Melissa joins Refugee Focus program as interim coordinator

A recent training led to an intercultural leadership opportunity! Melissa has joined forces with Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest and the interfaith Refugee Focus program at Dayspring UMC in Tempe, Arizona, as a volunteer interim program coordinator.

This is a turbulent time for refugees and those who support them. The public is anxious about its safety, and some high-profile leaders enflame those fears and manipulate them for their own political gain. Legal changes - and threats of changes - have also sown confusion and disrupted services. Meanwhile, my own team is at a crossroads as the longstanding leader and champion has stepped down.

My mission is to help sustain and guide my team as it navigates the new political landscape and this moment of leadership change. In light of threats to freeze inbound refugee arrivals, we will focus on training and capacity building, enhancing partnerships with local social services and nonprofits, and raising awareness of refugees and refugee issues through social media and events. I will also draw on my deep knowledge of working across cultures, my ability to connect and collaborate, and my expertise in social media to build new bridges, grow our team, and maintain our infrastructure so that we are ready to welcome new families again.

Thank you to Dayspring for passing the baton, and we look forward to serving our community together!

Photo Credit: Dayspring UMC Refugee Team

Copyright 2017, Melissa Hahn. Disclaimer: This post is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on it as a basis for making business, legal or other decisions. Melissa Hahn and Hahn Cultural Consulting are not responsible or liable for any loss or damage that arises from your use of this content.