It was 2005 and my first visit to Africa. The world was slowly beginning its painful wake up to the reality of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. I was visiting a rural hospital in Kenya not as a doctor or as a health care worker, not as a lawmaker or as a politician. I was visiting Kenya with my church. It was my heart that drew me to this issue and to the families it destroys.

I will never forget the mom or her son. We stood in mud, under a tin-roofed shelter, a storm surrounding us with pounding rain. Her son was maybe five years old. He reminded me of my own son about the same age. He was wide-eyed, seemed afraid, and he was not healthy. He pushed deeper and deeper into the folds of his mother’s skirt the more I smiled at him.

I watched as the nurse handed the mother her first prescription for her life-saving medication. As she and her son stood in line at the makeshift pharmacy the nurse informed me the ARV’s (antiretroviral medication) had just recently become available in Kenya due to PEPFAR. This mom now had a chance to live — and raise her small son. I was pleased yet I wondered if her son was HIV-positive and whether he had been tested and if there was medication available for him.

This first-hand experience of PEPFAR’s effectiveness was satisfying. I knew about PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief) because I lobbied for this legislation. I joined the ONE Campaign in 2003. Through ONE I was invited to call Congress and the White House to urge passage of this historic piece of legislation.

Before urging my government to pass PEPFAR I had never lobbied my elected leaders about anything. Lobbying seemed the thing of special-interest groups, not the job of soccer moms. I made a simple phone call from my kitchen. How amazing that while standing in a clinic with the rain falling in sheets outside that I was experiencing the full circle of my advocacy efforts!

Last summer I was able to once again travel to Kenya. This time with a group of ONE Moms; women who blog, write and speak about motherhood and the need for American moms to speak for other moms who live under some of the most dire circumstances, many of them on less than $1.25 a day.

We visited another hospital and I was honored to talk with a mother named Grace. I want to tell you about Grace because she epitomizes the story of HIV/AIDS in Africa and the progress we have made in half a decade.

Grace had a fat baby girl on her lap the whole time we talked. Her baby is named Gift because Grace is thankful for the gift of a healthy child. You see, Gift is Grace’s fourth baby. Grace is married and had two babies in the late nineties. The first baby, Faith, lived until she was 6 months old. The second child, Gloria, lived to a year and half. Grace and her husband did not know what was taking the lives of their children.

Finally, Grace’s husband got very sick. Education was increasing and stigma was decreasing around HIV and AIDS so they decided he would get tested. He was HIV-positive. Grace was tested soon after and she was also HIV positive. She was pregnant with their third child.

But much had changed in the few years since the birth of her previous children. Due to education and awareness Grace knew what to do and where to go. She got on medication and every day she took the two small life-saving pills that prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Victoria (Victory!) was born HIV-free. And that fat baby girl giggling on Grace’s lap during our visit named Gift — she is also HIV-free. Victoria and Gift are living proof that education, awareness, resources and the will of everyday people who work to change unacceptable and preventable situations make a difference.

I’m only one mom who lives in the Midwest and I live a pretty ordinary American life. Yet I can join my heart and voice with mothers and families everywhere who long to make a difference. We have the technology, the medicine, and the resources to have a generation born HIV-free — we can work together to see the beginning of the end of AIDS by 2015.

As my friend from Zambia and fellow activist Princess Zulu says, we can work until “every mother’s dream or prayer is answered, that her child or children can be born and live HIV-free, a world where children can be children again, play, laugh, and cry, yet still know they are safe because mum and dad will be there and not be dead. As the Zambian Bemba proverbs says, ‘Imitiikulaimpanga.’ Meaning, the trees that grow become the forest. Our world relies on how well and healthy our children are.”

*This post originally appeared in The Huffington Post on Janauary 27, 2012

Ideas Are Powerful. About a year ago several women and moms began discussing how we could raise our voices on behalf of those living in extreme poverty, famine and disease. As a long time member of ONE, these issues are important to me. We brainstormed ideas, reached out into our networks and spheres of influences and ONE Moms was born.

Women are the caretakers of the world and as moms we care deeply not only about the well being of our own children but we are thoughtful and deeply concerned about children struggling worldwide. The famine in the Horn of Africa can seem far away but images of malnourished children strike our mother’s heart.

This week I had the honor of attending a meeting at the White House in the Roosevelt Room with ONE Moms and Dr. Jill Biden, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of USAID and Gayle Smith of the National Security Council. Dr. Biden, knowing the ONE Moms had traveled to Kenya last summer, was eager to share her experiences from her recent trip to Africa. She made the trip to learn firsthand about the situation with the famine and growing crisis.

At a large conference table in the West Wing Dr. Biden, a fellow mom, shared her experience, troubled heart and passion for change. She wanted to hear our stories and our hearts as well. Amidst historic paintings, iconic portraits, official flags lining one wall, a table of moms brainstormed, asked questions, and worked together toward solutions.

The meeting had great energy and real passion. We asked hard questions and agreed on real solutions. There is hope even in the incredibly difficult issues of extreme poverty, education, disease, famine and funding. Every now and then I had to remind myself where I was and whose company I was in. Ideas are powerful and somehow, as a full time mom from the Midwest, I was sitting in the White House at a meeting as we shared ideas of how to help other moms and families just like our own.

The experience of motherhood is universal no matter who you are or where you live. It matters what is happening to other moms and children worldwide. Or as Dr. Biden put it, “We’re all in this together.”

Watch the ONE Moms short video and join us at www.ONE.org/moms.

Three years ago I felt very alone. For reasons I won’t go into now my inner circle of friends had imploded. My children were no longer babies and they demanded less of my time. It was a slow and messy process, this waking up to myself and my need to create.

Three years ago I took a risk and invited virtual strangers to a bar. Four of us met in a quiet booth and shared our dreams and hearts’ desires: to create in community.

Redbud was born.

Today, Redbud Writers Guild is a growing movement of women who wish to fearlessly expand the feminine voice in our communities, churches and in culture. God has brought together a diverse, dynamic and talented posse of women. You know the verse, the one that says God will give you more than you can ever dream or imagine? I have watched this unfold with Redbud. And this is just the beginning.

From inception, Redbud has had a very special internal culture. It was important for the founding members Redbud be a safe place for women. A room of our own. A place of freedom and expression. A place where we can say what we know, adding our voices to challenge injustice, poverty, oppression — things we find fundamentally dishonest and untrue — in the world.

Redbud’s Vision, Mission and Values flow from these convictions. And, to be honest, they flow from past wounds with both men and women, in personal and professional spheres, where competition corroded relationship and killed voice.

Here is what we are about. It is why, today, I am not alone and I can fearlessly create:

Our Vision
We envision a vibrant and diverse movement of women who—in community—create and influence culture and faith.

Our Mission
Redbud nurtures a network and community of women who create rather than merely consume. We are a group of writers and communicators who publish, speak and blog to empower women to use their voices to be world-changers. We are committed to supporting all Redbud members. We create and maintain community by meeting regularly, connecting through social media outlets, and networking through our various channels of influence.

Redbud provides women with needed support and tools to be effective writers and communicators in today’s world such as manuscript and media mentoring and review, networking, writing conferences, blogging opportunities, resources, camaraderie and community.

Our Values

Faith
As a community of Christ-following women, we recognize the wide diversity of theological convictions existing both today and across history. We believe by creating in community our faith journeys will continue to unfold. We encourage all Redbud Writers Guild members to uphold their individual faith traditions and honor one another. To this end, we invite all Redbud members to embrace the wisdom of St. Augustine: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.”

Women
We value the feminine perspective too often silenced or dismissed in our world. We have a heart for women. Redbud desires to empower women to use their voices and recognize their influence.

Safety
We believe safety is foundational to the creative process and we strive to make Redbud a safe place. This includes a spirit of non-competition.

Collective
We celebrate and respect our unity amidst our diversity. We believe being part of a collective voice helps to amplify our individual voices.

Covenant
Understanding we are all flawed, we covenant with one another to respect each other’s differences and to never represent Redbud in a way that might be harmful to another member. We covenant always to speak well of one another, especially in public circles. We are committed to promoting each other’s work. As a covenant group, we see ourselves as a fellowship, a sorority, a tight community. We take our mission and vision seriously, and we strive to present Redbud and its members in this light.

Our new site highlights all these remarkable women. Join our newsletter. Bookmark Redbud and watch us grow.

I feel dizzy.

The kids are back in school and the busy, luxuriously unstructured activities have given way to early mornings, athletic practices and games, instrument lessons, and homework. The piles of papers to attend to, the forms to fill out and sign, the curriculum nights, meetings and phone calls seem overwhelming. Not to mention the daunting task of keeping the fridge and pantry stocked for meals, school lunches, and the never-satisfied snack cravings of my growing children.

I feel scattered trying to keep up with my children’s schedule and needs. Yet there is another component. Me. I have writing deadlines, travel and speaking schedules, books, web sites and songs I want to write — all swirling in my aging brain.

There’s that newsletter all written in my head I need to get on paper. Chapter 3, 4 and 5 came to me last week. I ought write them down, get them out, before I forget. Yesterday I sang playful lyrics for a song — they’ve already floated away in the midst of grocery shopping and hunting down soccer gear for Thomas’ first practice. I loved those lyrics. I have two book proposals in development. They could be better, more complete. The crisis in the Horn of Africa weighs on my heart and mind. I want to stay informed and involved.

The internal river flow is moving too fast, as if by hitting September I hit white water rapids. The rocks and tree limbs are passing by at a furious speed. I need to remember that rock (Orthodontist appointment). I need to make note of that tree limb (my son’s IEP meeting end-of-month). The scenery is actually important and I am convinced I am going to miss something. (that bend in the river was my daughter making the volleyball team)

A wise friend said, “Just do the next thing.” Being disciplined, responsible, and a hard worker are noble principles. I also believe deeply it is mysteriously both/and. We do the next thing yet control is an illusion. I remind myself of this by slowing down, telling the internal river flow to calm…breathing… and then I prioritize the next thing.

Which for me, right now, is making my family a big pot of homemade chili and hot cornbread.

Last week I had the pleasure of chatting with talk show radio hosts John and Kathy of WORD FM in Pittsburgh. Having only been home from Kenya for a few weeks my mind is still racing. John and Kathy asked compelling questions and I want to share our conversation with you. It was a joy to take a few minutes in the midst of end-of-summer family activities to visit with them.

There are many questions that echo in my mind as I continue on this journey of being a global thinker. Such as how do I take all I have seen and learned over the years and make real change? How do these things affect me as woman of faith, a mother, and a woman. How do I activate myself to get involved and how do I influence those around me?

I hash out some of these issues and more in this interview. To listen follow this link.

John and Kathy with Shayne Moore on WORD FM

I have been home just a week from my whirlwind trip to Kenya with ONE and the ONEMom bloggers. It was a life-changing week of learning what life is like for mothers and families just like my own. We visited hospitals and pediatric wards, we hiked down dusty trails to home visits to learn how community care givers educate about TB, HIV/AIDS and maternal health.

The biggest take-away, of course, for myself and my fellow bloggers is that moms are moms no matter where they live or who they are. We love our children and want the best for them.

David Muir of ABC visited us in Kenya and spent two days with the ONEMoms. Watch our video segment on World News. Visit:

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/PersonOfWeek

It is not cliche to say the world is getting smaller. Today we get global information at an alarming speed. It can feel overwhelming to stay current on global matters let alone engage with them and make a difference.

Yesterday I returned to my Midwestern suburb from Kenya. I was traveling with the ONEMoms. In a whirlwind week of home visits, conversations, long dusty bus rides, hospital tours, and meetings from Kenyan women in leadership to our own US Embassy, the ONEMoms were educated about what life is like for mothers and families in Kenya.

I first woke up to the reality of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and extreme poverty when I became a member of ONE almost nine years ago. When I travel to Africa my heart breaks, these issues become painfully 3D, and my understanding deepens.

I am a mom and I believe with everything in me American moms are thoughtful and compassionate thinkers. I believe the time is ripe for a movement of American moms to change the world. A movement of ONEMoms. Did you know a social movement is commonly defined as the major vehicle for ordinary people to participate in public politics?

I am not a politician. I am not a policy expert. I am an ordinary, everyday mom.

I can join my voice with other compassionate mom’s voices. I can join this movement to change the circumstances of mothers and children in sub-Saharan Africa. Change is real and we do make a difference. When the ONE Campaign began less than 50,000 people in all of Africa were on life-saving HIV medication. Today, because of ordinary people participating in global issues over 4.5 million Africans are on life-saving drugs. That means African moms stay alive and are now able to raise their children.

The time is now. It only takes ONEMom to start a movement. Join us.

Meet Mary. She is the treasurer of the Matisma Growers group, a cooperative potato farm. She and her small community outside Nakuru, Kenya run an innovative agriculture business together — introducing the Irish potato as a Kenya food source.

At first glance, it may not seem that significant Mary is the treasurer, but in Africa even though women produce 80% of the food (they are the farmers), women only make up 30% of the formal economics (they don’t get paid).

About 30 people met with us on this lush, pristine potato farm. The chief of the area greeted us, the Chairman of the cooperative presented their goals, projections and successes and a representative from USAID explained how their funding supports this community effort.

Did you know approximately 925 million people are hungry around the world today? And that growth in agriculture is twice as effective in reducing poverty as growth in other sectors. Investing in agriculture can be transformative, especially for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, where the sector employs nearly two-thirds of the population and accounts for an average one-third of GDP. (Visit ONE’s agriculture page to learn more.)

ONE supports programs through USAID, and supports women like Mary, who are changing the role of women, the economics, and the food stability in her home, her community, and her nation.

Follow all the ONEMoms blogs. Click here!

I have never been in slum like Kibera. To be honest, I am not sure there are words to describe this place.

It was sunny. Fun. Full of laughter and color and life. It was filthy. Smelled like sewage and garbage and waste. It was light-hearted. Reggae music pumped into the red clay main streets. Children laughed and hugged and played. It was dark. We passed brothels and girls sniffing glue and carts of rotten produce.

We walked on.

Betty was my guide up the unprecedented garbage heaps that served as paths. She is 24 years old and a single mother of three young girls. Betty shared her experience with me. I got the lay of land, the names of the villages within the slum, Kisumu. I asked questions about her home as we walked on and on past babies playing in the ash of yesterday’s fire pit, women pealing potatoes, people standing in line to buy filthy, polluted water.

And yet it was life –it was normative for Betty and the half million people who share Kibera as home.

We passed puppies and hens with newborn chicks. We passed so many children I lost count all chanting, “How are you? How are you?” Waving, grabbing, hugging.

We passed death. Animals and people clearly sick, dying, aging, malnourished propped up against clay walls.

We finished our walk at Betty’s home — a room she shares with 10 other people. It was clean, but most importantly, it was full of love. Betty loves her small family and works hard to make money for her girls. It is her biggest goal and her biggest source of pride.

Betty and I visited in her small Kibera tin roof home. I found myself looking out the window… over a stream of sewage and an endless pathway of garbage lined with faces, smiles, and names. This is Betty’s home. She knows no other.

As Westerners we can think Betty and her girls MUST get out, but this is not what Betty wants. She wants to remain grounded and connected to her people. And so we must go to her. We must bring clean water, medical care, and educational opportunities to the wild, wild world of Kibera.

This week, ONE is joining 10 bloggers who are making their way through Kenya to see what life is really like for moms in the developing world. Follow along and check their progress at http://one.org/us/actnow/moms.

“We believe this is a place of light and hope. We believe there is hope in perseverance,“ declared the pastor and headmaster of Mwangaza Tumaini.

Today the ONE Moms visited a school in Makuru, a slum in Nairobi, Kenya. This place of light and hope is also a place that reeks of raw sewage. The restrooms or latrines are built over, and empty into, the small stream that runs through the schoolyard. Rickety boards create a walkway over the flowing, filthy water.

The school’s compound consists of a small yard, a chapel, and two small classrooms built with dirt floors and aluminum walls. It was started in 2003 by the slum community. The people saw an educational need for their children and so they began a school.

Since that time it has continued to grow and now educates students through grade eight. This has been accomplished by what the teachers and administrators call “well-wishers” — those who give time and money to assist their community.

As ONE Moms we learned about a program that ONE supports through USAID. USAID has a program called Education for Marginalized Children in Kenya. As a mother, a former school teacher, and a member of ONE, I find it very satisfying that USAID and ONE are Mwangaza Tumanini’s well-wishers.

I may not be able to ever make it back to the slums of Makuru and help build a classroom or read with a child, but I can continue to be a well-wisher of this small school that creates hope and light in a very difficult place.

As a ONE Mom, my currency is my voice. I can continue to tell the stories of families who need basic things such as learning to read. I can continue to spread the word that what we do at ONE is about real people in a real place. I am grateful and full of of joy that I got the immense pleasure of laughing, holding and talking with some of these real little people in Makuru today!

Daily Action: Today the ONE Moms met with teachers and students in Nairobi. Watch our video “Chieftainess” about a remarkable woman who is teaching her community about the importance of education. Then share the video with your friends and leave a comment.

Living Proof | Chieftainess from ONE Campaign on Vimeo.

-Shayne Moore, Global Soccer Mom