On October 18th, at 2:15pm De la Guerra Plaza, dozens of people are expected to participate in this cutting edge social movement. For the first time, a Flash Mob (FLASH mawb- n. a large group of people who gather in a usually predetermined location, perform some brief action, and then quickly disperse) of this nature will take place in Santa Barbara. Indeed, this Flash Mob Freeze is already buzzing in local cyberspace networks. Before freezing on cue for 5 minutes, participants will unveil their creative action statement "Stand Up Against Poverty" and become temporary billboards along State Street. This event is one of thousands across the world that are occurring as part of “Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now” on October 16-18, demanding that world leaders keep the promises they made in 2000 to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2025.

We at Education Generation UCSB think that, on this election year and with this current economic crisis, it is imperative to show how the community of Santa Barbara comes together to urge our local leaders to take urgent action to address poverty issues and is calling out for our government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Participants will bring a clothing item or accessories creatively customized with the slogan: "Stand Up Against Poverty" and freeze on cue for 5 minutes on strategic locations along downtown State Street. Through their customized T-shirts, hats, umbrella, shopping bag, books, … they will clearly identify the flash mob intent to passerby’s. Participants will meet at De La Guerra Plaza at 2:15 pm where they will be greeted by the organizing committee – the Education Generation UCSB team-, in order to receive their final instructions. Education Generation UCSB is a student organization founded in 2008 whose aim is to promote the scholarship portal educationgeneration.org.

Last year, more than 116 million people participated in “Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now,” grassroot events, breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest mobilization in recorded history. These events are coordinated globally by the United Nations Millennium Campaign and Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) in collaboration with a side range of partners. For more information on the mobilization, visit http://standagainstpoverty.org/events/santa-barbara/stand-and-freeze-against-poverty.

Media Contact:
Melissa Veras, melissaveras@gmail.com, (805) 845-8364 x10