Jason “Radical” Russell is a co-founder of Invisible Children, one of the original crazy guys who hopped on a plane to Africa and came back the bearer of a life-changing story. A filmmaker by trade, Jason graduated from the University of Southern California’s film school with a degree in Cinema Production. His role around the office is continually evolving, but he will forever be employed as Invisible’s grand storyteller and dreamer. It’s his sparks of creative intelligence and insanity that have helped IC redefine the concept of humanitarian work, offering new life to old hope. He loves Oprah, Bono, Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Baz Luhrmann, and Dan Eldon and believes wholeheartedly in magic and the impossible. Already a proud papa to Gavin Danger Russell, Jason wants to have nine more children with his beautiful wife Danica—the girl who has been his best friend for over 23 years. He lists his heroes as IC’s own Bobby, Laren, and Ben and passes on this tidbit of advice to you: “Going to Africa changed my life forever… And it will change yours too.”

Came home from Africa just in time to get his degree in cinema-television at USC in May of 2005. Doing theater in high school and debate in college has solidified Bobby’s belief in the power of stories and ideas to radically effect lives. Bobby loves words. He loves to laugh and make others laugh. He loves rhetoric, the old and the new thinkers, falling in love, music, basketball, and dancing. Bobby says Jason and Laren inspire him daily.

Took a break from finishing his Structural Engineering degree at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), in order to pursue the completion of Invisible Children, and the ripples it has started. Before the film he designed for and was involved with Jedidiah clothing company. (Vince, where are you?) He is the style and "secret weapon” of I.C. - His passions lie in Music, punking his friends, film, art, fashion, Dave Chappelle, talks with his mom, honest people, and the ocean.

Carolyn Sams is all talk. Of course she gets paid to be. Invisible’s Communication Director, Carolyn is everything from a PR lady to a wordsmith to a project director. A graduate of USC with a degree in Creative Writing and Fine Arts, she keeps us all honest and watches our words when we forget to. And while she spends most of her time acting as IC’s human filter, she keeps it interesting. Daughter of the American Revolution, she’s a descendant of Andrew Jackson who collects teapots and scarves. In her spare time she’s a ridiculously amazing cook who spoils her poor friends with delicacies like shrimp covered in papaya chipotle pineapple sauce.

Josh is Invisible Children’s poster theater boy who has a knack for making most every situation animated and ridiculous. He grew up on stage at Christian Youth Theater where he picked up the rather adorable (or annoying—you decide) trait of breaking out in song at random. At the beckoning of fellow CYTer, and coincidentally founder of IC Jason Russell, Josh joined the Invisie staff as assistant to the filmmakers. He has since morphed into marketing extraordinaire and handles all of IC’s Internet marketing. In his spare time (or lack thereof), Josh goes to San Diego State University where he majors in Journalism and minors in Theater Arts. When he grows up, he hopes to work in Hollywood writing for films and television. We hope he breaks a leg.

Kenneth James Laubbacher, more simply known as Kenny James, is the man behind the music. At least, sort of. His path to becoming a child prodigy pianist was cut short when he broke his finger in the third grade playing basketball. Now in lieu of being the modern day Mozart (OK, we might be exaggerating), he spreads the word about kids in Uganda by encouraging bands to do so. He sees huge potential in artists and their audiences and believes music has the capacity to create lasting cultural change. When he isn’t behind the music, he’s behind the camera catching life on film. On one of his latest filming stints he was kicked off a sailboat by a one-eyed captain as punishment for crashing into a buoy in the Chesapeake. We're sure there's a good excuse for this somewhere.

Alexander Mark Collins is our Artist Liaison/Tour Coordinator. From Yale (the city, not the college– don’t get your hopes up), he prefers to go by the alias Dominic Managhan due to his striking resemblance to the character “Charlie” on LOST. Alex has a heart for international affairs and spent part of his undergrad experience studying in China. One day he hopes to continue his brain growth in that area by getting his Masters in Peace Studies in England. Till then, we’re holding him hostage as our Artist Liaison, which basically means he plans tours with musicians and travels with them across the world promoting IC. When not on the road, Alex can be found sharing a sweet bachelor pad with the fellow Communications co-worker Josh Elwell.

Graduated from UCSD in 2005 with a BA in economics. He lived in Uganda from August to December of 2005, to implement and manage the Invisible Children Bracelet Campaign. Ben was crazy enough to take on this ambitious project, and we've seen the fruit of his labor. After returning from Uganda Ben played a crucial role with planning the 2006 Global Night Commute. He is an extensive world traveler throughout China, Europe, and now Africa. Currently, he oversees the entire Mission department of IC and has the management skills and capability to take us to the next level. His passions include surfing, camping, basketball, and mentoring high school students.

Adam Finck is stellar. Serving as IC’s Mission Director for Uganda, he’s the main bridge between our offices oceans away and the go-to guy when it comes to what’s happening on the ground. Before setting up shop in Spring Valley, Finck spent a year and a half in Gulu as the Assistant Country Director, working closely with Jolly to oversee the programs.  A graduate of UCLA with a degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Political Science, Finck has also spent time writing for National Geographic and working with Africare as a field correspondent. Hobbies he loves, but rarely do include: photography, snowboarding and surfing. If you’re looking for a conversation starter with this guy, ask him about Bob Sagat. You won’t regret it. 

After watching the film, Jared was quoted saying, "Wow, that was amazing, but I would never go to Africa." Six months later, he bought a ticket and hopped on a plane with the intent of taking photos of the kids, but ended up staying seven months. He was an instrumental part in the formation and management of the Visible Child Scholarship Program. He now works in San Diego as 'the voice of Uganda,' coordinating and communicating between our US and Uganda offices. Jared graduated from Biola in May 2005 with studies in the arts; he is a talented graphic designer, photographer, and videographer.

Having graduated from Notre Dame in 2001 with a degree in Peace Studies and Computers, we can officially say Margie is one of the most well rounded people on the face of this planet. Heading up Invisible’s Movement Department, she’s the voice of reason in a room of chaotic creativity. Margie moved to California after college to help start a school that targeted an underserved portion of the population. Over a span of four years, two of which she served as an Americorp volunteer, she watched the idea grow from a business plan to a fully-functional school. After her stint as a teacher, she migrated to Invisible’s office where she now spends her days transforming chaos into order. Margie is passionate about  riding bikes, using creativity to make things (especially clay), being outside, learning, reading, one-on-one conversations, cooking, traveling and not using the word passionate.

On any given day Chris Sarette will put any overachiever to shame. He graduated with an MA in Communication Management from USC at the ripe old age of 21 and now directs one of Invisible's newest initiatives Schools for Schools. Though he had an offer to work at a communication consulting firm post graduation, we snagged him up and instated him as Invisible’s development director. During his time in development he  began heading up the program Schools for Schools and has since transferred to this job full-time. When he's not busy running an entire program you'll likely find him rock climbing, strengthing his forearms to look more like Popeye.

Mariana Blanco went to USC film school with Jason and Bobby where she also majored in Computer Science. She spent some time working in the entertainment industry, or 'the industry' as they say in the biz. She was born in Costa Rica and grew up in Oklahoma wondering why she tanned so easily. She has traveled all over and cannot wait to make it to Uganda. She likes the fascinating people involved with IC. She tries to hold a huge camera with style and enjoys sticking it in people's faces. She loves to laugh at the odd and discover the beautifully eccentric things that can be easily overlooked.

Graduated from Point Loma University with a degree in Graphic Communications. After 3 years with one of San Diego's top interactive agencies, Javan was hired at Invisible Children to bring a new interactive element to the already talented design department. Now, he is collaborating with both video and design together to move the hearts of the IC movement.

When he's not designing CD art for bands or hanging out with Paris Hilton in Silverlake, Ryan designs for Invisible Children. Formerly a student at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Orange County, this guy is crafty. Give him a Diet Coke and a Mac and it's genius every time.

Brandon Fink is an illustrator from San Diego, CA who has somehow been thrust against his will into the field of graphic design. He has attended a number of universities across the globe, studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, and finally settled at California's own UCSB. Fink has traveled to Southeast Asia, spent four months traveling the United States by motor home on the first Invisible Children national tour, taken the obligatory collegiate backpacking trip across Europe, and finally landed in Northern Uganda where he fell in love with a bunch of unbelievably adorable little kids. He is now quite poor and incredibly sleep deprived, so watch out!  Brandon has a broken arm in this photo because he punched a wall while stuck in Ethiopia.  He admits to being a fool.

Laurence is one of the newest members of the IC staff and officially one of the coolest because he has citizenship in both the United States and Italy. He went to Brown University where he majored in Art Semiotics (we don’t really know what that is either, but it has something to do with filmmaking), and he now uses his film and editing genius in the IC Art Department where he spreads the word about northern Uganda through media. When he’s not working with film, he’s normally doing photography, eating, or driving across the country camping out in his tent. Typical.

It is impossible to imagine Invisible Children without Katie Bradel. An ICer from the beginning, she's filled every post in the book. Over the past five years she's gone on tour, worked in our Mission Department, hosted conferences, done unthinkably ridiculous organizing tasks, and managed to keep Jason, Bobby and Laren somewhat in line. Somewhere in the midst of the chaos she managed to live in Gulu for a year and a half where she was adoringly appreciated by the community - so much so that they nearly gave her the tile of mayor. Now she's back in San Diego full time where she is serving as Production Assistant for the feature film. Things to know about Bradel: she can speak Luo fluently, she has seven brothers and sisters, and she loves sailing but never does it because she doesn't have a boat. If you have a spare one, she is more than willing to take it off your hands.

Noelle Jouglet is a third generation San Diegan and an IC lifer. A graduate of San Diego State University with a degree in Communication and Business Management, Noelle works closely with IC’s art department keeping the creative side in check and on time. It’s like special teams, only more awesome. Prior to signing on full time with IC, Noelle worked with the US Soccer Federation as a videographer, traveling around the world to Japan, Portugal, South Korea, Russia, China, Spain and Mexico. Growing up her heroes were MacGyver, Bob Villa and Martha Stewart. She has since crossed Martha off her list for obvious reasons.

Bryan Monzon joins the Invisible Children team as the new Junior Web Designer – a position created in hopes of giving Javan back part of his sanity and free time. Aside from learning from Javan’s mad design skills, Bryan attends the Art Institute of California where he is earning a BA in Interactive Media Design. His interest isn’t solely in front of the screen though as Monzon also has an incredible heart for the Karen people of Burma, a region he has traveled to multiple times and continues to impact through his work with the nonprofit Eleho. When not working in the humanitarian field (which, lets face it, is rarely), Bryan gets his R&R through a little champion rollerblading. Yes, he does wear kneepads.

If there’s an Invisible Children lifer out there, it’s this guy. He’s been with IC since the beginning. The day after he finished his finals at UCLA, he got on a plane and headed to Africa and his life hasn’t been the same since. Around the office he started out as the numbers man (a.k.a. CFO), a natural fit considering his Applied Mathematics degree and his experiences at JP Morgan, Deloitte and Touche LLP, and Brentwood Associates Private Equity. Now he works as the non-profit director for the organization and loves it.

Jeffrey Woodcock, otherwise known as Jay, is Invisible’s CFO—a very serious position filled by a seldom-serious surfer. A ridiculously tall guy who tells ridiculously dry jokes, he’s a pretty special guy in the IC family. After graduating from UCSB with a major in Accounting and a minor in Spanish, Jay served as the accountant for a nonprofit private high school. From there, life's turns led him to the corporate world where he worked at Countrywide Home Loans as a financial analyst. We were able to pull him away as a temporary employee when he decided to puruse a teaching degree. Thankfully he fell in love with company and its mission and decided to do us all a favor by sticking around. Had the courses of fate been different Jay wouldn’t be behind a desk at all, but rather on the football field. He doesn’t have a disk between the two vertebrae in his neck and as a result was never allowed to play football—the only reason, he says, he isn’t playing for the Chargers today. While we all believe this story just about as much as you, we indulge him in this fantasy as he’s the one who cuts the paychecks at the end of the week. It's all about the nod and smile.

Naomi Zacharias is the Director of Development and Strategic Relationships for Invisible Children. A graduate of Wheaton College with a major in Business and Economics, Naomi brings a seasoned and fresh approach to IC’s work. Prior to becoming a SoCal transplant, Naomi lived in Atlanta where she helped found and run an organization that works on behalf of donors to conduct a process of due diligence on humanitarian efforts overseas. Her time with the organization helped her see a world outside herself – from visits to brothels in India to women’s prisons in Africa to areas devastated by the tsunami in Indonesia. When not in the thick of humanitarian efforts, Naomi secretly wishes she could be a professional baseball player or belly dancer.

Brody discovered IC while in Uganda with the International Justice Mission, a human rights advocacy group. He met three crazy film makers and (bam!) traveled with them to northern Uganda.  He works in coordination with the law firms Latham & Watkins and Morrison & Foerster, who represent Invisible Children's legal needs. Upon graduation from Union University, he worked at Pew Charitable Trusts and began his Masters degree at Georgetown University, where he studied International Affairs. He went to law school at the University of Virginia and served as law clerk to the United States Department of Justice in the Child Exploitation Section.  He received his Juris Doctor and worked briefly for the law firm Greenberg Traurig in New York, which has graciously given him leave to IC.  At law school, he was editorial board member for the Virginia Journal of International Law and symposium editor for the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy - a.k.a, he's basically a huge dork.  Brody hopes to climb the world's seven great summits and thus far has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.  (He barely made it).
 

David's interest in IT and electrical gadgets began at the tender age of seven where he found that pickles can glow by placing 200 volts through them with some copper wire and a battery charger. After blowing up a swimming pool pump and getting electrocuted while re-wiring Christmas lights, his parents decided he should further his studies at Texas A&M University, where he received a B.S. in business and management of information systems. He went on to take jobs as a network engineer at several aerospace software design firms, and eventually moved into computer consulting for small to medium-sized businesses. He is now completely submersed in keeping Invisible Children digitally healthy and poised to bring lasting change with creative technology. David never thought that his knack for solving computer problems could actually be used to positively affect the lives of kids in northern Uganda. Who would have thought a glowing pickle could lead to this?

Tiffany has been around since IC became a non-profit in 2005. She started working with Invisible as office manager post-graduation, earning the whopping amount of $0 for all her long hours. She then transitioned to the role of National Tour Director overseeing all of the RVs full of roadies that scour the nation, infiltrating schools and crashing on couches. After working closely with each National Tour, her experience led her into full time HR and recruiting where she picks the best and brightest to join IC's team. Tiffany doesn’t like to brag, but we do, and we think it’s quite worth mentioning that she graduated from UCLA in 2005 as a Regents Scholar—an honor putting her in the top 1% of her class. Under events that changed her life she lists studying abroad in Florence, traveling to Uganda, and marrying a pretty awesome guy.

Marcus Russell Price is our IT support specialist, a fancy way for saying he keeps David Young sane as computer dude #2. He’s run the gamut with IC, doing everything from showing the documentary at his band’s concerts to interning for our design department to hightailing it to Uganda, only to return and become a roadie for our national band tour—traveling over 85,000 miles in 5 months. Now he’s migrated back to the IC offices where he fixes a plethora of broken mice among other things. His contagious personality makes him rather popular, not surprising considering at his high school he was voted homecoming king, prom king, and mardi gras king while break dancing in a tux. If you want to know a little more about the kid called "Sundance," visit his soon to be launched website marcusanddavidbreakstuff.com. They're currently collecting footage and ideas for the site, so feel free to feed the madness.

Julie, more fondly known as Jules, is the newest addition to the Human Resources Department. A native of the avocado capital of the world (yes, we’re being totally serious), Jules is a graduate of Concordia University, Irvine with a degree in history. Luckily we were able to snag her from her job of five years to come work for us full time, first as the Movement Office Manager - aka organizing the impossible, and now as the HR Assistant. While we plan on keeping her forever, we’re willing to let her go for one thing and one thing only: her lifelong, quasi-grandiose dream of being an orca trainer at Sea World.

Russell is a pureblood IC veteran. Known as “Russell the Muscle” around the office, this Texas native now works as our Fulfillment Coordinator and Warehouse Manager, a position that involves way more than you’d ever like to know. An incredibly talented individual, Russell came to IC in January of ’07 as a Displace Me intern, took to the highway as a roadie on the fall tour, and is now based out of San Diego as a fulltime employee. When not buried in boxes, you can often find Russell out on the waves, a talent he picked up on the oceans of Australia.

A grad of California Baptist University with a major in Sociology and a minor in Global Studies, Amy Boyd serves as Invisible Children’s Assistant Office Manager. A.K.A. – She’s the voice on the other line and the friendly face at the front of the office. An Invisible Children supporter back to the days of the GNC, Amy spent a lot of time being an advocate for northern Uganda before becoming an official part of the team. A world traveler, Amy has been to Asia and Africa. The obligatory backpacking trip through Europe is next on her agenda. If you don't see Amy around the office, chances are she's zooming around on her bicycle "the Free Spirit" or being mistaken for the great Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Seth is one of those people that’s impossible to summarize – there’s simply too much goodness to fit in a tiny paragraph. An IC veteran, he’s been a volunteer, a roadie, an intern in Uganda, and now - our warehouse coordinator. Surprising, but terribly wonderful things about Seth: he’s obsessed with lawn gnomes, he beat boxes, and he has a car named Pajamas (pronounced paj-uh-mus). 

Jolly has been involved with Invisible Children since the beginning. Her guidance enabled the filmmakers to see and understand the plight of children in northern Uganda, and her leadership and direction helped create IC’s initiatives on the ground. Among her many qualifications, Jolly holds a degree in Business Administration and is experienced in program development and coordination, logistics, and management. She says that developing IC’s operations in Uganda has given her the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of educating children in the North, especially girls. In addition to her leadership at IC, Jolly also runs HEALS, a program that provides play therapy for war-affected children. Her goal is to continue to change Acholiland from suffering to joy, and to improve the living conditions of youth by providing them with education.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Houston has two degrees in Intercultural Studies  from Abilene Christian University and a second master's degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham, UK. While in school, he focused the majority of his academic research on religious and cultural elements within the Lord’s Resistance Army. Now serving as the Assistant Country Director in Uganda, Houston is inspired by the pioneering spirit and innovative approach that Invisible Children has toward development. He is an adventure-seeking mountain biker, American and European football fan, and food aficionado. Houston spends his free time contemplating the truth in conspiracy theories and patiently waiting for the day when space travel is affordable for the common man.

Overseeing the hiring of new staff members in Uganda, Jerry is the person at the office to impress. With his degree in Human Resource Management from Makerere University, he asks loads of tough questions to applicants in order to determine whether or not they are a good fit for the organization and how they will contribute to IC's mission of improving lives and education in northern Uganda. Jerry says that his goal is to help Invisible Children grow nationally and globally. When he isn't pouring over applications or conducting interviews, Jerry likes to play basketball and pool or watch sports on TV.

Hailing from Newport Beach, California, Lenni first heard about Invisible Children when the film was shown at her church. She was working for Free Wheelchair Mission at the time, but soon found herself moving abroad to northern Sudan where she took a job with Samaritan’s Purse. Lenni had worked in Sudan for about a year when she saw an advertisement for the Finance Manager position with IC. The job seemed like a perfect fit for her background in accounting and her desire to help the people of northern Uganda. Needless to say, we were excited to welcome her to the IC family! When she isn’t busy crunching numbers or drafting monthly budgets, Lenni likes to watch movies, read, and sleep. Her dream is to live and work in Africa for the foreseeable future.  

Born in Huntington Beach, California, Jon works as Invisible Children’s Logistics Manager in Gulu. He previously worked for the United States Coast Guard as a fireman and a storekeeper, and then afterward became the Inventory Control Manager for Active Ride Shop in California. After watching the film in August of 2007, Jon knew he had to get involved and left his job in the US to come work for IC in Uganda. The passion and personalities of the people within the organization most inspire him, and he aims to turn IC into “a well oiled logistics machine.” Outside of work, Jon enjoys a multitude of activities: mountain biking, skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, watching TV and movies, reading, and figuring out how and why things work.  

Holding a degree in Information Technology, Richard addresses any IT related problems that arise in the office. In this position he is brilliant at keeping the server, databases, and office printers running smoothly, let alone, giving calm reassurance to all staff members who encounter technological difficulties. Richard says that his goal is to help IC attain its objectives in Uganda and the US. He enjoys the good working environment at Invisible Children and the relationships between employees. On the weekends, he likes using the internet to find new knowledge and playing volleyball.

When program and office supplies are not readily available in Gulu (an often occurrence, mind you) a quick phone call is made to Emmy in Kampala. He is responsible for searching high and low for any number of items needed and then procuring them at the best price. His job is definitely not an easy one, but Emmy travels tirelessly around the capital city making sure that the program managers have whatever they need to achieve their goals.

Mercy learned about Invisible Children when a friend showed her the film in 2006. Shortly after, an opportunity came for her to become a staff member at IC. Using her degree in Procurement and Logistics Management, Mercy coordinates the movement of supplies and people to and from the office in Gulu and IC’s project locations in surrounding areas. She also loves children, likes working with people from different cultures, and believes strongly in the work that IC does to improve education in the North. When she’s not organizing logistics plans, Mercy will challenge you to a mean game of chess or scrabble, and you can bet your lunch money that she’ll win.

Kelly saw the film in 2005 before traveling to southern Sudan where she met children affected by the LRA conflict. When she returned to the states, she helped organize the Global Night Commute in Abilene, Texas. Even though she studied Theology in college, Kelly has worked in public relations since 2003 and owned her own graphic design business before coming on board with IC. She has a special place in her heart for all things English, having lived in England before moving to Uganda. When she’s not writing or talking about IC’s programs, Kelly is keen on discovering new music, cooking Thai food, and reading obscure books about theology. As an amateur philosopher, she can always find time to debate the rationality of just about anything. 

Born in Gulu, Sam pursued a degree that allowed him to specialize in Procurement and Supply Chain Management so that he could return to northern Uganda and help his people. He feels that joining the team at IC has given him the chance to work with a young, dynamic team of individuals who share his vision of “making the lives of children better for the future.” Around the office, Sam works alongside other members of the logistics team to procure various items that further the work of each program. In his free time he likes to read journals and play chess, but claims rugby as his sport of choice and love.

Born and raised in Mbale in eastern Uganda, Francis graduated top of his class at Makerere University where he studied Secretarial Studies and Administration. Although young, Francis is a key member of the Administrative staff. He is the proverbial glue that holds the office together, from writing up memos and meeting minutes and drafting official letters, to greeting and catering to all incoming phone calls and visitors that walk through the door. Even with all these tasks, Francis works with an infectious good attitude and admirable work ethic. His goals are to eventually pursue a master's degree in Human Resource Management and to continue improving and serving IC in Uganda.

Francis learned about Invisible Children on the radio and then came to see the program for himself. Now on staff, he coordinates security at the office and intern and staff houses. His favorite things about working for Invisible Children are the way the organization helps children and the support staff members receive in their positions. Francis likes to spend his free time watching football on television, and his ambition is to provide education for all of his children.

In the two years that he has worked for Invisible Children, Quinto has had his hand in a variety of projects around the office. He converted the garage into a conference room, built internal walls to help divide the building into office blocks, and contributed the look of the compound with his superb gardening skills. Quinto is also the first and last face that visitors to the office see. His smile leaves a lasting impression of the friendliness of the staff in Uganda. When he is not at work, Quinto likes to watch football.

Annet comes from Kumi in eastern Uganda. She first heard about Invisible Children from students in the Visible Child Scholarship Program. They told her about IC’s work in the community and the ways the program is working to improve education in northern Uganda. Soon after, she came to work for IC as an office assistant, where, among other things, she keeps the staff supplied daily with a much-needed cup of tea or coffee. Annet says she enjoys the friendships she has with other staff members in the office. When she isn’t at work, she likes to spend time with her family and travel to new places.

Peter grew up in Arua, Uganda, but attended college in Mbale where he received a diploma in Mechanical Engineering. As a teenager, he taught himself how to drive by “borrowing” his father’s car on the days that he was asked to wash it. Once his dad caught on to his scheme, Peter was put to the test, but proved to his father that he had successfully taught himself how to operate a vehicle. This early experience behind the wheel sparked a love of all things automotive. At the IC office, Peter teaches the mentors and other staff members how to ride a motorcycle. When he is not driving members of various programs to and from project sites, he likes to spend time with his friends.

One of Thomas' greatest joys is simply being alive. In his previous job with Uganda Electricity Board, he was severely electrocuted when he was asked to isolate a power line that, unbeknownst  to him, was still live. He woke up in the hospital one week later, but remained there for six and a half months undergoing reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation. Now working for Invisible Children as a driver, his joy for life is contagious. He says that his favorite thing about IC is the way that the organization is helping children in northern Uganda attend school. Thomas is a family man at heart, raising his biological children and two that he adopted from an aunt who passed away.

Walter heard about Invisible Children on the radio when he was working as a driver for Posta Uganda - the bus that transports mail and people to and from Kampala each day. In addition to driving staff to project sites, Walter helps Robert with mechanical work at the office. He is an avid football enthusiast who supports Arsenal, and in his free time, you may find him watching or listening to matches. In the future, Walter hopes to continue to build his family and support his children.

When Shally first heard about Invisible Children, it was because she saw the sign - literally. While passing the office one day she noticed the signpost and became interested in finding out more about this organization called Invisible Children. Shortly after Shally heard a radio show about the scholarship program and how IC is supporting vulnerable children in northern Uganda. At the time she was working for Dyeretek, a local organization that supports children with HIV/AIDS, but she soon came to work for IC as an office messenger. She says that her favorite thing about IC is how friendly the staff are and how all staff are made to feel appreciated. Shally is currently finishing her degree in Public Administration at Gulu University. She likes to cook, watch videos and sing, but says that she spends most of her free time studying because she has set her sights on finishing her degree and moving forward with her career.

A broken motorcycle brought Robert to Invisible Children. As a well-known mechanic in Gulu Town, he had heard of IC before, but first came to the office after Peter Abiyo approached him for help on some much needed bike repairs. Robert was so talented that he kept coming back at the request of IC, until he finally came on staff as our full time mechanic. Robert says that he likes working at Invisible Children because of the good group environment and ability to learn within the organization. Right now his biggest priority is taking care of his twin daughters and planning for their future education.

With a degree in economics and experience in development and program management, Eric is prepared and excited to lead IC’s economic interventions into the future. He first heard about IC from friends, but soon came to know the organization for himself when he came on board as the Economic Program Manager. His goal in this position, he says, is to firmly establish IC’s economic programs in Uganda, but his hope is to build a vision for extending them to other countries that have also experienced conflict and crises. When he wants to take a mental break from short-term and long-term program planning, Eric likes to watch movies and football.

Christopher is from a region of northern Uganda called Attiak. His father and brothers were victims of the war, and he himself narrowly escaped the bullets of armed soldiers. Christopher went on to study education, specializing in social sciences with an emphasis in economics, knowing that it would be of the greatest importance in rebuilding his community. In addition to working as a teacher and school administrator, he served World Vision and Save the Children as a business skills development trainer before joining Invisible Children. After becoming part of the Bracelet Campaign family, Christopher helped to develop a curriculum to teach all bracelet makers how to manage their money, save, and start successful small businesses. He works tirelessly, going to the field five days every week to make sure that each bracelet maker is getting the best training possible. On the weekends he tends to his own small business - a poultry farm at his home - and enjoys discussing development issues with his friends.

Benna was one of the first bracelet makers hired in northern Uganda. Despite her youth she distinguished herself as a leader in the bracelet making community of Koro IDP camp, coordinating and translating for her fellow workers, not to mention paying school fees for younger family members, paying her own college tuition, and interning at the IC office in Gulu. Benna was recently promoted to Operations Officer for the Bracelet Campaign and is now responsible for coordinating bracelet making at all five sites for Invisible Children. She says that she loves the way the staff members of IC cooperate. On weekends Benna studies Computer Science at Gulu University, likes to make time to spend with friends, and watch the occasional movie.

Sarah has traveled the world and has lived and worked in southern France, Kuwait, and China. Now in Uganda as the Schools for Schools Program Manager, Sarah draws from her extensive background in education, creating and supervising innovative solutions to improve schools in northern Uganda. Her goal in this endeavor is to ensure that IC’s projects are effective and that they create self-reliance for the disadvantaged. Originally from Blackpool, England,  Sarah is a diehard Liverpool Football Club fan. When she is not planning the implementation stages of Schools for Schools, you can find her supporting her football team, exercising her brain with Sudoku puzzles, or practicing poi, the art of fire twirling.

To say that Patrick is a hard worker would be an understatement. He shows up early, stays late, and is passionate about IC’s projects in northern Uganda. With nearly 10 years of experience in supervising engineering projects, he plays a crucial role in enabling the success and sustainability of IC's ongoing improvements in northern Uganda's education system. Patrick claims Arua, Uganda, as his hometown. Soccer is his second love and he supports both Arsenal and the Uganda Cranes. Although he has immediate goals of motivating youth in northern Uganda to excel in education, Patrick is also working to achieve his long term personal plans of “getting married, getting babies, and getting fat someday.” He and his fiancée Mary are planning to marry this summer.

Born in Gulu, Christo received a degree in Civil and Building Engineering and focused on structural design for human settlements and shelters. He previously worked as an Assistant Project Coordinator for Steelworks Limited and hopes to continue developing his knowledge base of management and engineering during his time at IC. The film first introduced Christo to Invisible Children and to the benefit of “working with a project that adds value to quality of human life.” Christo says that “as opposed to designing structures for only the rich, [this work] is much more fulfilling.” Outside of the office, you’ll most likely find him playing darts.

David’s favorite thing about IC is that the organization is made up of young people who are working for young people. In his post as the Education Officer for Schools for Schools, David is involved in coordinating activities, like the Teacher Exchange Program, and planning in-service training and workshops for schools in northern Uganda. A self-described talker, David is never too shy to speak about IC’s programs, whether the audience is the district chairman or a new intern. He also enjoys dancing, reading, and playing volleyball. David recently became a father and is currently fulfilling his goal of furthering his education by pursuing a postgraduate degree in Project Planning and Management.

Charles heard about Invisible Children firsthand from students who had received scholarships through the education program. With his own education and experience in civil and building engineering, he soon joined IC as an Engineering Assistant with S4S. In his position, Charles is directly involved in creating construction plans and supervising rebuilding projects at the 10 project sites. Although he is passionate about his work with IC, Charles’ greatest joy comes from spending time with his wife and daughter, who recently had her first birthday.

With previous experience in construction and road engineering, Denis helps facilitate Schools for Schools construction and refurbishment projects. Described by others as honest and hardworking, his commitment to the program’s success is daily evident in his work, so much so that he was willing to travel eight hours each way in the floods to a site that needed a progress evaluation. He may be a big, strong guy, but Denis' warm smile and caring heart are evident to everyone he works with.

Anitah hails from Mbarara in southwestern Uganda. Using her degree in Business Computing, she focuses on streamlining Schools for Schools payments and helps monitor project costs against the program budget. Before transitioning to the Schools for School programs, Anitah worked for IC as an IT Assistant where she was involved in training mentors and other staff members on how to use the computer and the IC databases. She loves the way that the staff at Invisible Children work as a team to achieve the organization’s set goals and objectives, and she says that the staff at IC have a unique character. Anitah sings in the choir at Holy Rosary alongside Jamie Roach, and also likes to listen to music.

As the S4S Water and Sanitation Assistant, Robinson is involved in implementing the program's water and sanitation projects. When schools receive new boreholes and latrines, he will ensure the quality of each project, helping to improve the health and hygiene of students in northern Uganda. As a trained water engineer, Robinson describes this job as a dream come true. He believes that water is a source of life and that all people should have access to it. When he isn't at work, Robinson likes to watch football.

A native to Arua, Joseph works as an Engineering Assistant in the Schools for Schools Program. After receiving his diploma in Civil and Building Engineering, he worked for various companies as a site supervisor and quantity surveyor, as well as an office manager. Joseph heard about IC in the New Vision newspaper, and after joining the S4S team, has found that his favorite thing about the organization is the friendly people and the warm hospitality. Outside of work, he enjoys table games, reading magazines, swimming, and dancing. In the future, Joseph hopes to eradicate poverty, provide awareness to the general public, and obtain a higher level of education than he has now.

One of four original mentors in the education program, Geoffrey has risen to become the VCSP Program Manager. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Arts with Education, he has previously worked as a teacher, choir trainer, and a project and music program coordinator with the HEALS Project. Inspired by his coworkers to live a creative and successful life, Geoffrey is always eager to give a helping hand to those in need. When he is not working at IC, Geoffrey cares for his three younger brothers and a younger sister. In his spare time he enjoys reading, listening to music, singing, traveling to new places, and making new friends. He is also currently pursuing an advanced degree in Educational Administration.

Grace has a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Human Resource Management with an emphasis in Guidance and Counseling. She uses her previous work experiences as a classroom teacher to help the students she mentors - students who have appeared in IC media. After work, Grace likes to play with her daughter and visit her friends. She also enjoys watching African movies and mystery films. Grace is excited about the future of IC and its ability to change the lives of vulnerable children in northern Uganda.

Having struggled with support for his own education, Kenneth has dedicated his life to assisting the children of northern Uganda by using counseling and education as a tool to help them build a brighter future. His background as a professional social worker directly contributes to this goal. His favorite things about working for IC are the variety of services offered by the organization and the interaction he has with the students he mentors. Kenneth enjoys listening to debates, watching movies, listening to music and spending time with his friends. In the future, he wants to continue his education, progressing to a higher level within the counseling profession. Kenneth also hopes to one day set up a firm that offers free counseling services to the community.

Hannington is an exceptionally encouraging person, so much so that he regularly greets his fellow staff members with a heartfelt “well-done.” He started out at Invisible Children as the Schools for Schools Education Officer, but transitioned to the scholarship program where he currently works as a mentor. With previous experience as a teacher, he invests himself in the students he mentors to help them achieve personal and academic greatness. Hannington says that he values the spirit of oneness exhibited by the staff at IC. In his spare time, he likes to relax and read the newspaper.

When Patricia was in her last year of secondary school, her sister died and left behind three children. Patricia adopted them as her own, but continued to go to school. With the financial help and support of family and friends, she graduated from university with a degree in Arts with Education. Before working at IC, Patricia was a school counselor and classroom teacher at Gulu Parents' Comprehensive College. As a mentor, she uses her past experience to help guide the students she mentors in the right direction. When she is not mentoring and contributing her services to those in need, she prefers to read and listen to music, take adventures, and make new friends. Patricia recently ended a nighttime gig hosting a radio talk show that focused on relationships.

Leo has worked as a mentor with IC for one year. In addition to supporting students in the scholarship program through mentoring, he is involved in developing the program’s new sports and games initiative. Leo says that he loves mentoring. His previous education and experience is in teaching, but Leo is currently working on a postgraduate diploma in Project Planning and Management. Even though his school and work schedule keep him busy, Leo likes to stay active by playing volleyball.

Mark worked for one year at IC as a gatekeeper before moving over to the VCSP program where he has been a mentor and most recently, the program’s student coordinator. In all of his roles, Mark has displayed a strong work ethic and a commitment the goals of IC in Uganda. Mark says that he has been inspired by the diverse groups of people he has met who are contributing to the educational future of the children of Uganda. He appreciates the cooperation and tremendous good will of his coworkers.

Quinto was one of the initial four mentors hired to pilot the education program in northern Uganda. He enjoys working for IC because it gives him the opportunity to restore hope and offer career guidance to students in the North. Quinto has a diploma in Special Needs Education and worked as a teacher before joining the scholarship program as a mentor. His goal is to develop a sense of self-responsibility in the VCSP students so they become visible in the community as agents of change, and eventually rise up to become leaders.  When he is not working hard in the field, Quinto enjoys participating in cultural activities, such as dancing and singing.

Francis learned about Invisible Children while he was attending Makerere University in Kampala. From there, he received his degree in Arts and came to work for IC right after graduation. Francis was first hired as a researcher, but became a mentor in the VCSP program six months later. He enjoys working with fellow staff members to help the children in northern Uganda succeed in secondary and post-secondary education. Francis is currently continuing his own education by pursuing a master’s degree in Administration and Management at Gulu University.

Marylyne has a bachelor's degree in Arts with Education as well as a post graduate diploma in Project Planning and Management. Before she became a mentor at IC, she worked as a teacher for Gulu Central High School. As a mentor, Marylyne feels she is making a positive impact in children’s lives by sharing her own experiences and values, giving guidance and advice, and helping young people realize and achieve their dreams. In her spare time, she enjoys watching movies and football, spending time with her family, and reading articles focused on the social facets of life.

Stella became a mentor to help support students so that they could achieve success in education. She has first hand experience in overcoming educational obstacles. Her father died shortly before she entered university and Stella was forced to take a night job to continue with her education. On top of her job and studies, Stella also participated in an HIV/AIDS drama group with other students from her university, touring from village to village to perform an informational presentation on the dangers of HIV/AIDS. Stella believes that hard work equals success, and her goal is to teach this belief to the students she mentors.

As a mentor, Geoffrey is motivated by the life stories of his students and the ways that he can help them succeed. He started at IC as a volunteer filing student assessment forms, but as the scholarship program developed, Geoffrey was hired as one of the first mentors. He says that he sees his work as need driven, meaning that whenever one of his students has a need, he acts to alleviate their suffering. Geoffrey has a diploma in Secondary Education and is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science from Gulu University. Before becoming a mentor, he worked as a teacher. Geoffrey enjoys watching movies, listening to gospel music, and playing softball.

Having taught secondary school for five years, Evelyn knows a good deal about what it takes to succeed academically and she passes this knowledge on to the students she mentors. She fulfills a motherly role for her mentees, treating them like her own children. Ever the role model, she takes her own advice about education seriously and has set a goal for herself of getting a second degree in the near future. Evelyn says that her favorite thing about working for IC is the team work and cooperation of staff members. When she isn’t mentoring high school students, she likes to listen to church songs and watch films.

Peter is another IC staff member who has been around since the beginning of the organization. He helped the filmmakers during their initial journey to northern Uganda. Now working as a mentor, he plays an extremely influential role in the lives of the students he mentors. Peter is also a professional pastor and he spends time each day praying specifically for his students. As you might expect, he enjoys preaching and singing spiritual songs, and his goal is to be a great evangelist in the future.

Don't be fooled by Betty's quiet demeanor. She is a strong woman who seeks to instill the same confidence in the female students she mentors. She holds a diploma in Geography and Political Education and has former experience in teaching. At the office, Betty helps teach Luo to western staff. She says that she enjoys the administration at IC. When she isn't mentoring, she spends time with her friends, participates in scouting activities, and likes to have fun with her children.

Betty heard about Invisible Children from the filmmakers themselves, and as the education program formed she joined the team as one of the first mentors. Betty has a degree in Social Science and is a trained teacher and social worker. Before coming to work with Invisible Children, she was an Outreach Coordinator at a World Vision Rehabilitation Center for returning children. In addition to mentoring, she is the Chairperson of the Student Disciplinary Committee. Betty says that she likes the team spirit at IC. On the weekends she spends time with her family.

Amos heard about Invisible Children through two of the first students in the scholarship program - Jacob and Tony from The Rough Cut - when they began attending secondary school where Amos was teaching. Shortly after he was recruited to join IC as a mentor. Amos is also involved planning the new VCSP sports program that will begin in the spring. He says that he likes working at IC because of the way that everyone's contributions combine to make a difference in northern Uganda. His future plans are to pursue further education and get married.

Richard Mark first heard about IC from students in the scholarship program. Inspired by the mission of reaching vulnerable children and helping them succeed in education, he soon became a mentor. Richard Mark has a degree in Secondary Education and an advanced certificate in Trauma and Crisis Counseling. He brings this experience and an extremely positive attitude to his work with Invisible Children. Richard Mark’s hobbies include playing sports and watching movies.

Janani taught school for six years with St. Lawrence Schools and Colleges before he joined the staff at Invisible Children. This experience and his degree in education give him the ability to mentor students from the perspective of an teacher. Janani says that he loves the sense of togetherness that the IC staff has. When he isn’t mentoring, he likes to read novels, watch football and relax by taking a swim. Janani’s future goals include pursuing further qualifications in humanitarian work.

Lawrence graduated from university with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Before joining the IC team as a Mentor in Pader, he has worked as a teacher, volunteer counselor and program officer for other companies and organizations. Local advertisements and the IC logo on vehicles and posters posted around town are what attracted Lawrence to what he sees as IC’s “friendly working environment.” He sees Invisible Children as an organization that is “working for the real needy people.” Outside of office, Lawrence enjoys thought-provoking discussions and listening to music. Aside from the varying experience he already possesses, Lawrence plans to enrich his work-related qualifications through further study. He also hopes to marry in the near future!

Already having worked as a teacher and correspondent analyst, Irene has taken up her role as a Mentor in Pader with expertise and excitement. Born in Kitgum, she received her diploma in Education.  After hearing about IC through a friend who works for another local NGO, she applied for a position in the scholarship program. Irene has found that her favorite thing about working for this organization is the gratification she gets in helping children change their attitudes toward life. To help her pass along these new and encouraging outlooks, she reads inspirational books in her free time, as well as participates in a local choir.  She has even begun writing a book and hopes to continue doing so in the future.

A native to Pader, Kizito is a great addition to the VCSP Mentor program. His degree in education and previous experience as a teacher greatly benefit Kizito as he guides the new students from Pader District. His favorite thing about working with IC is the close contact that he is able to have with his mentees, especially the vulnerable children that live in the IDP camps, in order to better help them succeed in life.  Outside of work, you can find him participating in athletics - football, volleyball, and pool - or reading a good novel. In the future, he hopes to find the perfect match for marriage!

With a passion for sports, music, dance and drama, Balaam pursued a Bachelor of Science in Education, with an emphasis on Sports Science, at university. Working now for IC as a Mentor, he finds that the interaction he gets with the mentees as well as fellow staff is his favorite aspect of the VCSP program. He previously worked as a lecturer at the National Teacher’s College and University, and in the future he ambitiously plans to obtain his Ph.D.

A speaker of seven languages, Betty earned her degree in Developmental Studies. She was born in Patiko, Amuru District, and has previously worked as a research assistant. Betty first heard about IC from watching the film documentary with a friend, as well as from GuluWalk. She has found that the teamwork, hospitable staff, and a conducive work environment have endeared her to IC. When she is not mentoring students in the program, Betty likes to read and write novels, share new ideas with friends, as well as making new friends and traveling. For her future, she hopes to further her education and work with the mentees to help them realize their dreams.

With education and experience in administration, Babra’s role in the education program is to create and maintain student files, update student records on the database, and help organize workshops for students and head teachers. She heard about Invisible Children from an uncle who sent her a copy of The Rough Cut. Babra says that she enjoys her job with IC because of the way staff work together. After a busy day at the office, you can find her at choir practice with her church, KPC Gulu.

Born in Gulu, Joseline earned her diploma in secretarial studies - something she has put to good use in her past work as a data clerk, supervisor and secretary. Although she has not previously worked with Invisible Children, she is proudly committed to contributing as much time as necessary to the organization as the new Pader Office Manager. After hearing about IC through friends and an advertisement, Joseline has discovered that her favorite thing about working here is the visible cooperation, dedicated teamwork and unending love that spreads throughout the office. When she is not keeping the office in Pader running smoothly, you can find Joseline watching movies, going to the beach, or reading the Bible. In the future, she hopes to finally find her dream car.

After hearing about IC through a news story featuring the documentary film, John Patrick found himself hired as the new Accounts/Finance Assistant for the Pader office. Born in Anaka, Amuru District, he has spent the past few years working as the Accounts Assistant for the Anaka Foundation. In the future, he hopes to become one of the best finance managers that northern Uganda has to offer.  The good reception from other staff, and having the ability to truly help vulnerable people in his community is what John Patrick enjoys most about IC. Aside from crunching numbers, he likes to read and write in his journal, and of course, watching football. 

Jamie worked as a roadie on the second US tour before traveling to Uganda to intern with the Schools for Schools program. Now serving as the Intern Program Officer, he oversees interns in Gulu, helping them adjust to living and working in Uganda. He is motivated by IC’s influence on youth in Uganda and the US. Jamie is also works with Kope Café, a local coffee shop to generate income for the HEALS program run by Jolly Okot. He has a degree in Communication from UC Santa Barbara, studied abroad at the La Sorbonne in Paris, has visited five of the seven continents, and has rollerbladed in two of them. On Sundays, you can find him singing in the choir at Holy Rosary Church.

A visual communication major at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Jessica has been volunteering for Invisible Children for over a year now. Acting as the unofficial staff photographer for the San Diego office, she put over 15,000 miles on her car last summer driving constantly for her many photo projects. Now joining the team in Uganda as the summer photography intern, Jessica cannot wait to see how the finished work gets done at the grassroots level. Her favorite thing about Gulu so far is hearing the kids’ laughter after she shows them pictures of themselves. She is also fascinated by clouds and has never been out of the country without a pair of cowboy boots, which many in Uganda certainly find interesting.

A recent graduate of Miami University of Ohio (not Florida), she received her B.A. in International Studies with a concentration in Africa and a minor in French. Her interest for public health, international development and human rights was peaked during her semester spent in Geneva interning for the International Centre for Migration and Health. Erica hopes to continue these passions through her public relations internship with IC this summer. Beyond her constant thirst for learning anything and everything about Africa, Erica loves Indian food, people watching and reading travel essays. Though new to Gulu, she is already addicted to Ugandan coffee, the thought of getting a goat for the intern house and bodaboda rides during lightning storms.

Our representative from the South this summer is Ryan, IC’s Schools for Schools administrative intern. A hairstylist and make-up artist for the Daniel James Salon in Jacksonville, Florida, Ryan has been actively involved with increasing local awareness about IC: through congressional recesses, showing the rough cut at house parties and even selling bracelets at her salon. In her free time, she is involved with her church, in love with everything Disney and hangs out with Will Hill from Jacksonville. In Gulu, Ryan is most looking forward to interacting with the kids and the members of her happy office community, as well as spending a lot of time on bodas and at Kope Cafe. She also thinks the other interns are ‘pretty alright’.