nj responds

Initiatives

Do the Write Thing

Conference on Media, Activism, and the Genocide in Darfur for high school students and their teacherson Jan. 12, 2007 at Drew University.

More than 120 students and 20 teachers from 26 schools throughout New Jersey attended. The aim of the Conference was to give students the opportunity to look at genocide in Darfur, Sudan and learn how to use the media as an advocacy tool to instruct, inspire and inform to help stop the genocide. The Conference was sponsored by the N.J. Coalition Responds to the Crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

The N.J. Coalition Responds to the Crisis in Darfur is made-up of a diverse group of organizations based in New Jersey. Among its activities, the Coalition unanimously conceived and organized the Do The Write Thing Conference to create a model program that could be used by high-schools throughout New Jersey to handle the growing interest in this tragic event happening.

The Conference opened with a Plenary Session featuring Nick Clooney as the keynote speaker. Clooney, a reporter for over 55 years, spoke about his travels to Darfur and Chad to see firsthand what is happening in Darfur and has since been donating his time to encourage young people to advocate on issues that they believe in including ending genocide. Blanche Foster, the Director of the Darfur Rehabilitation Project, spoke next introducing Adelbagey Abushanab, a Darfurian refugee and President of the Newark-based Darfur Rehabilitation Project. Mr. Abushanab showed slides from Darfur while speaking about the history of Sudan and the genesis of the current situation.

Afterwards the Conference participants attended break-out workshops. The workshop facilitators were members of the media who donated their time to talk about effective strategies for media advocacy. The menu of workshops included: print journalism, television, photojournalism, media advocacy, radio, and internet/new technology. The teachers attended a 2-part workshop on Testimony as Advocacy. During the lunch session the students witnessed a model press conference. The Conference ended with a plenary wrap-up session including the announcement of a media advocacy contest.

  • Print Journalism: Russell Ben-Ali, Reporter, Star-Ledger; David Chen � NJ State House Bureau Chief, The New York Times (morning only); Robert MacMillan Reporter, Reuters New York City Bureau (morning only); Andrew Silow-Carroll, New Jersey Jewish News (afternoon only)
  • Radio: David Cruz, Anchor/Reporter, WBGO radio
  • TV: Lisa Lindstrom, Producer and Story Development Executive
  • Photo Journalism: Richard Levine, Photographer/artist; Carol Halebian, Photojournalist
  • Internet/New technologies: Felice Maranz, Director of Community Relations, Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey
  • Media Advocacy: Ken Bandler, Director of Communications, American Jewish Committee (morning only)
  • Teachers Workshop: Dr. Paul B. Winkler, Executive Director, N.J. Commission on Holocaust Education and Alana Cooper, Associate Regional Director and Education Director, Anti-Defamation League, New Jersey Regional Office.


Lunch/Press Conference
A press conference was held during the lunch session. The Press Conference was facilitated by Ken Bandler, Director of Communications at the American Jewish Committee. The speakers included Blanche Foster, who represented the Coalition, Nick Clooney, Adelbagey Abushanab, and Eric Messinger, a student participant and also one of the founders of Help Darfur Now. In addition, a representative from Governor Corzine's office read a proclamation making Jan. 12 Darfur Day. Remarks from Senators Lautenberg and Menendez were read as well. The Daily Record and New Jersey Jewish News ran articles on the Conference.

Click here for a complete appendix of conference related materials.


Planning Committee Members:

  • America Jewish Committee, NJ Area
  • Anti-Defamation League (NJ Region)
  • Community Relations Committee of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ
  • Darfur Rehabilitation Project
  • Drew University Center for Holocaust/ Genocide Study
  • Help Darfur Now
  • Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey
  • NAACP, Newark Branch
  • New Jersey Council of Churches.