Rocking for Nets

Think for a second about the words “Congress” and “California rock band.” I bet you’re picturing beards, guitars, suits and a tour bus. Well, that’s pretty close to what actually happened two weeks ago. 

On Thursday, June 20th, Nothing But Nets and Dawes, a California-based rock band joined forces with Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL), the co-chairs of the Congressional Songwriter’s Caucus, to host an musical event on Capitol Hill for World Refugee Day.

There were beards, guitars, suits and a tour bus – and more than 125 Congressional staffers together in the basement of the Rayburn House Office Building to listen to Dawes perform three incredible songs. During the event, the band and our director, Chris Helfrich, talked about Nothing But Nets’ mission and the fight against malaria and the band shared a few malaria and refugee-related stories from theirtrip to Rwanda with the campaign in early March. 

By all accounts, the event was a bipartisan and bicameral success. The turnout was fantastic and the band’s stories served to reinforce that as we recognize World Refugee Day, we need to acknowledge the progress made as well as how much work remains to be done.  Global funding for refugees and for the eradication of malaria has slowed in recent years, and we must rededicate ourselves to making sure that refugees everywhere have the chance to rebuild their lives safely and with peace, security and dignity.

Many thanks to the Congressional Songwriter’s Caucus, to Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn and Congressman Ted Deutch, their offices, and to Dawes for their time, talent, generosity and support on this important day. 

You can add your voice to this important conversation too! Send a letter to your members of congress and urge them to support funding to help end malaria: http://bit.ly/1aV3E3I