On Nov. 10, the FGCU Rescue Team held an on-campus event called “Poets for the People,” an event in which students on campus could present their own poetry or listen to others’ spoken word poetry.

The group put on the event to raise awareness and take monetary donations to help people in North Korea.

“There are various rescue teams across the country, we raise money for North Korean refugees,” said Tatiana Galdamez, the president of the FGCU Rescue Team. “The way we do that is we collaborate with an organization called ‘Liberty in North Korea’ that is based in California. They actually have different departments, so some of them actually go to China and those regions near North Korea and help them defect.”

The artists consisted of poets like Galdamez, Peter Lange and Domonique Cudjo as well as songwriters like Samsun, who sang original songs on his ukulele.

While all of this was going on, the group served food while listeners sat on blankets to enjoy a night of cool air and word.

“A lot of funds go into helping them resettle, or helping them get a higher education and a job that suits them, and that’s why I love it so much,” Galdamez said. “Even that push can make such a huge difference.”

Liberty in North Korea is a nonprofit organization, and all funds go toward the cause and the refugees, according to Galdamez, who has spoken to interns from “Liberty in North Korea.”

“We’re all human,” Galdamez said. “Sometimes, a little empathy goes a long way.”

If you’re interested in joining the team, they meet biweekly and encourage people to join.