Roadies Lindsey Platt, 20, Caroline Garcia, 23, Proscovia Asiimwe, 22 and Michael Arredondo, 21, pose for a portrait after loading their van in preparation for tour at Invisible Children headquarters on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
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Jason Russell and his San Diego non-profit Invisible Children have a very simple message for the world.
The organization wants to put an end to the LRA conflict in Uganda and bring its leader, Joseph Kony, to justice.
Their message went viral about two years ago, when Invisible Children released "Kony 2012," a video that implored its viewers to help spread the word about the Ugandan rebel leader.
Filming and distributing videos like this has been a big part of the organization's strategy since its inception. But there's another, much more tangible and analog, approach to sharing their message.
It's their roadies: small teams of young folks from around the world hop into bright red vans armed with all sorts of materials to share their message and fan out across the country.
In September, I spent two days with the roadies as they prepared to head out on their latest campaign. It was so interesting watching these very excited kids (most of them in their late teens, early 20s), at such a pivotal moment in their lives. They had all worked extensively to plan these trips to share a message they really believed in, and it all came to a head in front of my lens.
The day before they headed out, I watched them make final preparations, pack up their vans and prepare to hit the road. The following day, per tradition, the group gathered at the Mount Soledad Cross, where they received pep talks and inspiration from the leaders of Invisible Children. After a lot of hugs, goodbyes and some tears, they packed into the vans and drove off, a line of vans headed all around the country with their message in tow.
Unfortunately, the full story for Buzzfeed ultimately got spiked, so I don't have a link to share. But I let my editors know I'd be sharing some images here nonetheless. Hope you enjoy.
Roadie Tyler Karr, 23, records an out-of-office message before heading off on tour at Invisible Children headquarters on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
David Ocitti, a former child soldier from Uganda, tells his story before heading off on tour at Invisible Children headquarters on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
David Ocitti speaks to the roadies and staff at the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial where they kick off their tour on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
A roadie backs a truck into Invisible Children headquarters on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
A top the roadies work station is a picture of other roadies from a past tour at Invisible Children headquarters on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
Invisible Children Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Jason Russell poses for a portrait in his office at Invisible Children headquarters on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
Roadies Caroline Garcia, 23, Proscovia Asiimwe, 22, and Michael Arredondo, 21, prepare to pack their van for tour at Invisible Children headquarters on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
The Invisible Children logo adorns a file that is waiting to be packed into a van at Invisible Children headquarters on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
Invisible Children Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Jason Russell poses for a portrait in his office at Invisible Children headquarters on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
Invisible Children roadies and staff listen to presentations at the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial where they kick off their tour on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
Invisible Children Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Jason Russell speaks to roadies and staff at the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial where they kick off their tour on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
Invisible Children Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Jason Russell speaks to roadies and staff at the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial where they kick off their tour on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
Invisible Children roadies and staff huddle up and cheer at Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial where they kick off their tour on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
Invisible Children roadie Michael Arredondo, 21, gets behind the wheel to head off on tour at Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial where they kick off their tour on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
Invisible Children roadies head off on tour at Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial where they kick off their tour on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 in San Diego, Calif.