November 21 is a holiday for my family. It is the day Mugisha arrived in the United States. I wrote about how this came to be and his early days in this country here and here. It was amazing to hear from all of the people who read those newsletters. I expected the people I
Have you ever felt out of control? At a loss for how things got to where they are now… with no real clear path toward a fix, try as you may? It happens on a personal, individual level. It happens on a community-wide level. It happens on a national level, and also a global one
Beneath the Boutique Many City Boutique customers don’t realize that right below our bustling resale shop is one of the most meaningful parts of our nonprofit. Our first classes were volunteer-led, meeting weekly in our old building on Sexton. After I joined the team, I noticed Afghan men coming in, asking for sewing machines for
You never really know. You can plan, you can dream, you can strategize, communicate, and pray… but you never really know how anything will turn out. The sun rises, the sun sets… and everything that happens in-between holds some element of mystery. A day at City of Refuge is no different. We plan, we prepare,
Each day, our team has the pleasure of getting to walk alongside and build lasting relationships with those that we exist to serve. Lori Stoll, who began this work many years ago, has seen friends through various life stages, joys, and challenges. She recounts her experience with one friend recently: I was waiting in the
Some of us are great storytellers, some of us are not. But “Share” can have a few different meanings to it. When I tell you a story, I have shared it with you. But, “Share” can also mean you’ve joined me in the story I’m living… we’re not just talking about a life lived, but
I started at City of Refuge in August 2021. Just days later, Kabul fell to the Taliban. The phone rang nonstop. Emails poured in. Everyone wanted to know: Will refugees come to Missouri? What will City of Refuge do? How can we help? At that moment, we didn’t have all the answers. We weren’t sure
The role of a care coordinator cannot be quickly defined, though the heart is simple. It is a heart of friendship filled with care, service, love, and compassion for the refugees who are learning how to start and yet still continue their lives while being in America. The practicalities are endless. Though I am sure
“It was the happiest day of my life.” I had asked a young gentleman how he felt when he got the call from UNHCR that his application had been approved. Now he could join the rest of his family in America after living his entire life in a refugee camp. They had fled their home
Being a volunteer coordinator is equal parts people management, strategic planning, and heart. It’s a role that blends logistics with empathy, and no two days look exactly alike. Still, there’s a rhythm and a dance between supporting volunteers and organizing efforts while making sure the mission stays front and center. Every day involves checking emails,
