable development.

The schedule includes:

Monday, March 31- ASU’s I.G. Greer Auditorium (7–10:30 p.m); Kick Off Concert with guest speakers and musicians - with Laura Kaufman, Worthless Son-in-Laws, Union Jackrabbit; $2 admission

Tuesday, April 1: Multicultural Room, ASU Student Union (4, 5 p.m.) Youth United Interest Sessions

Wednesday, April 2: Hunger Banquet at Earth Fare (6:30 – 8 p.m.) Pre-register if possible due to limited space; admission $2.

Friday, April 4: Youth United Interest Sessions, Calloway Peak Room, ASU Student Union 1 and 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 5: Youth Day, ages 5-10 — Habitat Bingo, Crafts, Juice and baked goods; American Legion at Junaluska Park. 9 a.m. – noon; Youth United Interest Session, American Legion at Junaluska Park. 12:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Bond at (828) 268-9545.