Come Together

How to get your community involved in your cause.

 

October 2008

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Dr. Nancy Musarra organized an education initiative spanning three school systems outside Cleveland, Ohio, about the plight of the Lost Boys of Sudan, a name given by the New York Times to the more than 20,000 boys who were displaced or orphaned by civil war in Sudan. An art therapist, licensed professional clinical counselor, and martial-arts instructor, Musarra works with her local school systems on community diversion programs for high-risk teens, and offers group and sports performance therapy for developmentally challenged and high-risk youth. Musarra was touched by the story of the Lost Boys when she was introduced to a new neighbor who had adopted eight young men from Sudan. Through her work in the local school system, Musarra saw their story as a potential component of the system’s diversity initiative, and she is now looking to use her connections to take the story to other school systems in the Cleveland area. Musarra shares how she translated her personal passion into a communitywide effort.

 

Tell a Compelling Story. The dramatic story of the Lost Boys of Sudan immediately garnered interest and support from the school system, students, parents, and the community. Young students could see themselves facing the hardships of the Lost Boys, parents could understand the trauma of separation from a child, and the entire community sympathized with the emotional and physical suffering the boys endured.

 

Look for the Local Connections. Within the school system, the story of the war in Sudan and the dramatic escape of the Lost Boys was initially presented to sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders. They viewed a multimedia presentation, saw artwork created by some of the boys, and ultimately met several of the college-age boys living in their own community.

 

Capitalize on the Momentum. What began as a local education effort quickly grew, and the story appeared in church bulletins and local newspapers. Students, teachers, and parents mobilized to sell T-shirts, hold bake sales, and sponsor sports tournaments to raise funds to ease the boys’ transition to the United States. Corporate support was not far behind, and eventually, some $40,000 was raised to help fund the college education of one of the boys.

 

Have a Vision. As community awareness and financial support grew, a goal was set to help fund the college education of several of the Lost Boys. In addition, a quilt is now being crafted that will circulate around the country and will ultimately include the handprints of the 3,800 Lost Boys living in the United States. As handprints are collected, identifying information will be recorded as a registry to make it possible for the young men to reconnect with one another.

 

Keep the Focus on the Cause. Don’t worry about the success of your efforts. Continue to concentrate on spreading the word for your cause by creating new projects and marketing each project with a catchy name (e.g., Quilt Connection). Focus on the level of participation and commitment you can bring to the cause through your relationships and networks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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