I thought that my father was joking when he told me this story years ago, but it turns out that he was right.   Roast pork was not invented by a creative cook, but by a hapless peasant who inadvertently one day burnt his hut down with all his pigs in it.   Upon entering the smoldering embers of his former home, …

The roads have been salted. My driveway has been, too. The i-things have all been charged. We have plenty of food. Toilet paper. Oreos and popcorn. The fireplace is even operational, with plenty of blankets to go ‘round. All life’s essentials, right? Essentials. It’s funny how that definition is so fluid when someone like me, who lives in the wealthiest …

Karen C. and Martin K*. are among more than 10,000 southeastern Michigan residents  whose homes suffered damage and loss last August from devastating flash flooding. Both are trying to do what they can on their own to clean up.  And despite their own best efforts, both find themselves coming up short.  Government aid, insurance payments and their own resources and …

I recently heard from a Roman Catholic priest I interviewed last year during an assignment in South Sudan. He told me that some of those he knew who had fled during political violence had died of hunger. My heart sunk when I heard this. Though crises like those in South Sudan often cause food, and food assistance, to be cut …

Together the CWS network has been part of huge victories for immigrant families in 2014. We fought to keep protections and humanitarian screenings for Central American children fleeing violence while the House of Representatives wanted to take it away. We assured ample funding for refugee resettlement when they tried to repurpose it. We won executive action and temporary relief from …