Rescue Me Rally: Northport High School

On the evening of December 2, 2011, we were invited to Northport High School to participate in their Rescue Me Rally.  The event, on a Friday evening, was held in support of their work with Invisible Children, an organization that uses film, creativity and social action to end the use of child soldiers in central Africa. We were invited to attend by teacher, David Storch, whose work at Northport led him to be named a “Distinguished Teacher 2010” by the Harvard Club of Long Island.  The Rescue Me Rally brought students together to learn about the plight of women and children who are victims of war and violence in central Africa, especially Uganda.

We gathered with the students at 7:00 p.m. We presented our work in Congo and Rwanda, including updates on our upcoming event in Congo in March.  Robin Deluca-Acconi shared information with the students on conflict minerals and how they fuel the violence in Africa. She stressed the importance of conscious consumerism and how the choices we make can affect the lives of people around the world.

The next presenter, Robyn Deutsch, told of the work Miracle Corners of the World, a non-profit organization formed in 1999 with the vision: “Local Change Through Global Exchange.” Their mission is to empower youth to become positive agents of change in their communities. Robyn’s message to the students included the advice to stay informed, get involved locally and globally and travel to expand their personal vision.

Next, we viewed the short film, Rosaline's Story, which tells the story of one of the “Invisible Children” whom we come to know through the film. It was a sad, yet hopeful, story. The students’ reactions to the film were equally powerful.  In commenting on a particularly graphic scene where we meet a woman whose face was mutilated by soldiers, Amanda an Azure observed that they thought the graphic nature of the film was what made it powerful. They felt it made them face the reality of the world and it made them want to get involved and do something. A young man named Jason was struck by the fact that the simplest parts of Rosaline’s story revealed the complexity of life.  He thought that any one of the students at Northport could have been born Rosaline. She loved to sing and dance, and wanted to be a doctor. Jason observed that these things were true of the students gathered at Northport. He believes that everyone shares a collective responsibility for what happens in the world.

After the movie, students created a large paper chain on which each student wrote an action they would take to create positive change in their community.

We are thankful to David Storch and the Northport community for including us and supporting our work. We look forward to a continuing partnership with this extraordinary teacher and school community.