On Monday, April 20 people in a half-dozen cities across the US will creatively and publicly present 4000 paper cut-out dolls, each one representing 1000 of Colombia's four million displaced people, to governmental representatives. These symbolic actions, intended to raise the profile of Colombia's crisis, will take place in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

To participate in this colorful grassroots mobilization, to stand up and speak out against the daily displacement of thousands of Colombians, and to urge our leaders to chart a new policy towards Colombia, we encourage you to:

- Host a doll-making party: Ask your student club, church group, or community organization to consider doing a doll-making party in February or March. The parties are an opportunity to raise awareness in your community about Colombia's crisis while making dolls to be used in April 20th’s public actions. Click here to download a displacement fact sheet, a doll-making guide and a compelling video on Colombia’s crisis.

- Help plan the day of action: Contact your local organizer (listed below) and help shape the public doll-delivery actions of April 20--plans include speakers, marches, protest, street theater, creative performances and more!

- Send postcards to Obama: Contact Liza Smith (liza@igc.org) to receive postcards that urge Obama and his administration to shape a new policy towards Colombia. Distribute the postcards to your friends, colleagues, family and wider community to sign and send in.

- Send emails to Obama: Click here to let the Obama administration know that the time is now to chart a new policy towards Colombia. Please forward the link widely.

For more information about the action happening in the following cities, contact:

Portland, Oregon
Beth Poteet: wfpnw[@]witnessforpeace.org

San Francisco
Liza Smith: liza[@]igc.org

Los Angeles
Tanya Cole: wfpsw[@]witnessforpeace.org

Chicago
Danielle Wegman: DWegman[@]crln.org

New York
Martha Hauze: MarthaHauze[@]mfpic.org

Washington, DC
Ben Beachy: wfpma[@]witnessforpeace.org

Want to get others in your community involved? Download a half-page flyer that outlines the Days of Prayer and Action, to be used in tabling, flyering, etc.

Get your faith community involved in the Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia--Talk to a leader in your faith community about this opportunity to pray and act for peace in Colombia. Ask them to set aside Sunday, April 19 to focus on Colombia during the worship service. Go to www.peaceincolombia.org for sample sermons, prayers, etc.