FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Valerie Kiebala, 224-465-6340, [email protected]
Jonathan Hutson, 202-386-1618, [email protected]
CHICAGO – On July 9, the historic day that South Sudan becomes an independent nation separate from the rest of Sudan, Youth United for Darfur — the Chicagoland coalition of high schools and colleges working together for peace and education for the people of Darfur — will hold its inaugural Walk with Darfur. The walk will take place on Saturday afternoon in downtown Chicago, in conjunction with the Sudanese Community Association of Illinois’ celebration of the independence of South Sudan.
Following the walk-a-thon, the program will hold a rally in support of peace in Sudan. Speakers will include Sudanese Community Association Executive Director Malual Awak, Dream Team Official Meghan Higginbotham from the anti-genocide group the Enough Project, and prominent elected officials and sports figures of Chicago.
The money raised from the walk-a-thon pledges and suggested donations of $25 will contribute to the Enough Project’s Darfur Dream Team Sister Schools Program, whose two-fold mission is to provide a quality education to every Darfuri refugee child, and to develop personal connections between students from Darfur and the United States to promote mutual understanding.
Who: Students from more than 40 Chicagoland high schools and colleges, organized by Youth United for Darfur, Enough Project’s Darfur Dream Team Sister Schools Program, http://www.DarfurDreamTeam.org
What: 2011 Walk with Darfur
Where: A 3K walk along Lake Michigan at Diversey Harbor
When: Saturday, July 9, 2011 at noon CDT . Participants will gather at 11:30 a.m. at the Diversey Harbor Grove at Barry Ave and Lake Shore Drive West, departing for the walk-a-thon at noon, and re-convening for the rally and speaker program at 2 p.m.
Why: To raise money for Darfuri refugee education, promote peace in Sudan's Darfur region, and celebrate the official recognition of South Sudan as an independent nation. The event will also emphasize the importance and urgency of keeping the peace in Darfur, as well as establishing a strong foundation of refugee education to ensure a more positive future for the people of Darfur and Sudan.
How to Register Online: http://darfurdreamteam.org/