The Village and its supporters will once again fill the HUB-Robeson Center this weekend.

In April, when the Black Caucus and supporters moved into the HUB-Robeson Center for a sit-in, the Village was created. Now those who call themselves villagers have organized a large-scale rally to address social justice issues beyond the scope of Penn State.

"It's seeing your dream, your baby, all your work and effort come to reality," said Raina Léon, a former Collegian staff member who is a rally organizer and will speak on behalf of the Village during tomorrow's events.

The rally, which is called, Justice, Now More than Ever, is drawing visitors to campus from as far as California, and will have speakers including the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Following the end of Spring Semester and the sit-in, student leaders from the Village were invited to a conference at the University of Michigan. The multi-day meeting was held by The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action By Any Means Necessary (BAMN).

Five vehicles of villagers drove to Michigan in June to participate in the first-ever conference of its kind. Attendees included people from various colleges as well as Michigan high schools.

Jackson was ill and unable to attend the event, but in a teleconference, he pledged his support for the activists from Penn State. Groups at the conference suggested a positive event be held at Penn State, and the spark for creation of the rally was formed.

During the remainder of the summer, villagers still in the State College area began planning for the rally, inviting speakers and organizing the weekend's events. This semester they met regularly on Tuesdays and at other times as needed.

"The Village and some of our co-sponsoring organizations worked so hard over the summer so that now it's all just the little tiny details that we're taking care of," said David Davis, chairman of the rally.

Davis said that during the summer he was not on campus but came back and forth from home to help with planning. He said his phone bill was very high, but he thought it was a small sacrifice that must be made to make the rally possible.

"The tough part would have to have been just being able to keep the faith and remain strong for the group and to realize that we are leaders," Davis said, "And that we have to take that position as leaders and be able to mobilize our campus."

Thursday night, organizers went out in groups to post fliers advertising the rally across campus. Davis said the work involved in posting the papers encouraged group solidarity.

"There was something really special about that," said Davis. "I know it just seems like, 'oh, they're just putting up fliers,' but it was something a lot more."

Organizers have worked to coordinate free meals as well as housing for visitors attending the conference. Volunteers will work registration tables and greet arriving groups.

"They asked for people to volunteer in taking whatever roles that they could," said Travis Fisher, who runs the rally Web site.

Davis hopes that Penn State students and visitors are able to learn from workshops and use the weekend's events as an open forum of discussion.

"We want everyone to share their story so that each person can take something from it and go back into their college community," Davis said.