OMAHA, NE: The ONE Campaign, a global advocacy organization co-founded by Bono with 3 million members globally and over 7,000 in Nebraska hosted an official kick-off party tonight in Omaha for the NE ONE Vote 2012 campaign. The event announced its bi-partisan State Advisory Committee and highlighted the critical role that Nebraskans play in making global health and extreme poverty key foreign policy priorities in the upcoming local and presidential elections.

Susan A. Buffett, the Chairwoman of The Sherwood Foundation and the Susan Thompson Buffett foundation and a member of ONE’s Board of Directors, said: “It is critically important as residents of Omaha that we work together to encourage our elected officials to support policies that promote women’s health issues and poverty alleviation. This is a chance for our voices to make a global impact.”

In addition to a long list of National ONE Vote Advisory Committee members including Co-Chairs; Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Norm Coleman, Senator Tom Daschle and Senator Lambert Lincoln, Nebraska ONE Vote now has its own State Advisory Committee including; Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, Lt. Gov. Kim Robak, NE GOP Chair Mark Fahleson, NDP ED Jim Rogers, State Senator Tony Fulton, State Senator Heath Mello, Jeff Slobotski of Silicon Prairie News and many more.

Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy, Member of NE ONE Vote 2012 Advisory Committee, said: “Here in Nebraska we understand Agriculture and know that it is vital to support smart development initiatives to feed our growing population, on an ever shrinking planet, now more than ever. What happens overseas also matters here and we must work together to support smart and sustainable solutions to fight hunger and extreme poverty.”

Former Lieutenant Governor Kim Robak, Member of NE ONE Vote 2012 Advisory Committee said: “In this election cycle when there is so much disagreement, it is good to know that everyone agrees that we need to work together to eliminate hunger and poverty globally. I support ONE’s bi-partisan efforts on this important issue.”

The free event at Jones Bros Cupcakes included guest speaker Dr. John O’Keefe, a Creighton University Professor of Theology and A.F. Jacobson Chair in Communications who annually leads a team of students overseas as a part of the Backpack Studies Project, a collaboration between the Departments of Theology and Journalism combining film making and social justice.

Dr. O’Keefe said:”I have been blest in recent years to travel to the developing world eight times. Each time I go, I am reminded of our common humanity. These people are our brother and sisters, our neighbors on the earth. I cannot help but care about them.”

The featured entertainment of the evening was a traditional African dance and drum performance by a team of Professionals from the African Culture Connection including the group’s founder, Charles Ahovissi, originally of Benin.                       

Nebraska ONE VOTE 2012 ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy, Nebraska’s director of homeland security, chairman of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission, presiding officer of the Nebraska Legislature, chairman of Nebraska Partners in Prevention, Chairman, National Lieutenant Governors Association.

Kim Robak, J.D. Senior Partner of Mueller Robak LLC, Former Lieutenant Governor and Vice President and Corporation Secretary for the University of Nebraska

State Senator Tony Fulton, Mechanical Engineer and Owner, Guardian Angels Homecare Inc

State Senator Health Mello, Coordinator of Community Affairs and Outreach, Metropolitan Community College

Mark Fahleson, Attorney and Chairman Nebraska Republican Party

Jim Rogers, Executive Director, Nebraska Democratic Party

Andrew LaGrone, Chairman Nebraska Federation of College Republicans

Matt Hansen, President Nebraska Young Democrats

Ron Kaminski, Business Manager, Laborers International Union of North America Local #1140 and NDP National Committeeman

Eric Kamler, University of Nebraska- Lincoln Student Body President studying Agricultural Economics

Chuck Hassebrook, Executive Director Center for Rural Affairs and Nebraska University Board of Regents

John O’Keefe, Creighton University Professor of Theology and A.F. Jacobson Chair in Communications

Jeff Slobotski, Co-Founder and Chief Community Builder, Silicon Prairie News

Brandon Hunnicutt, Farmer and Chairman, Nebraska Corn Growers Association