The Reliance Tour

After Operation Drop Dead, the LiNK Nomads made their way down to UMD to screen the final cut of "Hiding".  LiNK Global is kicking this season off with The Reliance Tour.

"The Reliance is a human network of individuals committed to seeing every North Korean refugee free. With almost a billion people connected through social networks today, our goal is to mobilize an online community of activists who we can rely on to achieve this goal."

Susie, Nico, and Sarah informed us about the "Refugee Support Fund" and how we can help by starting a fundraising page.  Top 3 fundraisers can win a trip to South Korea to meet some of the people who escaped North Korea in the film (http://www.linkglobal.org/thereliance/top-fundraisers.html).

Operation Drop Dead: A Success!

LiNK staged a flash mob last Monday, October 17th, on the Hornbake Plaza to captivate the attention of students and staff at UMD.  Participants joined the crowd of people walking around, and on the sound of the whistle dropped to the ground.

It was a very exciting event, and judging by people's reactions, a success.

Signs were made displaying disturbing facts about North Korea.  Many people were shocked when they found out this is happening in the world today.

Operation Drop Dead caused such a stir that the Diamondback Newspaper published a story on it the next day!

http://www.diamondbackonline.com/news/drop-dead-causes-1.2652235#.TqM8UN4Uqso

Cupcakes for Sale!

Chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting anyone?  Our first bake sale of the year attracted lots attention from the bustling crowd at the Stamp Student Union.  We got the word out about LiNK and many got to enjoy a delicious cupcake!  

"Escaping North Korea" and Jeopardy

We kicked off our year with a educational screening of BBC's documentary "Escaping North Korea".  LiNK welcomed many new members and informed them on the North Korean crisis.  The documentary shows a deeper look into the many hardships North Korean refugees have to face when they escape.  There is a long and dangerous road ahead of them, even when they're not living in North Korea anymore.  After, we tested the members on how much they knew after watching the documentary in a game of Jeopardy.

First Look Fair!

Hey Everybody!
UMD LiNK is officially back for the Fall 2011 semester!  Making our way back into the campus scene, we headed out to the annual First Look Fair.  The 2-day fair gave the chance for students to join and be apart of a variety clubs and organizations on campus.  And might I say it was a success for LiNK!  We got the word out about the North Korean issue, and posed interest in a lot of people.

APAtite to Unite!

On March 29th, 2011, LiNK and other AASU organizations participated in APAtite to Unite to celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month (which is next month).  All the organizations had to make one dish for the feast.  LiNK made a delicious 2 layer chocolate cake with vanilla icing!

 Drum roll, please...  TAH-DAH!

So cute and oh so YUMMY!  Also, we want to thank AASU tremendously because they donated the proceeds from APAtite to Unite to LiNK!  This will really help us reach our goal of $2,500 which goes to helping free one refugee from North Korea.

Hiding Screening

Hi Everyone!

On Thursday, March 10th, we welcomed LiNK Nomad Albert to UMCP.  He talked with us about the North Korean Crisis, and told us that getting involved in a organization like our LiNK Chapter at College Park is essential for spreading awareness.  Albert also screened a documentary by LiNK called "Hiding".  It's about the journey of 5 North Korean Refugees and their attempt for freedom.  We really appreciate the LiNK Nomads for stopping by, and GOOD LUCK ON THE ROAD!

GBM #2 Game Night!

Kangaroo!  Antoine Dodson!  Power Rangers!  Angelina Jolie!  

Imagine a room full of crazy kids playing the Blanket Game, Human Telephone, and Celebrity Taboo.

That was LiNK on March 2nd, 2011.  For our second GBM, we had game night!  People got to know each other through the Blanket Game where a blanket would separate two students at a time and when it falls on the count of 3, the students have to scream the student's name across from them.  Later, we loosened up with a hilarious game of Human Telephone.  Instead of whispering a word, we acted it out and the last person at the end of the line would have to guess what it is.  Then we ended with a game of Celebrity Taboo.  Team #1 dominated!  Good game.

President's Day Bake Sale 2011

What's red, white, blue and yummy all over?  A special President's Day sugar cookie made by LiNK!  We had our President's Day Bake Sale in front of the Stamp Student Union.  Unfortunately, we couldn't make it through the day due to the rainy weather.  But people continued to donate when they got the chance, and enjoyed our delicious cookies!  Thanks everyone for your support!

Also, LiNK Nomads will be visiting UMCP in a couple weeks.  Come out to their Hiding Screening, March 10th, 2011 at 6:30pm located in Prince George's Room at the Stamp Student Union.  Learn about 5 North Korean Refugees living in China, and trying to make their escape to freedom.

GBM #1 Kicks Off the Spring Semester

Hey LiNKers,

Yvonne here!  Just wanted to say that GBM #1 was a success!  We watched Unreported World's, "The Great Escape".  The short documentary shed light into the lives of some North Koreans' traumatic journey to freedom.

The Great Escape North Korea / China from Sam Farmar on Vimeo.

Then we had a group discussion.

End of the Year Wrap-Up

Hello Readers,

Happy New Year! Hope you all enjoyed the holidays!

LiNK held several fundraisers towards the end of 2010. Here are some pictures:

KSA + LiNK selling concessions

Working hard, or hardly working? jkjk.

WHAT IS THIS?!

Gingerbread, of course!

LiNKers decorating and bonding :)

Our members are so artistic!

Ta-da! So beautiful and yummy!

Yvonne packaging the cookies.

Bake sale! As you can see, we sold out pretty quickly :)

Overall, LiNK was extremely successful this Fall semester, and it's all thanks to our supporters! Thank you, thank you, thank you! We are slowly, but surely, getting closer to raising the $2,500 necessary to rescue a North Korean refugee, and raising awareness about the North Korean human rights crisis here on campus.

Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, I will be leaving the LiNK e-board. But I have no doubt that LiNK will continue to make great progress with or without me. The Spring 2011 semester will definitely be packed with bigger and better activities - so please come out and support LiNK! I know I will :)

“Many small people who in many small places do many small things can change the world.”
-- written on the Berlin Wall

It's been an awesome semester!

- Lois