Some faces from MOVE might be familiar to you, and others might not. Below are short bios of some of the key players.
JASON RUSSELL: Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Invisible Children. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Production Film School. His revolutionary approach to humanitarian work allows him to serve as a keynote speaker across the country, empowering youth to become more involved in the global landscape.
NOELLE JOUGLET: Invisible Children’s Director of Communications who oversees the organization’s online presence and manages the communications team. Prior to her current role, Noelle was in charge of Invisible Children’s Art Department as its Production Manager. She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Communication and Business Management.
BEN KEESEY: Executive Director and CEO of Invisible Children. He received his B.A. in Applied Mathematics, Management & Accounting from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to joining the organization in 2005, Ben worked with Deloitte and Touche, LLP and Brentwood Associates Private Equity.
JOLLY OKOT: Country Director for Invisible Children Uganda. In 2003, Jolly met the original three filmmakers in northern Uganda and introduced them to the LRA conflict. Her passion for education helped develop Invisible Children’s grassroots initiatives in Uganda. Jolly holds a degree in Business Administration and is experienced in program development and coordination, logistics, and management.
ACAYE JACOB: Formerly abducted by the LRA, Jacob was one of the first kids Invisible Children’s co-founders met on their trip to Uganda in 2003. In the spring of 2010, Jacob came to the United States to be a Roadie for Invisible Children. After graduating from secondary school and attending Makerere University, Jacob now interns for a law firm in Kampala.
NORBERT MAO: Current President of the Democratic Party of Uganda and the former Chairman of the Gulu District in Northern Uganda. Mao’s involvement in reconstruction and peace efforts in the most war-affected regions of his country are recognized globally. He has been instrumental in the attempted peace talks between the LRA and the Ugandan government.
MARTIN OJARA MAPENDUZI: Highest elected official of Gulu District in northern Uganda, serving as its Chairman. He has been known to speak strongly on his belief in the importance of education for his nation’s youth.
HENRY ORYEM OKELLO: Uganda’s current state minister for foreign affairs. Okello was a member of the government delegation to the Juba Peace Talks between the Ugandan Government and the LRA.
NICHOLAS KRISTOF: New York Times columnist since 2001. He is a two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner who’s op-eds appear in the New York Times twice a week. According to the Times’ website he has lived on four continents, reported on six and traveled to more than 150 countries, plus all 50 states. For more about Kristof, visit the Times website.
JEFFREY GETTLEMAN: East Africa Cureau Chief for The New York Times. He covers 12 countries and received the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 2012. Gettleman studied philosophy at Cornell University and also earned a master’s in the subject at Oxford University.
ABBE BENOIT: President of the Peace and Justice Commission in Dungu, DRC. He is a human rights activist and continually works to highlight the issues of the LRA in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Invisible Children HF Early Warning Radio Network was born from Benoit’s vision.
FRANCISCO MADEIRA: African Union Special Envoy on the LRA issue and has over three decades of diplomatic experience. He coordinates with the AU’s bilateral and multilateral partners contributing to the effort to end the LRA. He also worked closely with the current Vice President of South Sudan, Riek Machar, during the ultimately unsuccessful 2006-2008 negotiations with the LRA.
CAESAR ACHELLAM: Caesar Achellam was one of the top four commanders of the LRA until his peaceful capture on May 12, 2012. Achellam held one of the highest ranks within the LRA and was a leading influence in the group’s operations.
(Gettleman photo credit: Gawker)
(Achellam photo credit: CNN)
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