Gsolomon20’s Weblog

We’ve made great progress from Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. But there are limits to how much change we can effect in South Sudan from long-distance.

After building our knowledge base and network of contacts, after refining our plan for research and advocacy with the strong support of the University of Minnesota Human Rights Program, our campaign is now ready to go to South Sudan and advocate directly with the government officials and tribal leaders who can stop child abduction and return abducted children to their families. We’re ready to send Gabriel Solomon and two other University of Minnesota students to Juba over spring break to hire two local researchers and start forming a coalition against child abduction (For more about the purpose of the trip, click here.).

We’re ready that is — except financially. We’re donating labor, and Gabriel is lining up free lodging and ground transportation. We are applying for a grant to pay the local researchers. But we need to raise a few thousand dollars for the airfare, visas, meals, and phone calls.

Fortunately for you, you can help us in a manner that is both fun and delicious.

Come to Tam-Tam’s African Restaurant in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood this Saturday, February 16, anytime from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to:

Sample sensational East African cuisine at this cutting-edge eatery.

Mix and mingle with fellow Minnesotans concerned with Africa.

Buy a Save Yar T-shirt, hot off the presses.

And if you are so moved, pledge a specific part of the students’ trip.

Tam-Tam’s is at 605 Cedar Avenue South. That’s three blocks south of Riverside/the U. of M. West Bank campus. It’s less than a block north of Interstate 94: Coming from St. Paul on westbound I-94, take the Cedar exit north. Coming from the Minneapolis side on eastbound I-94, you have to merge onto I-35W and take the 3rd Street exit 17C , then turn right onto Washington which becomes Cedar. On the bus, the 2C, the 22 and the 24 will get you there, and the 16 gets pretty close. For more directions, call Tam-Tam’s at 612-339-0854 or Mapquest it.

We are grateful to The Wake Magazine for sponsoring the event and to Amnesty International Legal Support Network at the U. of M. Law School for helping organize it.