Miriam’s varied life experiences have come together in a unique way to equip her for her new role as a Refugee Employment Counselor with MCC Refugee Services. Miriam was raised in a Mennonite family who valued hospitality and making room for outsiders, and that has deeply shaped her interests and values.
Our LVC volunteer Emily shared this story about a family she met last summer:
It’s pretty incredible that in one generation, Raahmo has the kind of small-world Minnesota stories that weave together her life, family, and career. One of 11 children, she came to Minnesota with her family as a 12 year old. She completed her schooling in Mankato, and then completed a Medical Assistant program and worked in clinics. Throughout school and her work as a medical assistant, she did a lot of interpreting for family, friends, and patients that went beyond translating words to providing a nuanced cultural translation that helped make sense of the context.
Pastor Richards closed his sermon with a question: "How do we respond to the global refugee crisis? We will respond one family at a time." Members of Messiah UMC in Plymouth were waiting to be matched as co-sponsors with a refugee family when we contacted them about Achan and her 4 children. They felt a clear calling to come alongside Achan and never looked back.
Minneapolis, MN – Rev. Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung, CEO of the Minnesota Council of Churches, issued this statement:
Pastor Richards closed his sermon with a question: "How do we respond to the global refugee crisis? We will respond one family at a time." Members of Messiah UMC in Plymouth were waiting to be matched as co-sponsors with a refugee family when we contacted them about Achan* and her 4 children. They felt a clear calling to come alongside Achan and never looked back.
We’re excited to introduce you to the newest member of our team, John Lamont! John joins us having just graduated with a history degree from Williams College in Massachusetts. He has a strong interest in immigration and environmental law, and the prevalence of immigrant and refugee stories in political news over the past few years has really raised his awareness. John also feels a personal connection to refugee resettlement through his grandfather, who came to the United States as a refugee from Lithuania in the 1950s.
