Since 1979, hundreds of thousands of refugees have been sponsored, resettled, and built new lives in communities across Canada. Countless tears of happiness have been shed, countless Canadian flags have been waved, and countless cross-cultural meals have been shared. But, as we'll hear from one sponsorship group, there’s a whole lot more to it than that. If you are interested or have any questions about refugee sponsorship, email [email protected].

Transcription here.

Read "Consider it (re)settled", a rich behind-the-scenes look at how MCC pioneered the world's first private refugee sponsorship program.

Discussion resource can be found at mcco.ca/undercurrents.

Credits:

Sponsored by Kindred Credit Union

Editorial assistance by Christen Kong

Mixed by Francois Goudrealt of Hello Francy Sound and Music

Original music by Brian MacMillan

We're back at the auctions. But instead of being surrounded by children with pie in their hair, like at the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale featured in Episode 16, I’m with farmers with manure on their boots. This is bonus mini-episode that book-ends Season 3 which started with an exploration of the Relief Sale. We explore the mysterious Heifer Sale, get a crash course in dairy farming and how a group of farmers created something truly unique 41 years ago.

Transcription is here.

More stories of creative ways to support the work of MCC:

Small scale with big impact - Norm & Sharon Ewert renovate intricate wooden dollhouses as MCC fundraiser

From troublemaker to tractor whisperer - Jerry Toews in Kansas restores all kinds of mechanical vehicles to be auctioned at relief sales.

Quilting for peace - Hedy Kopeschny and others at Niagara United Mennonite Church hosted a quilting event to support relief efforts in Ukraine.

Sponsored by Kindred Credit Union

Edited by Christen Kong

Mixed by Francois Goudrealt of Hello Francy Sound and Music

Original music by Brian MacMillan
Artwork by Jesse Bergen

In this very special episode, we sit down with best-selling author, public speaker, podcast wizard, and honorary Mennonite, Malcolm Gladwell. We cover a lot of ground - from pacifism, to soccer, to climate change, and more. 

Listen to Malcolm Gladwell's podcast Revisionist History here.

Watch the Tottenham Hotspur 48-pass goal here.

Sponsored by Kindred Credit Union

Produced with help from Christen Kong.

Mixed by Francois Goudrealt of Hello Francy Sound and Music

Original music by Brian MacMillan

"Somebody has to do something. It's crazy that we've got people that want to work and there is no job."

We talk with Suzi and Lucas, two soup chefs who have found meaningful work, #livingwage and a welcoming community at The Raw Carrot. We also hear from The Raw Carrot co-found Rebecca Sherbino. Find out how one bowl of soup can change the world.

The Raw Carrot https://therawcarrot.com/

How to Buy Soup https://therawcarrot.com/where-to-buy/

Raw Carrot Volunteer https://therawcarrot.com/get-involved/volunteer-with-raw-carrot/

Open Letter: Premiere Ford, Double Social Assistance Rates Now! https://incomesecurity.org/open-letter-premier-ford-double-social-assistance-rates-now/

Sponsored by Kindred Credit Union

Edited by Christen Kong

Mixed by Francois Goudrealt of Hello Francy Sound and Music

Original music by Brian MacMillan

In Season 2, Ep 8 ("Home") of Undercurrents, we were privileged to hear the poetry of Palestinian poet and teacher Izzeddin Hawamda. We had so much positive feedback from Izzy's poems that I invited Izzy back to share a new poem he wrote while visiting his home in the West Bank earlier this year, as well as new insights into life for Palestinians under occupation.

For more stories from Palestine and Israel and ways in which you can work for peace and justice there, go to A Cry For Home, a robust resource from MCC.

Check out and consider signing a petition to Israeli detention of Palestinian children in military prisons. #NoWayToTreatAChild

Sign the pledge to come Together Against Apartheid, created by Jewish, Palestinian, and fellow advocates for justice in Palestine and Israel.

Thanks to Kindred Credit Union for helping to make this episode possible.

This is a special episode - a conversation between the Undercurrents team Ken Ogasawara and Christen Kong about their shared experience of doing the SALT program nearly 20 years apart. Some hard times, some funny times, and always a good time.

To learn more about the SALT program, go here: mcco.ca/SALT

To hear directly from more SALTers living in their placements, go here: SALT videos

Sponsored by Kindred Credit Union

Produced and edited by Christen Kong

Mixed by Francois Goudrealt of Hello Francy Sound and Music

Original music by Brian MacMillan

"I had to take my own leadership and not everybody was happy about that, let me tell you."

In the newest episode of Undercurrents, Colleen Hookimaw shows us the lay of the (physical and metaphorical) land. We talk smoked geese, 5000 pounds of potatoes and maggots. We also explore historical challenges to Indigenous food sovereignty in Canada.

Transcription can be found here.

Read Bill Louttit's story here: https://mcccanada.ca/stories/why-living-land-crucial-nearly-impossible-do

Discussion resource can be found at mcco.ca/undercurrents.

Credits:

Sponsored by Kindred Credit Union

Editorial assistance by Christen Kong

Mixed by Francois Goudrealt of Hello Francy Sound and Music

Original music by Brian MacMillan

A mystery caller provides some more behind-the-scenes insight into the thrilling quilt auction profiled in Episode 16 -  Bidder Sweet: A Quilt to Remember.

See you at the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale on Friday May 27th and Saturday June 28th! nhmrs.com

We go back in time to investigate the heart-pounding, sweaty-palm-inducing thrill of the greatest quilt auction ever caught on tape. Join us for a fun bonus episode of Undercurrents that will whet your appetite for the coming relief sale season!

Transcription can be found here.

Here is a link to the original auction footage. Thank you to Jennifer Johnston for recording and uploading! 

Check out all things New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale at their website here, including a photo of the Renske’s newest (and last) feature quilt.

Here is link to all the relief sales in Canada and US!

Renske Helmuth’s blog has plenty of insight into her quilts, including a whole section on her relief sale quilts (this is not updated but still a rich resource).

Credits:

Sponsored by Kindred Credit Union

Editorial assistance by Christen Kong

Mixed by Francois Goudrealt of Hello Francy Sound and Music

Original music by Brian MacMillan

Welcome to a third season of Undercurrents!

We go behind the scenes of an epic quilt auction, to South Africa with the SALT program, we dig into Indigenous food sovereignty, and much more.

This season we’re excited to be adding something new with each episode. We heard from many of you who were using Undercurrents in group sessions like church Sunday schools and community outreach events. To help you out with that, starting with episode 2 on Indigenous food sovereignty, we’ll be including a resource package with each episode complete with discussion questions and action items.

Undercurrents is sponsored by Kindred Credit Union. Find Undercurrents wherever you listen to podcasts and look for our first episode of Season 3 which drops on April 4th.