Last night I had the honor of sharing a meal with neighbors in my community. Some were volunteers, some came just to be friendly, and others were refugees from all over the world, now part of our community. The annual Thanksgiving Potluck get together was organized by Washtenaw Refugee Welcome, (whose mission is to identify and mobilize resources to support refugees and resettlement agencies in Washtenaw County), and EVERYONE in the community was  invited.

 Having gratitude for our neighbors was a great reason to come together and a shared meal was a natural way to get to know each other. Many of our refugee families brought food from their cultures and some local residents brought traditional North American foods to share. There was music, and art and things to play with, and toys for the children to take home.

The refugee crisis is a humanitarian issue that continues to touch every corner of our globe. Today, there are millions of refugees worldwide, each with their own unique story of resilience, hope, and survival against overwhelming odds.

They have been forced to flee their homes due to war, persecution or natural disasters, often embarking on dangerous journeys in search of safety and a better life. They represent some of the most vulnerable populations in the world, yet their courage and strength in the face of adversity are remarkable.

Over dinner, they shared their experience, their hardships, resilience, and hope for a safer future. Their words were a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect and support refugees and the importance of compassion, empathy, and understanding in addressing the refugee crisis. There is a shared humanity that connects us all.

“refugees are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children,

with the same hopes and ambitions as us-

 except that a twist of fate has bound their lives

to a global refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale.”

-khaled hosseini