 "Photo: Courtesy Google Images")
Changing the world could be a matter of one simple word - HOPE.
Spencer Carlson, a Biological Sciences student, founded the Helping Other People Everywhere (HOPE) student organization at UMKC with that conviction.
Carlson said the group's mission is exactly what its name states.
"It's helping people everywhere, wherever you go, however you can," he said. "It's trying to be a better person and making the world a better place."
The idea to start a student group came a few months ago while Carlson was shopping at The Buckle. He stumbled upon a shirt so captivating he bought it and wanted to know more about it.
He went online to www.hopecampaign.org and discovered the meaning behind the shirt.
The HOPE Campaign is an effort led by artists to support peace and education for everyone in the world. It began as an effort to reach out to those suffering in Darfur but expanded to include other parts of the world.
"It really caught me by surprise, how cool it is and how it intrigued me," Carlson said.
Basically, painters, photographers, videographers and so on create their art to bring awareness to issues around the world. The art is then sold to support providing aid to those in need.
In the same way, musicians, comedians and others host benefit shows to support HOPE.
"It's really cool, it's brand new and it's really hip," Carlson said. "It's something that can really get the college kids really involved and interested because it involves artists such as DJs or people with interest in photography."
Seeing the impact HOPE was making, Carlson contacted the organization and asked if he could bring the campaign to UMKC.
HOPE enthusiastically said yes, making the HOPE student organization at UMKC the first college chapter. It became official when the Student Government Association approved the organization last Tuesday.
Now, Carlson is ready to get to work. He has big plans for HOPE.
"I get really excited about it because it is something I am really passionate about," he said.
He is putting together a Web site through UMKC and a Facebook page to let students know what the group will be doing. He wants to get the word out so more students can join in the effort.
Carlson plans to sell the HOPE t-shirts and bags on campus to raise money for the campaign. Other ideas up for consideration include an art auction, where campus and local artists would be asked to donate their creations to be sold to raise funds.
He has also spoken with some of his musical friends about holding a charity concert.
"This is something people don't say no to really," Carlson said. "I mean you say peace and education and everybody is all about it."
Carlson said the HOPE Campaign has opened his eyes to the difference he can make.
"I am really starting to see what one person can do to change the world," he said. "But if I had never seen that t-shirt, I never would have known."
For Carlson, this is not something he justs plans to do for a short time. It has become a life passion. He wants to join the Peace Corp once he graduates from UMKC.
"You know you find that one thing you really love and this is it," he said.
For information about joining the HOPE student organization, contact Carlson at src4zc@umkc.edu.
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