I sat on the cool pavement of the pavilion, one among hundreds, watching the colors and movement of the Rvwang tribe as they shared one of their native dances with us. It was a hot day, but that didn’t stop them from putting on the thickly woven sweaters and long skirts. They were committed to
Three months after I moved to Namibia, the US war in Afghanistan began. It was 2001 and I, like every other American, was reeling from 9/11 and experiencing plenty of raw emotions. I watched the news with great interest, but I did so safely about 5,000 miles away from the conflict. The truth is, this
A few weeks back, I was at work in my office frantically trying to get through the growing to-dos. Laughter permeated through the walls and when I took a moment to pause, I had to reflect for a minute on the beauty of what was transpiring at 10 N. Garth Ave. in that exact moment.
Hello! My name is Kellye Dubinski and I am the Donations Coordinator and Boutique Manager here at City of Refuge. With the opening of City Boutique late last year, City of Refuge has had the ability to explore many new opportunities for both our organization and the individuals that we work with. One of the most emotionally impactful
I love walking people through our new building for the first time. I love getting to share the unique stories, the incredible opportunities, the ways our staff, volunteers, and interns are meeting needs on a daily basis. I love getting to show the ways our new building has built our capacity. Now we can respond
You’ve heard of a walkathon or a bike-a-thon… but have you ever heard of a poem-a-thon? City of Refuge is excited to launch this new opportunity for the benefit of our refugee friends. Registration is now OPEN. Commit to writing something down every day for 30 days. Join City of Refuge as we learn the
How do you express yourself? Do you chat it up with friends and family or the nearest stranger in the parking lot? Do you make daily journal entries, paint or draw pictures? What happens when you’re unable to express yourself? You went on a trip and forgot your journal. No one is returning your texts
I had never ascribed the word “refugee” to my grandparents until I started working at City of Refuge, but their family fled Yugoslavia during WWII. Their home had been commandeered by the authorities, and they lived as displaced people in refugee camps for years after the war ended. Honestly, I wish I had paid better
You probably already marked your calendar but in case you didn’t, just a reminder: tomorrow is Giving Tuesday! We have two big goals for tomorrow: 1. To raise $25,000 to support our programs and begin new ones in 2023 (like our artisan maker space and preschool). Support City of Refuge with a donation here (beginning tomorrow) or support us in another
Garage Sale to Boutique I run into people all the time who tell me, “I used to sort donations for City of Refuge in Jen Wheeler’s garage!” I love when I hear this. It’s a reminder of the rich and remarkable history of City of Refuge. It’s a reminder that so many of you have
