In the wake of two devastating hurricanes—Helene and Milton—communities across the southeastern United States are grappling with unimaginable destruction. Entire neighborhoods have been leveled, roads washed away, and families are left facing the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. The damage began with Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida, leaving a trail of …
My First Vote and the 2024 Election
Abdi Iftin | October 3, 2024
Four years ago, as I stood in line as a freshly naturalized U.S. citizen, I was overwhelmed with emotion. The nervousness coursing through me felt as though my very existence was at stake, which, in some ways, is how it feels for many immigrants. My deepest desire was to live here, to feel safe and to be truly welcome. But …
Hope After Helene: CWS Emergency Response
October 1, 2024
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the full extent of the devastation is still being uncovered. With over 130 confirmed fatalities, widespread flooding and millions without power, communities across the Southeast are facing long-term recovery efforts. Thousands of homes have sustained major structural damage or been destroyed, and federal disaster declarations have been issued in several states, including Florida and …
From Walking for Water to Hiking for Hope: Jenny’s 50-Year Journey with CWS
Jenny Boteler |
In September, Jenny Boteler, a UCC Pastor at Union Congregational Church, joined CWS as a participant in the Hike for Hope in Yosemite National Park and shared reflections from the trip and the impact her long-standing partnership with CWS provides for communities around the world. It was 50 years ago that I took my first steps with Church World Service. …
Preparing Vulnerable Communities for Natural Disasters
Melissa Reece | September 30, 2024
During September, which is also National Preparedness Month, CWS’ Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery (EPRR) team dedicated its time to equipping vulnerable communities in northern California with the knowledge and tools they need to survive a disaster. September is also a wildfire season, making the timing of these trainings ideal for those who participated. CWS’ EPRR Senior Program Officer, Melissa …
CWS Opens New Office in Odesa
As the war in Ukraine continues, the needs of the people have not diminished, even as the international spotlight shifts and various NGOs have begun to depart from the region. Communities near the frontline have been shattered as families are forced to flee, leaving behind homes, livelihoods and a sense of security. Children are torn from schools, families are divided …
Climate Adaptation & Resilience in CWS Programs
Andrew Fuys | September 27, 2024
By July 2024, climate scientists were already projecting that this calendar year will end as the hottest one on record and have begun tracking the potential impacts of continued warming on critical climate system tipping points. Human-driven climate change continues to disproportionately impact poor, marginalized and excluded households and communities, both in the United States and globally. In many communities …
A Ray of Light
September 20, 2024
*Trigger Warning: the following text contains testimonies about domestic violence and abuse towards women.* The Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, known as Memoria, is a CWS local partner in Moldova which serves Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan gender-based violence survivors to access life-saving medical and psychosocial support. The following are written by two program participants whose names and identities have remained …
Should I Be Laughing? Reflecting on Springfield, OH
Madison O'Day | September 18, 2024
It is almost impossible to overstate the significance of humor to human development. While historians believe that the oldest recorded joke dates back to 1900 BC, I am personally convinced that humans have employed humor as long as we have possessed language. Our place in the world is defined in part by our ability to make and understand jokes, which …
A Wedding Dress & 300 DVDs
Melissa Reece | September 5, 2024
My wedding dress and 300 DVDs. That is all I had when we evacuated our home. It’s what I had left of my belongings after our home and all of our possessions burned in the wildfire. On the Saturday morning of September 12, 2015, I watered my garden full of amazing vegetables that were almost ripe enough to harvest, while …