In this episode about being a part of the beloved community of God, Julia hosts a conversation about how current events are impacting our New American sisters and brothers. About a quarter of Vineyard Columbus is foreign born, so this is a very personal conversation for many! And Julia's mother was born in a DP camp after WW2 and entered the US as a refugee when she was a child, so it's personal for her too. It's also personal for our guests: Dr Seleshi Asfaw is President and CEO of ETSS, an immigration and refugee organization here in Columbus. Flo Gimei is on the board of ETSS, she herself came to the US decades ago, and she's a long time member of Vineyard Columbus.

Listen in to not only hear some personal stories, but also to learn more about some of the challenges that New Americans are facing right now. Please check out our show notes for more resources and ways to serve, and if you do know someone needing practical helps like Know Your Rights materials, please feel free to point folks to vineyardcolumbus.org/immigration... where we've also posted a longer explanation of our Theology, Posture, and Pastoral Practices regarding immigration, immigrants, and refugees. And if you're someone who wants to help, volunteer, or who is able to volunteer to do some much needed translation work for us, please reach out to [email protected] and we'll point you in the right direction.

Dr. Seleshi Ayalew Asfaw, currently the President & CEO of ETSS, has an extensive and distinguished background in the medical and public health fields. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, followed by a master's in public health Methodology, Education, and Behavioral Sciences from the Public Health School in Brussels, Belgium. He has been a driving force behind the design and implementation of ETSS Adult and Youth refugee programs, reflecting his deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing new immigrants. His passion for aiding their transition to life in the United States is evident in his work.

Flo Gimei is a dedicated wife of over 25 years and a proud mother of 2 adult children. She is a Technology Executive Director in the financial industry and has served on the ETSS board for 3 years. She has been a member of Vineyard Columbus for 20+ years where she has actively served as a small group leader for over 15 years, a leader of the International Women's Breakfast, and she has also served as a member of the Church Council.

https://www.crisohio.org
vineyardcolumbus.org/immigration