The Reclamation Project

Circle of Friends "Heroes" ~ Steve & Char Binkley

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:35:00 -0400

So, tell us who you are!

We are a couple, both 70 years old, who are retired from our professional careers, but not planning to retire from serving the Lord by reaching out to others. We are so grateful for the many avenues of loving and serving He brings to us.

What do you do/have done with TRP as a volunteer?

Upon the arrival of several families from Congo, Africa to Fort Wayne in July, 2011, we became members of the “circle of friends” initiative. Since that time we have been actively involved with three of the families as well as the larger local Congolese community. Our church has been supportive of the resettlement ministry of TRP, and has for several years been engaged in a peace building effort in the Congo through World Relief. The idea of helping the Congolese adjust to American life in Fort Wayne seemed like a natural extension of that overseas ministry.

Why did you choose to get involved in this way?

Retirement brought new opportunities for both of us to serve together. Moving Char’s mother to a nursing home coincided (by God’s plan, we are sure!) with the arrival of 23 Congolese immigrants to Fort Wayne; so an apartment full of furniture was available. While Char was sorting and packing up the apartment, Steve became aware, through TRP, of their arrival and need for furniture. Immediately, Steve made arrangements to deliver the furniture. What a wonderful opportunity to step up and be part of the resettlement process! That was the beginning of a wonderful adventure of meeting the families and beginning a friendship.

What have you enjoyed about your experience?

Our experience is fascinating and rewarding. When we entered this journey, we didn’t know how much we didn’t know about cross cultural engagement so we are grateful to TRP for their expertise in teaching us. The TRP “circle of friends” concept is so simple and practical but initially difficult to apply because we were more oriented toward doing “for” others rather than doing things “with” our new friends. Supporting the Congolese families in a friendship relationship requires walking “with” them in their processes of furnishing a home; acquiring seasonal clothing; learning to shop for food; finding transportation; entering the schools; completing job applications; learning to drive; and through all of these adjustments learning to speak English. We have learned that friendship level engagement is far more effective, rewarding, challenging, and personal than our often typical ways of simply giving clothes, advice, and money which brings a good feeling of generosity, but not the deep relational joy of living life together on the journey.

Thank you TRP, for your insights and wisdom which has guided us in this marvelous opportunity of friendship with our brothers and sisters in Christ from Congo.

10 Years Later...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:46:00 -0400

10 Years Later... :

…we celebrate being part of our neighborhood and the greater Fort Wayne community. Thankful for the last 10 years of helping people help people, we are glad to be able to do this work with others, and to continue the process of breathing new life into the historic Rialto Theatre.

Read our latest enewsletter, and learn more about our Diamond Anniversary.

One of our fav’s from the Justice Conference… Is...

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 21:36:00 -0500

One of our fav’s from the Justice Conference…

Is Justice Worth It? -Micah Bournes

Photo

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:36:39 -0500

Justice Conference

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:35:00 -0500

If you reside in or near Fort Wayne, and you care about global issues of justice, you might be interested in attending this event.

Fellowship Missionary Church (FMC) will host a simulcast of the 2013 Justice Conference from Philadelphia, PA on February 22 & 23. The conference promotes inspiration, education, and dialogue around justice related issues such as human trafficking, slavery, poverty, HIV/AIDS and human rights from a Faith perspective. This opportunity is ideal for churches and individuals exploring greater involvement in such issues. Plus, FMC will offer 4 unique and free pre-conference sessions on Friday afternoon, focused on justice issues with local imipact and interest, including:

* When Art and Justice Meet

* Everyday Justice by Everyday People

* Biblically Informed Immigration Reform

* Congo- A Justice Journey

To attend this simulcast, register through the Justice Conference website. The cost to attend the simulcast is $89, with a student discount rate of $59. If you are a student, please contact Becky Baker at bbaker@fmcfw.org for the student code. There are a limited number of partial scholarships also available. Please email Becky as well to request.

For more information, go to www.thejusticeconference.com/simulcast-overview . Once you register, FMC staff will send an email for you to sign up for the pre-conference sessions. (You will not be able to do this on the website.)

Season's Greetings from The Reclamation Project

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 15:26:01 -0500

Season's Greetings from The Reclamation Project:

December updates and holiday greetings.

“Rialto: Hope for Renewal”

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 11:36:09 -0500

“Rialto: Hope for Renewal”

"Rialto: Hope for Renewal"

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 11:29:00 -0500

"Rialto: Hope for Renewal":

Click the title to view images of the Rialto in its current state, as captured by the artful eye of photographer John Gevers.

If you’d like to order a giclee print for yourself, contact us via email or phone.

What a great weekend— hosting our first art show exhibit...

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 22:29:36 -0500

What a great weekend— hosting our first art show exhibit during the Williams-Woodland Park Holiday Home Tour. Our Gallery displayed archival giclee prints, by photographer John Gevers, of our historic Rialto Theatre in its current reclamation process. Thank you to all who came out to enjoy the tour! We quite enjoyed the conversations and were happy to meet you!

The Rialto itself spoke as the first voice of our community to share part of its story. As we endeavor to reclaim this space in our neighborhood, we look forward to sharing more stories that reflect our diverse community!

Free energy assessment for you & a gift for TRP! Just click here ...

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 09:18:21 -0500

Free energy assessment for you & a gift for TRP! Just click here ...:

ARE YOU ENERGY CONSCIOUS?

Energizing Indiana is offering a program to homeowners that also helps local non-profits. By having a home energy assessment completed at no cost, you will effectively provide a gift of $50 to The Reclamation Project when completed before December 31, 2012.

Art Show at the Rialto Gallery!

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:16:05 -0500

We are looking forward to joining our neighborhood of Williams Woodland Park as one of the stops on their 2012 Holiday Home Tour! This is made possible in part by a grant from Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne.

Rialto Gallery Premier Exhibit
“The Rialto: Hope for Renewal”

A Photographic Series crafted by the artful eye of local photographer, John Gevers
Come prepared to purchase your own piece of the Rialto’s story, as light
continues to overcome the darkness.
(A portion of the cost of each print will be tax deductible)

As part of the Williams Woodland Holiday Home Tour:
December 1st 5:00-9:00 pm
December 2nd 1:00-5:00 pm

Open House:
December 6th, 4:30-7:30 pm
Free to the public

2614 S Calhoun St

For more information, go to http://www.williamswoodlandpark.com/

Miracle of Thai Coffee

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:41:28 -0400

-by Megan Painter, TRP Volunteer

Let me tell you about the miracle of Thai coffee and curry. Thai coffee is a concoction of nearly any type of dark bean brew, sweetened and condensed milk, and cream or evaporated milk. The result is heaven in a cup. Non-coffee drinkers rejoice, this cup is for you. I was converted into a coffee drinker after trying it and I have converted others; Starbucks is overlooking a gold mine.

Many of Fort Wayne’s Burmese population are Thai coffee masters. They adopted the recipe while living in Thai refugee camps. If you teach English in a Burmese home, you have most likely been offered a cup. While offering coffee is a sign of hospitality in several cultures, in my circumstance as a volunteer English teacher, it represents much more. A cup of Thai coffee is a means towards a relationship where teacher and students contribute towards something that both recognize as fair exchange.

Let me explain. When I visit my parents, they usually laden me with groceries, household appliances, etc… . It’s all free, given with the best intentions and from the goodness of their hearts. I don’t ask for or really even need a majority of these things. But still I feel a tinge of guilt every time I accept their gifts. I never like a relationship where taking and consuming is all on one side, and giving is all on the other. It makes me, as the taker, feel either needy or as if I’m abusing the other’s generosity. Even with my own parents I try to avoid a relationship where integrity is at stake because nothing was contributed by me; making the exchange unequal.

So when I signed up to teach English to five Burmese ladies, these types of thoughts of unequal exchange were the last thing I wanted my students to have. Fortunately, my ladies were way ahead of me. Coffee and curry were offered the first night. I love both, and the option of a Burmese curry for an English lesson is highly attractive to someone who loves exotic food but is clueless about how to cook it. Have you ever made a good curry? It’s an elusive, mystical dish and I have failed many times. In any case, I am not above accepting such a rare thing. I must confess, I go to my lessons hungry.

But back to my point. Thai coffee and curry not only delight the palate, but, in my case, they also have the power to uphold basic human dignity. My student, Ma Nige, smiles with delight whenever I ask her to teach me how to cook her curry dishes. If I am shrewd, this cooking lesson will also be an English lesson. Because after all, if Ma Nige is so generous as to teach me how to make curry, I’d like to be able to give her a little something in return.

Researching My Own Hometown

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:59:31 -0400

As a senior at Bluffton University I was given the opportunity to complete a year-long honors research project. Although I was presented with many different ideas for projects I really wanted my project to combine my major in Global Relations and my minor in TESOL in a meaningful way for the community around me. For these reasons I ended up working with the Catherine Kasper Place (CKP) from January 2011 to April 2012. The original plan was that I would develop a survey to help analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their new Job Development Program for Burmese refugees in Fort Wayne. Although I did create the survey, I quickly realized that nothing is quite as simple as it originally seems. Social service agencies, such as CKP, are dependent on grants which limit the ways and time period for which money can be spent therefore organizations are usually overbooked – trying to do as much as possible using as few resources as necessary. The cross-cultural communication and transient nature of such a fluid refugee community are additional challenges. I soon realized that while working within these confines one must be both observant, flexible, and creative.

Over the course of my time with CKP my project evolved into more of a community study on the Burmese population in Fort Wayne than an analysis of the Job Development Program. I studied history, read and analyzed newspaper articles, and attended many local events. I even taught an English class through TRP. Through this intentional process I gained a more intimate understanding of a large section of our city which is typically overlooked. Even though I did not spend as much time with the Job Development Program as first imagined, I still used the results of my survey to inform my community study, especially in these areas – English, housing, finances, and gender. Below are some of the interesting things I found. Please keep in mind that I had a small sample size and all these observations deserve further study.

*Those who had been in the United States for 3 years had the lowest confidence in English, even compared to those who had arrived more recently. Those who had been in America between 1 and 2 years had the highest confidence. Perhaps, this trend can be explained by the acculturation curve hypothesis which suggests that upon entering a new culture people first go through a “honeymoon stage” which is accompanied by overconfidence in their ability to acculturate to the new surroundings. Later, there is a low point and finally a leveling off.

*Those with better English skills were also more confident in their housing and financial stability. This posits a chicken/egg type of dilemma: which comes first the English or the job? Better English leads to more job opportunities; however, the workplace is a main place where English is learned.

*Between reading, writing, and speaking English, speaking appeared to be the most difficult skill to master. The Burmese language and English are extremely different languages and therefore are each difficult for the other to master. One particular challenge is differentiating between sounds which do not exist in one’s home language. Reading is easier for example because one doesn’t have to pronounce the difficult sounds and can be learned through sight words. Another difficulty of speaking is practicing – because the Burmese community in Fort Wayne tends to live in close proximity, there are not necessarily a lot of pressures to engage with the English speaking world. This seemed to be especially true for women who may be more tied to their homes.

*Almost half of those people said their career goal was to be a farmer. CKP has started programs gardening with refugees which have been very successful. These programs should be expanded as much as possible to build upon the refugee’s knowledge base. FYI – CKP’s World On Wheels (W.O.W.) wheelbarrows will be auctioned off at the International Blast on Sat. Sept. 29^that 4:30 pm. Go to catherinekasperplace.org for more details.

by Jennifer Arnold - TRP friend and volunteer

Volunteering

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 13:29:19 -0400

I came across the opportunity to volunteer with The Reclamation Project quite by accident. I received information from the Red Cross (where I was already volunteering as an interpreter) about free training to become an ESL teacher. I figured it’d be a smart move, and relevant to what I’ve been spending my time in school studying. June 2010 I took the classes, got the training, and in July I started teaching a group of Burmese women out at Autumn Woods apartments.

Before I go any further, let me tell you a bit about myself. My name is Erika Schaadt. I’m a 26 year old student at IPFW, getting ready to finish my BA in French, with a minor in German. I work for the Salvation Army in one of their thrift stores, and as also noted, I volunteer with the Red Cross MIX program, aiding refugees and immigrants there as well. So when I say ESL certification is relevant to what I’m doing in school, it’s true. Not to mention I have career goals of going and working in non-profits/NGOs one day, and this opportunity has given me a lot of valuable experience in achieving those goals. But, I digress.

My course of study has touched on, quite frequently, the effects of post-colonization in former French colonies. I became heavily interested in Albert Camus (French Existentialist writer who was born in Algeria of pied noir heritage), and also did a year abroad in Strasbourg, France (a town that sits not too far from the Rhine, which is the border between France and Germany, see photo below).

While there, I met an Algerian family, whose father was an art history professor. His work centered on Orientalism, and I learned quite a bit from him about the culture conflicts that came out of Colonization.

When I came back last June, I was excited to be able to use what I learned in France to help out here. But it wasn’t about just the historical and cultural facts I’d learned. It was also about the adjusting to a new country, and dealing with culture shock. When I got to France, I’d been speaking French for 10 years, and German for 3. I still struggled, especially my first 3 – 4 months. It really made me step back and think. Sure, I had my difficulties, but imagine how much more difficult it would be if I hadn’t made that trip voluntarily? What if I were escaping some awful circumstances? Fleeing for my life even? I couldn’t begin to imagine, but knowing what I did know, I wanted to be able to use that and help out where I could.

Volunteering at The Reclamation Project has allowed me to do just that. I’ve been able to work with the Congolese community, one family in particular, as an interpreter and English teacher. It’s some of the most enjoyable work I do. I’ve gotten to know the family I’ve been working with, and gained just as much as I (hopefully!) have given. I enjoy being able to work with people from other cultures, and in return give them something they need to be able to get by in a new place. To me, refugee integration is becoming a more and more important issue, especially locally. They need to be given the resources to become self-sufficient and independent, just like those of us born and raised here. But, they can’t do that on their own. They need help. While any one of us may not be able to do it all on our own, all of us working towards a common goal makes that happen. I may not be able to do a lot, but I am more than happy to do what I can.

Erika Schaadt, TRP volunteer

#33. The Reclamation Project- Angie Harrison (Executive Director)

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:52:00 -0400

#33. The Reclamation Project- Angie Harrison (Executive Director):

Hear our story… and become part of the chapters yet to be written.

in·te·gra·tion — noun 1. an act or instance of combining into an integral whole. So,...

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:05:14 -0400

in·te·gra·tion — noun

So, What Does Integration Look Like?

Good question. And it’s one that TRP has been on journey in understanding for almost 9 years now. Depending on who you are, this word could carry with it some negative connotations. It certainly did not leave a favorable taste in the mouths of many who lived in the deep south during the Civil Rights era. However, at TRP, we’d like to think that the essence of the word suggests an opportunity for each of us to learn more about what it’s like to walk in the shoes of another. This developing sense of compassion and understanding is what empowers us toward building a better community.

This month, we’d like to share a few short stories of how our wonderful volunteers and some refugee friends have entered into this process of integration… perhaps it’s not as illusive, or intrusive, as we might think.

Letter From a Friend who works for Lutheran Children’s Hospital:

Dear Angie and Kristie,

I want to let you know how blown away I’ve been by some of TRP’s volunteers the past few months. I’ve had a whole new appreciation for TRP and have been given a very different perspective working with a Burmese family literally right off the plane whose little boy has (been receiving medical treatment). Thank you for helping guide me through this process.

I want to let you know that (volunteers) Elaine and Ann have been phenomenal! Every single time I have sent out an email with a need since September (winter coats/boots, ride to get free diapers/clothes from Babies Closet, meals in the hospital, etc.) they have responded- and typically within a few hours! Just last week I finally was able to meet Elaine in person when she came to our clinic to pick up our patient and his mom after histreatment to take them to A BabiesCloset. Elaine also agreed to drive them to 2 pharmacies in town to get his specialized medicines. One of our nurses called Elaine an angel and said we need “more people like Elaine in this world!” Just last week one of our Pediatric Specialists said to me, “Who are those volunteers who help his family again? Can we have them help all of our patients?!”

I keep reminding everyone of TRP and the great work you’re doing in Ft. Wayne.

Thank you!

Michelle Hoffman

MSSA/LCSW

“We don’t accomplish anything in the world alone…whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.”

~Sandra Day O’Connor

Teacher Round Table

If you teach English as a New Language to someone in the community, come join us for our next gathering!

April 21st @ 10:00 am

Rialto Gallery

2614 S Calhoun St

(parking available in the Simpson Methodist Church parking lot)

It’s a time to learn from each other and be encouraged in our efforts!

~Other News~

”2614”

Are you an Artist?

We’d love to have you join us in a little project!

Our office and meeting space at the Rialto Gallery (photo on right) could use some help in updating the address numbers in the window. Sure, we could just go out and buy some new fancy numbers and hang ‘em up. But why do that when there are so many creative people in the community who might enjoy helping us out?

We are looking for expressions of ”2614” that can either be painted on the window, placed on the sill, hung or sculpted so that they can be displayed and seen from inside our window. And we are hoping for multiple creations that we can rotate throughout the year, along with information about the artist behind the work.

If you are someone who likes to create, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us at 260.494.5742, orangie@thereclamationproject.org

More than Teachers…

~ ~

I went to another wedding this weekend. …I saw one of my favorite students … He’s seventy years old. His wife speaks English very well and finished university back in Burma. He gave one of the speeches, (during the reception) and I guess he’s just as funny in Zo as he is in English! I got some pictures of myself with the students, and my picture with him is my favorite.

~Joel

~ ~ ~

…(my students) turned the A/C on for me yesterday after I sweated through class last week….I could tell they did it for me because it was running when I walked in (and) became cooler as class went on. I haven’t even turned on the A/C in my own house! Anyway, I’ve noticed more students
(improving) trying to answer my questions, which is awesome.

~ John

Did you Catch This?

If you’re a 60 Minutes fan, perhaps you saw this piece recently? As we continue to learn more about our local Congolese friends, our hearts grow in compassion and concern over the DR Congo… and we celebrate with the people there who have found Joy in the music!

Watch video…

Teacher’s Corner

…with Martha Martin

Teachers and volunteers often play a significant role in helping immigrants prepare for U.S. citizenship. The US Citizen and Immigration Services office has developed a variety of resources to support our efforts. The website offers a great supply of well constructed and easy to print supplemental classroom-based materials. I highly recommend checking out the link:http://1.usa.gov/citizenlesson I have printed worksheets from this site and then added great supplemental materials that were bought at the local dollar stores.

Happy Teaching!

-Martha, TRP Volunteer Trainer

Consider financially
supporting the work of TRP

Join the effort in equipping and encouraging people as they become part of the fabric of our Fort Wayne community.

When people are engaged, equipped and empowered, the whole community wins!

All contributions are tax deductible.

Or send a check to:

The Reclamation Project

2614 S Calhoun St

Fort Wayne IN 46807

Continued thanks to everyone who regularly supports and encourages us here at TRP!

If you would like more information about who we are or what we do, feel free to contact us at the phone number or addresses below.

Be sure to…

Grateful,

~TRP Staff

Angie, Kristie & Rick

The Reclamation Project
2614 South Calhoun
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46807
angie@thereclamationproject.org

260.494.5742

in·te·gra·tion noun 1. an act or instance of combining into an integral whole. So, What Does...

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:48:24 -0400

in·te·gra·tion

So, What Does Integration Look Like?

Letter From a Friend who works for Lutheran Children’s Hospital:

Dear Angie and Kristie,

I keep reminding everyone of TRP and the great work you’re doing in Ft. Wayne.

Thank you!

Michelle Hoffman

MSSA/LCSW

~Sandra Day O’Connor

~Other News~

”2614”

Are you an Artist?

We’d love to have you join us in a little project!

If you are someone who likes to create, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us at 260.494.5742, orangie@thereclamationproject.org

Teacher Round Table

If you teach English as a New Language to someone in the community, come join us for our next gathering!

April 21st @ 10:00 am

Rialto Gallery

2614 S Calhoun St

(parking available in the Simpson Methodist Church parking lot)

It’s a time to learn from each other and be encouraged in our efforts!

More than Teachers…

~ ~

I love pictures. I can sit with my kids and look at photo album...

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:58:08 -0400

Working in the Gallery basement.

Here's what our office USED to look like

So much scaffolding!

Upstairs- dentist offices long ago

The main theater

College kids came to help out!

Committed volunteers working on the roof

More work in the space we "live in" now

Harvey, always working on the brick!

I love pictures. I can sit with my kids and look at photo album after photo album. Yes, it’s true I still get my pictures printed AND put them in photo albums. I believe it’s not just “nice” to look back at old pictures, but it’s significant to take time to reflect on the past and see how far we have come today. Looking through a few old flash drives the other day, I came across some old pictures from our “early years” at the Rialto (back in 2004 & 2005) and thought they would be fun to post. Some of these areas look the same, but then there are some huge improvements too. We have had hundreds and hundreds of volunteers in that cavernous hulk of a building over the years. People that have been committed to our journey to create a welcoming place for people from all over the City as well as all over the world. It will be a glorious place to see completed one day, but for now enjoy a glimpse at the work days of long ago:-)

All I Receive from Teaching & Giving

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:24:34 -0500

My experience with refugees, in particular the Burmese, has been an amazing gift. My efforts have ranged from being a classroom buddy for several elementary school kids, to organizing a “kitchen garden project,” to teaching English to a group of adults.

Unfortunately, along this trail I hear people say “they never show up on time,” or “I give them something and it disappears.” Sometimes I hear, “they ask for things that are very expensive.”

On the surface that sounds like people are talking about a very selfish and unappreciative group, but my few years of being alongside these wonderful Burmese people has given me a perspective that one doesn’t typically get by watching from the sidelines. Yes, their sensitivity to time is different, but if I had spent 17 years of my life in a detention camp, I probably would lose sight of time also. I’ve found that the reason gifts (clothing, food, strollers, furniture) disappear is because they give them to someone that they feel needs it more. And yes they may ask for my car, but again, think of their perspective. Most of us have two cars and nice homes and they have 17 years on average in a detention camp with very little. And here they are, living with very little again.

Being a friend to many of the refugees has become a passion for me, maybe for selfish reasons. The joy that I feel when a seven-year-old in school (for the first time) is placed in age appropriate 2^nd grade and gets 10 out of 10 spelling words correct is priceless. Or perhaps the joy of hearing, “Mr. Hy, thank you for helping feed my baby.” Sometimes it’s just the giggles of several Burmese ladies who aren’t afraid to get on a Citilink bus anymore because we took a ride to the mall together.

Who benefits more from our relationship? I bet it’s me.

God has given me many gifts but the opportunity to be with and work with people less fortunate than me has made me a better person and given me friends I’ll have forever. The Reclamation Project has been instrumental in giving me the skills to be a friend to our new neighbors. If you’re not involved, get involved. You don’t need to be a teacher, nurse or executive. Just bring your heart and become a friend.

Heroes, Black History & Refugees

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:09 -0500

Imagine a society where there are no heroes.

A place and time where there are no stories of people who have endured, fought, or risen above injustice.

It’s hard for me to imagine a society like this. I grew up hearing and learning about all kinds of people and movements in our history that stood for or against all sorts of things. It seems natural to consider that people should and do have a voice that stems from convictions held deep within. Perhaps we don’t all agree on what to stand for or against, but the notion of being free to ‘stand’ is woven into the essence of our American fabric.

This is not the case for everyone in the world.

The freedom to speak, stand, and advocate on behalf of self or others does not exist in much of the world. There is a great cost to assert a position against injustice. And it is places like that which tend to produce the worst kind of suffering and injustice this world knows. These places are the ones that yield conditions where people must seek refuge because their government is either unable or unwilling to provide protection and justice that they seek.

The DR Congo is one of these places.

Recently, two dear friends of The Reclamation Project journeyed into the DRC as part of a team working on a peace building project. Their mission was to encourage local church leaders to stand against the violence and injustice inflicted on so many in their society by choosing Love instead of Hate, by choosing the Strength of Integrity instead of the Weakness of Corruption, and by Believing that their Faith calls them to something better than the forces of destruction that dominate their world. The time our friends spent there was tremendous, even in the midst of trials and danger.

But one thing that came as a great surprise to them (and me) was the fact that these church leaders had no knowledge of Heroes of Justice from their own society, or any other. They had never heard of Ghandi. They had never heard of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. They had no example of others who faced adversity and injustice and had led others in doing the same. How could this be!? As someone who grew up in a culture that has practiced observances such as Black History Month, I realize more now than before that observances like this may have more bearing on injustice than I’ve ever considered. Hearing stories of Black Americans rising above injustice not only acknowledges and respects accomplishments made by so many, but it helps us to also keep in view the inspiration which moves people to action.

It’s amazing what the stories of modern heroes can do in providing inspiration and encouragement. When we are able to see that we are not alone, that others have endured and stood for Peace and Justice, we find the strength to take the next right step in our pursuit of what we believe to be good and true.

Every society needs heroes. And as we choose to observe Black History during this month, may I also suggest we choose to appreciate and acknowledge those who continue to stand against adversity and injustice, locally and abroad.

TRP is grateful for the legacy of Black Americans who have helped strengthen the integrity of our communities, even in the midst of adversity. And we are thankful for our refugee friends and the many volunteers who choose to enter into the issues of injustice that so many have endured.

You are our heroes.

Post by Angie Harrison, TRP Executive Director