Media Advisory: March 23, 2009
Contact: Timothy Baer (812) 679-9915
Noah Baker Merrill, co-founder and project director of Direct Aid Iraq, will be available for interviews while in Bloomington on March 25th, or prior to Wednesday.
Noah has been interviewed on dozens of radio stations across the U.S., including Seattle Public Radio, Vermont Public Radio, Chicago Public Radio, Pacifica radio affiliates KPFA-Berkeley (on “Voices of the Middle East and North Africa”) and KPFK-Los Angeles (on “Flashpoints”), as well as many talk radio and independent stations.
Most recently, Noah talked about Direct Aid Iraq on Chicago Public Radio on March 20th. http://audio.wbez.org/wv/2009/03/wv_20090320c.mp3
Noah Baker Merrill Phone: (802) 451-6931
Iraq humanitarian aid director will speak in Bloomington on Wednesday
March 19th marked the 6th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Over the past six years, more than one million Iraqis have died and approximately five million Iraqis have fled or been forced from their homes and livelihoods because of war, violent sectarianism, and military occupation. Iraqi refugees have fled to Syria, Jordan, or other neighboring countries. Over two million Iraqis are displaced within Iraq. Hundreds of thousands are now in need of medical attention and humanitarian aid.
In response to the humanitarian crisis, Benefit for the People of Iraq will take place on Wednesday, March 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the John Waldron Arts Center Auditorium, 122 S. Walnut Street in Bloomington.
The benefit concert will offer live musical performances by Janiece Jaffe, Deborah & Jonathan Hutchison, and Curtis Cantwell Jackson.
Middle Eastern culinary delights will be a part of an evening of music, education, and inspiration in support of the people of Iraq.
Featured speaker, Noah Baker Merrill of Direct Aid Iraq, will talk about the needs of Iraqi refugees and the work of Direct Aid Iraq. Merrill will also present a new film, “The Rivers,” just released on March 20th. The new film features injured and displaced Iraqis, speaking for themselves, in their own words, about their experiences and needs.
Noah is an Indiana University graduate, with a double major in Anthropology and Independent Studies in Cross-cultural Conflict Transformation. Before co-founding Direct Aid Iraq in 2007, Noah worked for the American Friends Service Committee, as well as working with Voices In The Wilderness.
While in Bloomington, Noah was a member of the Bloomington Friends Meeting (Quakers).
Noah currently lives in Vermont and is a member of Putney Friends Meeting, New England Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Noah Baker Merrill serves as project director for Direct Aid Iraq, a grassroots aid, advocacy, and peace-building organization supporting Iraqis in the Middle East through partnerships between Iraqis and Americans. At the core of the work of Direct Aid Iraq is the recognition of relationship building through direct aid as a vital step toward a future of peace for Iraq.
As part of his ongoing work, Noah participates in frequent consultations with international humanitarian organizations, UN staff, and representatives of Iraqi civil society and political groups. During travels in the Middle East, he conducts interviews with Iraqi families and assesses developments in the humanitarian and political situation in Jordan, Iraq, and the region. During travels in the United States, he shares the stories of Iraqis displaced by war, chaos, and occupation – stories of injustice, tragedy, dignity, and hope.
The Iraqi and American members of the Direct Aid Iraq team are involved in advocacy and service work with and on behalf of Iraqis facing acute needs. Their work involves ensuring that Iraqis gain access to needed medical care, improving delivery of services, providing material aid, reporting human rights abuses, accessing and disseminating information about services to refugees, facilitating freer movement for internally displaced Iraqis and refugees, working to secure the release of detained Iraqis, and sharing the stories of the people who are Iraq’s future, Iraqis themselves.
Funds raised at the March 25th Benefit will go to Direct Aid Iraq. More can be learned about Direct Aid Iraq at their website: http://www.directaidiraq.org/about/
Benefit tickets ($15) are now available at Howard’s Bookstore and Athena in Bloomington, and will also be on sale at the door.
Questions about the event can be directed to or by calling (812) 988-1917.