Posts by eparrigin
Just Be a Friend
As many of our families’ children return to school, we wanted to highlight the community members who strove to make their first summer in the U.S. memorable. Alma Gaul became a friendship partner after hearing about the Afghanistan crisis.
A Call to Action
Itâs important to highlight the successes of volunteers because they do so much for us and our families.
Alma Gaul has volunteered with our Quad Cities office for about a year or so. She recently took on being a friendship partner with a family of 6 from Afghanistan.
Gaul was a reporter at the Quad City Times in Davenport for 43 years. During her time as a reporter, she often covered topics that connect directly with World Relief, like resettlement initiatives.
She retired over a year ago and has been doing freelance stories of her own interests, or what she finds important.
Last year, she was called to action as she watched the situation in Afghanistan on the news. Gaul wanted to help and asked herself what she could do. Getting hands-on involved had been on her list for a while.
One day, she reached out to Beth Conner, our Community Engagement Manager, and decided it was time to step in.
A Meaningful Friendship
Gaul started off by driving clients to appointments and other places they needed to go. She said it was a great service, but she wanted a connection, wanted to do more.
There was an open opportunity to be a friend to a family. Gaul took it, and in her words, she âwent in blind.â
âI donât know exactly what I bring to this or what they need. But, Iâm just trying hard to be a friend,â she said.
She wants to make sure her visits with the family are meaningful and informative. On the Fourth of July, she went over and visited the family. She wanted to talk about the Declaration of Independence. However, she soon realized that was a little too difficult. They had a laugh and just spent the rest of the day together.
Her goal is to show them important things in the community, like John Deere. John Deere is a huge part of Quad Cities history, and she plans to explain the company and take a trip with them to the John Deere Pavilion.
But other than that, she just is grateful to spend time with them. Eat food. Talk about each other’s families. And above all, create a bond. Just as friends do.
Feeling inspired to get involved? Click below to fill out a volunteer application. Or, request a guest speaker at an upcoming event.
Sloane McIlrath interns with the APA and Communications team at World Relief. She is a senior at Augustana College majoring in Creative Writing and Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication. She wants to share peopleâs stories and bring more awareness through her writing.
Building Community One Race at a Time
As many of our families’ children return to school, we wanted to highlight the community members who strove to make their first summer in the U.S. memorable. Running is Joe Moreno’s passion, and it’s inspired him to give back.
Returning the Favor
Joe Moreno has been heavily involved in the Quad City community for 50 years. He’s a man of many talents.
Moreno is a race director, which means he sets up road races in the Quad Cities. He has been a runner most of his life and still runs at age 65. Many years ago, Moreno was the mayor of East Moline. But his favorite thing is helping out in the community.
Giving back is something dear to Moreno. âI just enjoy giving back to the community. I just feel like we have a responsibility to do good in our community.â
Running has been a huge part of his life. It wouldnât have been if he hadn’t received help from his own community when he was a teenager.
âWhen I was a young man, I was a troubled teenager and these two guys showed up on my doorstep one day and said âYouâre coming with us.â I did. I didnât know who they were. I thought âWell Iâm in trouble again.â
Moreno was wrong. The two guys that showed up at his door were mentors from an organization called Youth Service Bureau. Two college volunteers changed the direction of Morenoâs life when they introduced him to running.
âThey took me to the races and Iâve been running ever since.â
More Than a Race
He has done races all around the world including in Europe, all over the United States, and South America. Now, he has organized over a hundred races in the Quad Cities.
Moreno hopes he is sharing the joy of running and all the things that come with it with each race.
â[Running] gave me confidence and self-esteem. It opened many doors for me. When I organize these races, I feel like maybe I am touching another oneâs life by providing this vehicle for them to excel or discover that they like running too, and it will change their life, maybe.â
His love for running brings love to the community. He started the QC Marathon and has been organizing them for 25 years. He has also organized the Firecracker Run, the Freedom Run, and many more.
Moreno thinks each race should have two things: âEvery race has its purpose and its cause. You canât just have a race to have a race. I believe there has to be a reason and a purpose. All of our races do.â
Running with Purpose
The Cinco de Mayo race in May raises money for the QC Autism Center. The QC Marathon splits the money between two organizations, Prostate Cancer Initiative and Shoes for Quad Cities Kids. The Freedom Run goes to local military families in need. The Firecracker run supports local projects in East Moline.
The most recent contribution is Runnerâs Park in downtown East Moline. There is a band shelter which has live music every Sunday. The name Runnerâs Park is based on the runners themselves.
â[The park is a] tangible contribution for decades and many years to come, we can say âHey, we the runners built that park and donated to the city.â Iâm so proud of all those contributions.”
Moreno is a big supporter of World Relief Quad Cities and its work. For all of his races, Moreno lets refugee families and individuals run for free. He donates the entry cost right back to them through WRQC. Moreno believes that every organization should do the same.
âThatâs one way I think we could help. Itâs helping refugees in our community participate in these events. I think every organization should open that door and offer that type of assistance to help them, to welcome them, to make them feel better.
“I just feel like we have a responsibility, every organization, every citizen has a responsibility to help refugees, because who knows, maybe that could be us someday.â
Moreno discovered WRQC through connections in the community. He was looking for a person to help out with the kids race for Freedom Run and met Executive Director Laura Fontaine.
Because she was on the committee for the race, he got to know her and learned about World Relief. On top of his other contributions, he’s now a volunteer.
âIâm very supportive, and I want to be supportive.â
A Deep Respect
Giving back to the community is so important. Moreno applauds WRQC for its impact.
âI think we should all do more to help that organization out, because when we help refugees settle into our communities, they become better citizens and they will be contributors to our community. Letâs give them the respect and the assistance and the protection they need, they desire. That they deserve.â
Moreno believes that WRQC is a huge asset to the community. He asks the community to step up and get involved and respect, assist, support, and provide protection to those coming to the United States.
WRQC does so much good, he says, and he wants to give back.
âI wish we could all do more for World Relief Quad Cities.â
Feeling inspired to get involved? Click below to fill out a volunteer application. Or, request a guest speaker at an upcoming event.
Sloane McIlrath interns with the APA and Communications team at World Relief. She is a senior at Augustana College majoring in Creative Writing and Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication. She wants to share peopleâs stories and bring more awareness through her writing.
Following in World Relief’s Footsteps
As many of our families’ children return to school, we wanted to highlight the community members who strove to make their first summer in the U.S. memorable. Former refugee Kokazi Elangi is doing for others what World Relief did for him.
A Simple Mission
Kokazi Elangi came to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007. Elangi came with his parents and siblings. Since then, he has gone to school at Scott Community College, started a family and became the leader of two groups.
Elangi is the leader of a local Congolese community in the Quad Cities. Along with that, he is a teacher and leader at a local church in Rock Island. The mission behind these groups is simple: help the community. These community groups welcome all.
âWe welcome those who donât speak english, need a ride, those who need to go to the hospital. You name it. We just help.â
The group is there for those who need it. Just how World Relief was there for him and his family.
World Relief welcomed his family in the United States in 2007. Elangi cannot express how grateful he is for what they did to help him and his family. His family was one of the first Swahili speaking families to come to the area. With World Relief, they helped them get adjusted and settled. Elangi wants to do the same for others.
Coming Full Circle
In the community group, Elangi makes sure people get what they need whether that is a friend or a driver’s license. He serves as a translator for many. He feels that what World Relief did for him, he must do for others.
Sometimes Elangi needs a helping hand. Thatâs where World Relief comes back into the picture. Full circle.
âWe work as partners.â
World Relief helps out with things that Elangi cannot do himself like pushing for paperwork, enrolling in school or fundraising. Elangi helps out World Relief too. He points them to new translators so World Relief can help even more people.
Sharing the Love
Elangi constantly pushes for a sense of community. Within his group, he puts on events to build bonds between different cultures.
âThere are two things that connect people: food and language.â
At these events, multiple cultures come together to share food and teach each other the language. Elangi invites people from all over the Quad Cities to come together and learn from each other. He always extends an invitation to World Relief and important people in the area like the Sheriff to come in and explore new things while teaching others.
Elangi believes the way to build a better community is through communication. Thatâs exactly what he is doing. He urges people to communicate and learn from each other. Community groups like this are so important to people already in the community or people that just arrived!
He believes all groups should have the same mission: âWe help people. We respect people. We share what we know and learn from others.â
Feeling inspired to get involved? Click below to fill out a volunteer application. Or, request a guest speaker at an upcoming event.
Sloane McIlrath interns with the APA and Communications team at World Relief. She is a senior at Augustana College majoring in Creative Writing and Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication. She wants to share peopleâs stories and bring more awareness through her writing.
Part of the Journey: Interning at WRQC
Many local college graduates get their start by interning at World Relief Quad Cities. Sloane is excited to follow in the footsteps of Augie alumni and make a difference in her community.
Why I Chose World Relief Quad Cities
When looking for internship opportunities, I wanted to find something that would be challenging and rewarding. World Relief Quad Cities fits both of those requirements.
I am interning in the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program (APA) and Communications teams at World Relief QC. I am going to be a senior at Augustana College majoring in Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication and Creative Writing.
Like a lot of people my age, Iâm still very unsure of what I want to do after next year. I wanted to find an internship that could offer new experiences and new skills I may have not encountered before. A lot of people from Augustana College intern or even work at WRQC! I had to join the team because everyone had such great experiences.
Since I am interning for two departments, I will be doing a lot of things! The main ones I can think of are working with individuals, paperwork, home visits, interviews with families and clients, and probably a lot more! Iâm excited to get started and to start really helping out the individuals that come to the United States.
Building Bonds that Last
In APA, I have already gotten to go on a few home visits. While we are there, we make sure they are comfortable in their home and if they have any questions (like how to use the stove, for example).
Itâs really cool to meet and talk with the families in person and build a bond with them. Paperwork is a big part of APA but getting to see these people in person instead of on paper is amazing.
I am excited to be a part of the journey for them and making sure they are comfortable and on a path to success, whether that means self-sufficiency, getting a job, or just getting settled! Helping people is one of my passions and I think this is just a great opportunity I am grateful to have. My goal is to make everyone feel welcome and spread awareness for World Relief Quad Cities and the amazing things this group has to offer.
Interning with World Relief Quad Cities is an impactful way to gain real-world experience and prep for your career. Just fill out a form and attach your resume to apply.
Sloane McIlrath interns with the APA and Communications team at World Relief. She is a senior at Augustana College majoring in Creative Writing and Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication. She wants to share peopleâs stories and bring more awareness through her writing.
A Look Into Casework: Marci Arreguin
Many local college graduates get their start by interning at World Relief Quad Cities. After her internship, Marci stayed on the team to become a caseworker.
Intern to Caseworker
Marci Arreguin is a caseworker at World Relief in the Quad Cities. Just recently, she graduated from Augustana College and majored in Public Health and minored in Women and Gender Studies. Just like me, Marci started as an intern here.
While at school, someone from World Relief came to speak to one of her classes.
âRight after that, I knew that is what I wanted to do,â Arreguin said.
Arreguin was ecstatic when she was chosen to intern for WRQC. She started interning in August 2021 for the first semester of school for her Public Health major. She included World Relief in her senior year project and came up with ideas on how to help out welcoming processes for the families at the airports.
After the internship ended, she started working part time. Now, she’s a caseworker.
What a Caseworker Does
There is a whole process for new arrivals of families and individuals. Each one works with a caseworker just like Marci.
I asked her to explain the process and tasks of being a caseworker.
âIt all starts from the airport arrival,â she says.
Before a family arrives, there are people working behind the scenes to set up their homes so they can move in right away. Sometimes, if the home is not ready yet, the family stays in a hotel for a short period of time.
Moving into a new home in a new country is an unsettling experience. Arreguin described how she helps: âWe ask them if there is anything they need or if they have any questions when they get settled in. But, basically, we make sure they feel welcome in their new home.â
The day after arrival is very important for a caseworker and the families. It’s a day where the caseworker really gets to introduce themselves and create a bond with the families. However, there’s a lot of paperwork involved. The caseworkers set up the families with WRQC’s core services, like English classes.
Arreguin explained some other tasks. She takes them to their appointments, makes sure they have food, or makes sure they have things they need like WiFi or a phone. One key task is âjust being there for them.”
“We are the people that they can rely on because some people come and know no one. Just making sure that they know that you are there for them. Thatâs my favorite part of the job,â she said.
The Goal
Like all things, there is always a goal you are striving for. There is an outcome you hope for.
The goal of casework, Arreguin said, is âto make sure that you can prepare them well enough so that when they are out of the program, or when they can, they will be able to go out into the world and live in the U.S. This is how I think about it: if they donât know how to do something, we have to be the ones to help them, teach them, and to be there to mentor them.â
Caseworkers are there to make sure they are comfortable and set up on a path to self-sufficiency and settlement. Just like Arreguin said, they are the mentors.
From her experience this far in casework, she has observed something crucial. Because the families put so much trust into their caseworkers, âyou have to be someone that they can trust.â
Her favorite part of casework is helping clients, and most importantly seeing them grow. Eventually, they settle in, become independent, and do things on their own.
Caseworkers help every step of the way while the families adjust to the U.S. After the family’s program is finished, caseworkers get to see and hear about the amazing accomplishments these families have achieved, all thanks to them and WRQC.
Interning with World Relief Quad Cities is an impactful way to gain real-world experience and prep for your career. Just fill out a form and attach your resume to apply.
Sloane McIlrath interns with the APA and Communications team at World Relief. She is a senior at Augustana College majoring in Creative Writing and Multimedia Journalism Mass Communication. She wants to share peopleâs stories and bring more awareness through her writing.
Why We Welcome: Faith-Based Refugee Resettlement
During the month of June, World Relief Quad Cities hosted Dr. Emily Frazier as part of her ongoing research on faith-based refugee resettlement in the U.S. Dr. Frazier is investigating the work of faith-based groups in order to understand how and why local communities welcome new Americans.
Faith-Based Organizations and Refugee Resettlement in the U.S.
Historically, the U.S. has resettled more refugees than any other country in the world through the UNsâs third-country resettlement system. However, over the past few years, the U.S. program has faced a series of challenges. Funding cuts and shifting arrival numbers have altered local resettlement agenciesâ capacity to welcome the most vulnerable to American communities.
Coupled with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, resettlement agencies across the country depend more than ever on the assistance of volunteers, local congregations, and community networks to continue their valuable work responding to the needs of the displaced.
The national network of resettlement agencies like World Relief receives, places, and welcomes displaced families to communities nationwide. In the Quad Cities and across the country, WR works with community partners to empower the church to serve the most vulnerable.
World Relief is not alone in their mission. Research indicates that over 70% of all resettlement work in the U.S. is faith-based, including Jewish, Muslim, and Christian organizations. However, not all religious Americans are supportive of refugee resettlement. Recent research reveals evangelical Protestant Christians as the least likely among Americans to support welcoming refugees to the U.S.
Some evangelical leaders, churches, and organizations such as World Relief have engaged in advocacy on behalf of immigrants and refugees. Still, research suggests a gap between the public positions of evangelical leaders and the laypeople in their pews. The gap is especially noticeable when it comes to welcoming refugees to local communities.
Welcoming the Stranger in the Quad Cities
Despite coordination at the national level, the local reality of resettlement varies significantly from place to place across the country.
There may be less national support for refugees among certain Christian groups, but the local picture is different â in places such as the Quad Cities, community groups from both secular and faith-based traditions have partnered with World Relief to expand the organizationâs capacity and welcome refugees.
Frazierâs current project seeks to understand the motivations and implications of this support and partnership, especially with local faith groups and faith-motivated volunteers.
As of July 2022, Frazier’s project has included several months of in-depth interviews, observations, and contextual research. In coming months, she will continue to recruit participants for research interviews, and plans to implement a wide-reaching survey of community partners, volunteers, staff of World Relief, and other affiliated individuals in order to understand broader faith-based trends in support for refugee resettlement in the Quad Cities.
Your Input Matters
Dr. Frazier would like to publicly thank all those who have given their time and expertise as a part of this project thus far â this research would not be possible without the support of participants like you!
If you would like to learn more about or in participate in this research through a survey, short interview conversation, or other medium, please contact Dr. Frazier at eblackard@gmail.com or connect with her via Twitter @efrazier_geog.
Emily Blackard Frazier, PhD, is a researcher and assistant professor of geography at Missouri State University. Her research interests include forced migration and refugee resettlement, faith-based organizations, and welcoming communities. She has lived and taught in communities across Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas.
World Refugee Day Gives Awisi Bustos Hope
June 20th is World Refugee Day. Itâs a day to honor those who have been forced to flee their home countries and recognize their courage. Itâs also a time to recognize the ways in which we can create opportunities for refugees. In this interview, Awisi Bustos discusses the importance of accessibility and what World Refugee Day means to her.
A history of diplomacy
Awisi Bustos sees herself a âbyproduct of diplomacy.â She speaks five languages, is a Doctor of Law, and has centered her life around creating resources for those in need.
She grew up under her fatherâs influence, a diplomat with a prolific history in Ghana. He held several positions in Ghanaâs foreign ministry. He worked in various Embassies abroad as a civil servant, and served as Ghanaâs Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ghanaâs Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary to Ghanaâs president and culminated his career serving the entire continent of Africa as the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Her fatherâs work gave her the opportunity to live âall over the world:â Cuba, Ghana, Belgium, Ethiopia, and the United States. Her upbringing in diplomacy and the warm, friendly people she met in her various communities became a touchstone for her drive to serve the vulnerable. Soon, Bustos would develop a method of effecting change and advocating for human rights through public service.
Why the Quad Cities?
When Bustos was attending college at Purdue University in Indiana to solidify her own humanitarian future, she learned about an opportunity with the Governorâs Office of Constituent Affairs (GOCA) fellowship. It was a way to experience the inner workings of state government firsthand.
âIt was less than a week, just a few days before it was due, and I sent in my application every day,â Bustos said.
It was an incredible opportunity. The application was finally accepted, and she packed her things to move to Springfield, Illinois. While working under Governor Quinn as a constituent Affairs Fellow in the GOCA fellowship, she was surrounded by people who were equally motivated to get things done.
Bustos had always had an interest in human rights and learning how different governing bodies intersect. Thanks to her father, she already understood how to approach people and situations in a way that was both sensitive and effective. The fellowship gave her the governmental experience she needed to strategize her interests into reality. After her fellowship, she went on to become the Director of Policy and Training for Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, a state agency dedicated to advocating for the legal, human rights and dignity of adults with disabilities throughout Illinois.
Half a decade later, Bustos moved to Rock Island with her husband to pursue an opportunity as a Senate Aide to the U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin. There, she could settle down and work on her most pressing initiatives. She processed immigration cases through the Senatorâs office and volunteered at World Relief on the side. To Bustos, volunteering with refugees seemed like a great way to get involved in her community and to give back to people who had sacrificed so much.
Touching the lives of many
She volunteered with Leah Hodge in the Youth Mentoring Program. By relating to youth from different cultures and sharing her experiences, Bustos could provide meaningful support that reflected their unique backgrounds. She would connect students to resources, give pep talks, and help with âwhatever was needed.â She wanted students to feel empowered to own their own futures.
âJust because this is your circumstance or where you find yourself now doesn’t mean there are no opportunities for you, your family, or your community,â Bustos would tell them. âI was very passionate,â she added.
When COVID-19 hit, she realized just how urgently the community needed access to services. They needed someone to advocate for them. And although she could no longer volunteer, she stayed connected to the organizations and maintained the valuable relationships she had built over time. In 2021, she left Durbinâs office and joined the Illinois Department of Human Services.
As the Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary at IDHS, Bustos has spent the last year working on a myriad of initiatives ranging from making the grant application process more equitable and accessible, to anti-poverty and gun violence prevention initiatives throughout the State.
The agency itself provides Illinoisans in poverty and who are facing other economic challenges with vital safety net services to ensure a life of dignity and opportunity.
âWeâre very relentless about meeting those goals, not just superficially to check boxes, but in an intentional way,â Bustos said, âand we measure results to ensure weâre constantly providing for people . . . and connecting them to the appropriate services and agencies. Iâm constantly accessible to World Relief, and to various community partners,â she continued.
For Bustos, the most refreshing thing is seeing the leadership at IDHS prioritize services that are equitable and accessible for all. As a first-generation immigrant, sheâs especially grateful for the resources available to immigrants and refugees.
âYour office provides citizenship classes,â she said, âI went through the [citizenship] process. I would not have been able to go through that process if not for all the amazing resources out there.â
The international universe
And although Bustos isnât a refugee, she can relate to the sense of finding âhome away from home.â She thinks of her father and his dedication to human rights, and sheâs reminded of the resilience of immigrants and refugees all over the world. To her, World Refugee Day is a reminder of the strength it takes to remove oneself from unfortunate circumstances and create opportunities for generations to come.
âTo find hope where it seems like there isnât any, to connect with the community and rely on fellow human beings to come together and make life better for one another . . . it goes beyond nationality,â Bustos said.
Itâs also a reminder that thereâs a commonality in every story. Finding the things that connect us, she notes, is how we move forward as a community, as a nation, and as members of an âinternational universe.â
In recent years itâs become easier to share across cultures. Now, we can easily access the music, traditions, food, and stories of people across the globe. The ever-expanding ability to connect with one another holds a world of potential.
âI find the world becoming smaller and smaller. Being able to share African music even through social media, connecting and traveling, it gives me hope,â she continued.
Thereâs much work to be done still. Each day brings more people, places, and government bodies focused on equity, accessibility, and acceptance. Illinois is prioritizing the importance of providing for those seeking basic human needs, Illinois is positioning itself as a leading welcoming State where all are not only welcome but received with open arms and open hearts.
Seeing this change firsthand and being part of it gives her faith in the future.
âIâm humbled and honored to serve. Each day is a new day, and a new opportunity to impact meaningful change in the worldâ Bustos concluded.
A refugee is someone who survived and who can create the future – Amela Koluder
Erica Parrigin manages communications at World Relief Quad Cities. She graduated from Western Illinois University with a BA in English in 2020. She believes that stories are powerful, and that learning to empathize with other perspectives is the key to making a difference.
At a Well With Someone Different
June 20th is World Refugee Day. Itâs a day to honor those who have been forced to flee their home countries and recognize their courage. Itâs also a time to recognize the ways in which we can create opportunities for refugees and welcome them with open arms.
Honoring the vulnerable
The arrival of June brings with it a day thatâs pretty important to World Relief. If youâre like I was, it might not be a day you’re particularly familiar with â but maybe if you stick around for the rest of this little article, the lack of familiarity wonât deter you from understanding the importance of World Refugee Day.
World Refugee Day (WRD) comes around every June 20th and the UNHCR (the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) defines it as âan international day designed by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe.â Itâs a day thatâs like few others because itâs one where we not only get the chance to honor a group of people who have overcome odds we canât even imagine, but where we also get to acquaint ourselves with people who are very different than you and I.
People who have a different cultural background than us.
People who may worship a different Deity than we do.
People who eat different foods than we do.
And that makes me think about Jesus.
Not around, but through
When we think about Jesus, so many images come to mind. Walking on water, healing the sick, and teaching the masses. Out of many images and scenes of Jesusâ life though, one that particularly stands out to me is when Jesus had a conversation with a woman at a well:
âSo He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacobâs well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, âGive me a drink.ââ
(John 4:5-7)
The story goes that Jesus was on His way to Galilee and âhad to pass through Samaria.â (John 4:4) Scripture doesnât say exactly why he had to pass through there, but what it does make clear is that Samaria was avoided as much a possible by Jews of the day. See, Jews hated Samaritans back then and Samaritans hated Jews just as much. So when we see Jesus not only pass through Samaria when He could have gone around it, but also sit down for a drink of water at a well in Samaria, we know somethingâs up.
The choice to walk alongside
âHow is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?â
(4:9)
You can almost feel the shock and confusion in her voice. If Jesusâ presence at a Samaritan well wasnât enough to defy cultural barriers, his speaking to a Samaritan woman surely was. And that, I believe, was Jesusâ point.
Jesus sat down for a drink of water with someone who was different. Someone who had a different cultural background, who worshipped differently, and who lived a very different lifestyle than Him.
And that, I believe, is something World Refugee Day invites you and I into â dinner, drinks, and conversation with people who are different, and honoring them as well. On a bright, warm, June day like today I would challenge you to give it a try â I promise you wonât regret it, and it may even change anotherâs life (read the whole story: John 4:1-45).
Join us on World Refugee Day for a time of fellowship, devotion, and prayer – for one another, our community, and our world
Spencer Conner is the Church Mobilizer at World Relief Quad Cities. He is originally from Atlanta, GA and has served as a Student Pastor in several churches between North Carolina and Kentucky over the past decade. Spencer is married to Beth, World Relief Quad Cities’ Community Engagement Manager, and they live in Davenport, IA with their golden retriever, Tuck.
Graduating With a New Perspective
More than a skillset
Looking back on the last year I have spent interning with World Relief Quad Cities, I am so grateful for all the opportunities and the people Iâve met as a Communications intern.
This internship was exactly what I wanted and then some, as I was able to hone my skills in communications and journalism while writing some of the most meaningful and impactful stories I may ever write.
Itâs been wonderful to work with so many great people in the World Relief organization and to make so many great and hopefully long-lasting connections as I continue on into my post-college journey.
My internship at World Relief has not only opened up my eyes to the Quad Cities community, but to the world as well. I was fortunate enough to interview many fascinating and inspiring people within the Quad Cities area that made me excited to write their stories and feature them in each monthâs newsletter.
I have also gained a greater understanding of the world and the many cultures that I had time to get to know and interact with while writing these stories. It helped me realize even more how important it is to engage within oneâs community and also with other cultures, and to share acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, in hopes of inspiring others to do the same.
Looking toward the future
As for me, I graduated from Augustana College with my bachelorâs degree in Multimedia Journalism and Mass Communications in May. I’m beginning my journalism career working as a weekend producer at KWQC in Davenport, as well as working on the production team for the Quad Cities River Bandits this season.
Iâm excited for what the future holds in my post-college career, andI know I will always fondly remember my time at World Relief QC. I’m so grateful for how it has helped to sharpen my journalism skills and become more educated on the world, world cultures, and the Quad Cities community.
Thank you World Relief, and to all those that have made my time here so worthwhile and memorable!
Brady Johnson is a senior at Augustana College studying multimedia journalism and mass communications. He’s currently interning in Communications with World Relief Quad Cities, and hopes to be part of something greater than himself.
Clare Stephenson Helps Moms in Need
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Clare is a mom who does it all, going above and beyond for anyone who steps into her office. Here’s her story.
A guide for mothers
Clarissa Stephenson knows how hard being a mother can be. Not only is she the mother of her two and a half year old son Amir, but she also spends her time helping mothers recover and stay strong during some of the hardest times in their lives.
Stephenson is the Preferred Communities program manager at World Relief Quad Cities. She’s in charge of helping refugee mothers get the care and assistance they need.
She interned with World Relief QC during her time as a student at Augustana College. In the fall of 2020, she was hired to take on the role as the program manager for the Preferred Communities program.
Her tasks include managing the program budget and helping her clients by providing medical or mental health services they need. Right now, 35 people rely on her.
A better parent
When discussing the struggles of this position, Stephenson said that hearing stories about personal trauma these mothers have gone through and hearing the stories of loss of family members and children can take a toll on herself.
However, she says that hearing from these parents can help her become a better parent to her own child, and that her clients can serve as an inspiration to stay strong even in the hardest of times.
âThis position requires a lot of hours that may be intrusive to my family life, but these parents inspire me to be a better parent myself,â Stephenson said. âIâve learned a lot about being resilient from these parents Iâve worked with and Iâve been able to transfer that into my own homelife as well.â
Stephenson wants more than anything to be a helpful and friendly face to these mothers in this role and to serve as a supportive figure in the lives of these resilient women, whose stories she thinks our community as a whole can learn a lot from.
âI just want to be another person in the community to them,â Stephenson said. âThey can always come to me as a friend and for any support they may need.â
Brady Johnson is a senior at Augustana College studying multimedia journalism and mass communications. He’s currently interning in Communications with World Relief Quad Cities, and hopes to be part of something greater than himself.