The recent months of tumultuous violence around the world made me send a message to the universe- how can I be (more) helpful to those who are in pain, those who are victims of senseless violence and subjects of sad and terrible circumstances? While I would actually like to find a way to stop the violence, I realize that is beyond my individual ability and I will vote for Hillary Clinton so she can put that on her to-do list in Office. So, what can I do? How can I help those who are unfortunate and have no way of helping themselves? How can I leave a better world for my two beautiful daughters? How can I be a better example to my daughters so that they know that they too must do their part in the world?
A dear friend, someone whom I consider a role model for myself and for other women, heard me. She herself had felt the call to help those in need many years ago. (Her story of helping people is a very long one. But for purposes of this post, I will get right to the point). While she lives in a beautiful part of Washington State, somehow she found herself heeding to the cries for help from children in refugee camps in a completely different part of the globe- Ghana, West Africa. She went to the Buduburam Refugee camp in Africa and saw their plight and in 2004 started an organization named Point Hope. Through her organization, she has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people- from bringing fresh water to the refugee camp, to health care, education and much more. Her goodness has affected an entire region of the world as well as in the U.S.
My friend is Delilah Rene– the Oprah of radio; the inspiration behind the radio voice in Sleepless in Seattle; and one of the most beloved personalities in the radio industry in America. I cannot do her justice by summarizing all her accomplishments- you will just have to read those on her personal, radio and Point Hope websites. I dare you not to be inspired by her!
I met Delilah many years ago when she asked me to help get a medical visa for a Point Hope child who had urgent medical needs and her plan to take a medical team to Point Hope in Africa had fallen through. At my first meeting with her, her description of her work with women and children reminded me of my own mother’s social work when I was young. Since that meeting, I have had a major insight into Delilah’s work, her big heart and her passion for helping the children (and everyone actually) at the refugee camp and beyond.
When Delilah invited me to join the board of Point Hope, I had to pause for a moment. How could I fit one more thing into my life? I thought really hard and said to myself- if Delilah can have a huge family with 12 children (I have only 2), if she can find time to write several books (I have written only 1), if she can be on radio everyday (I’m on only once a week), then surely I can find time too.
So, I realized that my call to do something bigger had been answered. Joining the board of Point Hope will give me the opportunity to help people who are distressed victims of war and violence, who are born in tragic circumstances, who are less fortunate than me and who have no way of helping themselves. And while I regularly help refugees and asylum seekers in my professional life as an immigration lawyer both through my law firm and my own radio show, I will now help some of those people, who do not make it to America and make a difference from another perspective.
Thank you to Delilah Rene for doing all that she does and for allowing me to be part of a bigger mission. I am honored and humbled to join the board of directors of Point Hope and grateful that the universe answered my call.