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People before narratives
Dear friends of Refuge, Recently, I read this phrase: Those who control the narrative control the people. I love sharing stories (narratives), so I had to ask myself if this was my way of taking...
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Privilege – Part Two
Joy on the Sidelines A few weeks ago, I attended celebrations for Juneteenth and for World Refugee Day. I felt honored to be a part of both celebrations, even though both are “sidelines” holidays for...
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Looking at the bridge, not the chasm
Dear friends of Refuge, I hate the idea that nonprofits “fix” things, but sometimes that language is unavoidable. And it’s the downright wrong things that often spur us to generous action, right? One...
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Deep Water Love
Dear friends of Refuge, I know analogies can be cheap shortcuts to complex thoughts, but I kinda like this one, so bear with me… In March of 2022, Bill and I took a much-needed sabbatical. Friends...
View ArticleOur Olympic Answer
Dear friends of Refuge, Every four years, Bill and I used to strategize about how much of the Olympics we’d watch. We simply couldn’t take it all in. One year, it was badminton (yes, badminton)....
View ArticleA little virtue signaling ahead
Esse Quam Videri(To Be Rather Than to Seem)~ Cicero Dear friends of Refuge, Two years ago, while on sabbatical, I spent some time formalizing a core values statement for Refuge, mostly based on what...
View ArticleI Cheerfully Refuse
Dear friends of Refuge, The following poem was prompted by conversations I’ve had with many of you. As I’ve struggled to make sense of the tension between my own grief at losing my dearest love, Bill,...
View ArticleCome on, try the gateway drug!
Dear friends of Refuge, I know that subject line sounds suspiciously like peer pressure. Actually I’d call it click bait, and I’m thankful you took it! Someone recently told me that Refuge Coffee...
View ArticleSharing Our Heroes
Dear friends, Several years ago, our small Refuge team took a field trip to The Center for Civil and Human Rights. If you’ve never been, it’s worth a full day of your time! After visiting the Civil...
View ArticleOur Refugee Neighbors are not “it”
Dear friends of Refuge, I was going to write an email all about how our upcoming Refuge Run to Brew Hope is, well, all about brewing hope. And I could have done that… but this week, I’m convinced...
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