For the IRC’s 2024 International Women’s Day campaign, I was the lead writer on developing authentic, empowering, and uplifting campaign messaging that would be utilized across the IRC’s global marketing teams. I collaborated with the Content & Creative team—including designers, content creators, and producers—to strategize, concept, and develop “In Her Words." The campaign's goal was to put the pen in women's hands so that they can control their own narratives. We featured IRC stories of women by women in their own words and voices—the way there were always meant to be told.

Campaign Slogan: In Her Words

Campaign Messaging: In a world that often forgets, silences or hides women’s stories, this International Women’s Day, we’re taking back the pen. 

In our own words. In our own voices. We are stepping up during this difficult year to write our own narratives. “I am a female mobile health doctor giving women lifesaving care in Afghanistan.” “I am a student in the U.S., despite being told I couldn’t go to school in my own country.” “I am the only female ambulance driver in Dadaab, Kenya, giving mothers hope and a lifeline.”

Regardless of the barriers we face, we are not the victims the world often writes us to be. We are people unfairly burdened by crisis. We are humans forced into a fate we didn’t choose for ourselves. And today, we are women who are stepping up to control our own stories.

The IRC is committed to fighting for a world where women can stand up, be heard and choose our own futures. Are you? Then join us this International Women’s Day in elevating women’s voices and stand with us as we control our own narratives.

As the lead copywriter for this project, I worked closely with the lead designer and producer to create powerful, punchy copy and compelling stories for this experiential photography exhibition. The event was hosted by London Bridge City (Savills) at their site near Tower Bridge.

The exhibition, entitled "Climate Changed My Home," raised awareness of the humanitarian crises occurring in many of the climate-vulnerable countries where the IRC works. This project aimed to show the breadth of challenges IRC clients face due to the climate crisis—displacement, food insecurity, barriers to education and risk of gender-based violence.

This outdoor exhibition ran for approximately five weeks, ending in June shortly after World Refugee Day. The goal was to grab the attention of passersby and offer the opportunity to learn more about the IRC's programs, donate via QR codes, and sign up to an advocacy or fundraising newsletter.

For the IRC’s 2023 International Women’s Day campaign, I was the lead writer on developing strong, bold, empowering, and uplifting campaign messaging that would be utilized across the IRC’s global marketing teams. I collaborated with the Content & Creative team—including designers, content creators, and producers—to strategize, concept, and develop the “Women Won’t Wait” campaign that highlighted the women taking action when conflict and disaster strikes to rebuild their lives, communities, and countries—no matter what barriers they’re up against.

Campaign Slogan: Women Won’t Wait
Tagline: Neither will we. Join women in making change happen this International Women’s Day.

Topline Messaging: Women can’t wait for conflicts and disasters to end, laws to pass or protections to be in place. That’s why they won’t. Women are first responders, humanitarians, activists, advocates, changemakers, peacebuilders.

Women won’t wait for change to happen. They make change happen. This International Women’s Day, will you join them?

Extended Messaging: Women and girls bear the brunt of every crisis. They make up around 50 percent of any refugee, internally displaced or stateless population and face a disproportionate amount of discrimination and violence.

When floods, droughts, and earthquakes strike, it’s women and girls who experience increased gender-based violence and are more at risk of early, child, or forced marriage as a result of the loss of livelihoods.

Yet, women can’t wait for conflicts and disasters to end, laws to pass or protections to be in place to find ways to make themselves, their families, and their communities safer. Instead, they take action.

We’ve seen it in our programs around the world, whether working towards economic empowerment, health, or safety—women won’t wait. Regardless of the barriers they’re up against, IRC staff members, clients, volunteers and partner organizations have gone on to uplift entire communities and create their own futures.

When women can run their own businesses, when young girls are allowed to stay in school, and when women are at the table of every decision that affects their lives, we will start seeing safer, more equitable and peaceful societies everywhere.

At the IRC, we’re committed to fighting for a world where women can stand up, be heard, and choose their own futures. This International Women’s Day, will you join us in elevating their voices and stand with women as they make change happen.

“The IRC At Work” is a newsletter that goes out to some of the IRC’s most committed supporters. In it, we take a moment to highlight their impact and the powerful stories of refugees that are possible because of this community of supporters.

As the lead writer on these projects, I collaborate with a content & creative studio designer on brainstorming and concepting the print issue’s theme—often looking at the season it will be published and the key moment campaign that coincides.

For this particular issue, I wrote all of the stories around the theme “Refugees are Changemakers” to align with the year’s World Refugee Day Campaign. We came up with the idea to incorporate interactive QR codes that link to some of the fun elements of the campaign, including the “Recipes from Home” online cookbook and the collaborative mural that engaged the general public in NYC’s Washington Square Park and the Oculus. We also created a fun, interactive quiz asking our readers if they can guess which changemakers, tastemakers, and dream makers are also refugees.

For each of these newsletter issues, I write a letter from the CEO, David Miliband, that ties together the theme of the whole issue and thanks IRC supporters for the work they make possible.

Here’s the letter from David Miliband for the “Refugees are Changemakers” issue:

Dear friend and fellow IRC supporter,

It thrills me to share these IRC At Work Newsletters with you each season. Today, you’re holding one of my favorites thus far. I hope you find these stories of refugees making an immeasurable impact on the world around us as inspiring as I have. You may even shed a few tears.

To get you in the right state of mind for this specific issue, let me ask you a question. What comes to mind when you think of the word “refugee”?

You may be thinking “war,” “conflict,” “fleeing home,” and maybe even “boats,” for some who’ve taken that harrowing journey. Without a doubt, people who have fled their homes because of conflict and disaster are brave and resilient. But refugees are more than the struggles they’ve faced.

People have been displaced at levels not seen since WWII because of a combination of armed conflict, the climate crisis, and economic collapse. But we know that when refugees and asylum seekers are welcomed into their new communities, the benefits are undeniable.

Refugees are changemakers, tastemakers, dream makers. And so much more.

Regardless of where they’re from or where they now live, refugees are shaping the policies, art, traditions, dreams and futures in ordinary—and extraordinary—ways. You will witness these ways within the pages you’re holding.

I think you’ll especially enjoy the heartwarming stories you’ll find on page 4. I’m particularly inspired by Arifa, Zahra and Hadisa, three Afghan students who were forced to leave everything behind to find safety in the U.S. Now, they’re chasing their dreams at Arizona State University and bringing their hope and passions to its campus.

Refugees make an immeasurable impact on the world around us. That’s why I find it critical to take every chance we can to honor them and their stories. There’s even a tasty way of honoring their stories through recipes from their homes that you’ll discover on the last page. I hope you enjoy!

As always, thank you so much for generously supporting refugees and people in crisis worldwide. Your gifts help IRC teams reach families with the health care, food, economic empowerment and more life-changing resources they need to recover and rebuild their lives.

And we truly could not do this work without you.

Gratefully,

David Miliband

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) had an exhibit at the internationally acclaimed Photoville festival in June 2022. As the lead writer on the project, I worked with the lead designer and producer to brainstorm, concept, and develop the exhibit theme “The Hands That Make a Home” and write the featured stories of four IRC clients based in Kampala, Uganda. The photographs were taken by renowned photographer Nichole Sobecki.

Since its establishment more than a decade ago, Photoville has drawn thousands of visitors to Brooklyn Bridge Park, where they can view dozens of exhibits from some of the world’s most acclaimed photographers. Exhibits tends to focus on a particular story, place or social issue.

“The Hands That Make a Home” is a visual story about how four people displaced by conflict are able to rebuild their sense of home with the help of their new community.

In these photographs, you’ll see their hands at work as they are trained by mentors in a trade that will allow them to one day start their own businesses or build up the businesses they currently have.

But look more closely and you’ll notice something else: a new community being woven together.

“The IRC At Work” is a newsletter that goes out to some of the IRC’s most committed supporters. In it, we take a moment to highlight their impact and the powerful stories of refugees that are possible because of this community of supporters.

As the lead writer on these projects, I collaborate with a content & creative studio designer on brainstorming and concepting the print issue’s theme—often looking at the season it will be published and the key moment campaign that coincides. Then, I develop the outline of the stories we’ll highlight throughout. After assigning the stories to other writers, I manage and edit their work to ensure it’s on-brand, strong storytelling, and maintains the dignity of the clients we serve.

For each of these issues, I write a letter from the CEO, David Miliband, that ties together the theme of the whole issue and thanks IRC supporters for the work they make possible. I also wrote the “Around the IRC” blurbs you can find on the last page for this issue.

Here’s the letter from David Miliband for the “Women Who Won’t Wait” issue:

Dear friend and fellow IRC supporter,

Mother’s Day always makes me think about the incredible women who are shaping and reshaping lives in the face of immense hardship around the world.

Of course, I think about my own mother. She came to the U.K. at the age of 12 on her own from Poland in 1946. After her father was killed in a concentration camp towards the end of the Second World War, her mother sent her to start a new life with other child refugees in the U.K.

Fortunately, most mothers do not face this kind of trauma. But too many do. And in recent years, many more have.

When floods, droughts, earthquakes and conflict hit, it’s women and girls who bear the brunt of every crisis. We know that they are disproportionately affected—experiencing increased gender-based violence and an increased risk of early or forced marriage as a result of losing their livelihoods.

Women can no longer wait for conflicts and disasters to end, laws to pass or protections to be in place.

That’s why I’m inspired by the women who won’t wait. They choose to step up to be first responders, humanitarians, activists, advocates, changemakers, peacebuilders.

We’ve seen it in our programs around the world, whether working towards economic empowerment, health, or safety—women won’t wait. Regardless of the barriers, IRC staff members, clients, volunteers and partner organizations have gone on to uplift entire communities and create their own futures.

These are the stories I’m honored to share with you in these pages today.

When women can provide a safe environment for each other and heal through the cathartic movement of dance like Olga from Ukraine shows us on page 6, when women can safely raise their newborns in the midst of war in places like Syria featured on page 4-5, and when women are empowered to change the world in ways we see on page 7, we will start seeing safer, more equitable and peaceful societies everywhere.

At the IRC, we’re committed to fighting for a world where women can stand up, be heard, and choose their own futures. And I’m so grateful to have people like you who support us and commit to doing the same.

All the best,

David Miliband

President and CEO
International Rescue Committee

Outside of my full-time job, I've had the opportunity to freelance write for Mockingbird magazine. In their "Mercy" print issue, I had the honor of interviewing some of my colleagues on how they grapple with the horrific tragedies we witness and continue on in this work to help people survive, recover, and rebuild their lives.

Here's an excerpt from Look for the Helpers:

You’re not alone if you avoid the news before your morning cup of coffee — recent years have brought particularly heartbreaking headlines. In Ukraine, we’ve seen a war that’s caused the largest and fastest displacement crisis in Europe since World War II; in Afghanistan, a government takeover that’s set back women’s rights at least 20 years; in Syria, a devastating earthquake where twelve years of conflict has already decimated its healthcare system and sent 15 million people spiraling into humanitarian need; and a cost-of-living crisis echoed worldwide. I know all this not so much because I keep up with the news on the regular, but because I read and write stories of refugees and displaced people whom my colleagues from the International Rescue Committee work with every day.

When I first joined the IRC, I was having nightmares about crowds of people attempting to escape Afghanistan. Several months later, when the conflict in Ukraine escalated, the nightmares began again. I struggled as our team collected and produced so many stories of people who, even still, haven’t been helped. New mothers fleeing the country with newborns were forced to leave their husbands behind. Families were separated. People were at a loss for what to do or where to go. I remember one particular night I woke up to an intense thunderstorm thinking that DC, where I live, was being bombed.

I realized that war, earthquakes, droughts, and famine show no mercy to whoever is in their wake. They spare no one. And this is what regurgitates some of my toughest life questions: Where is God in the midst of the war in Ukraine? Or the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan? Or the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and neighboring countries while families were still asleep in their beds?

This is what led me to the stories you’re about to read. In an attempt to expand my own understanding of God’s mercy in the midst of these horrific tragedies, I interviewed several of my colleagues at the IRC — a humanitarian organization that helps people affected by some of the world’s worst crises to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives.

All of them have either been face-to-face with these tragedies or have had to deal with the fast and hard facts on the other end of them. What I learned is that my colleagues have been chewing on these questions enough to come up with some pretty thought-provoking answers.

And, somehow, they all turned out to be unanimous...

Dear Friend and Fellow Freedom Partner,

It’s always a joy to connect with you. I’m inspired by your dedicated partnership in our shared fight to end slavery and violence. You never give up, and neither will we.

But this letter is truly an exceptional one to write. One that I know will ignite hope in you as we look into 2021 and all that it has in store for us.

Do you remember Pachaiyammal? In our last issue, we introduced this survivor—this uncommon leader—who has become quite the hero in her own community and beyond. Through the power of her voice, she is now an advocate for those trapped in slavery as she once was.

I’m excited to share that her profound, resilient leadership continues to expand—along with eight other survivor leaders from around the world who have joined forces to establish an incredibly powerful platform in the movement to end slavery: the Global Survivor Network.

These leaders came together to unite each of their own unique voices and experiences as survivors of violence—including bonded labor slavery, sex trafficking, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and police abuse of power—establishing a survivor-led movement that will speak into the international policies, programs and strategies all around the world that can, and will, end slavery and violence for good.

In these pages you’re holding, you will get a special glimpse into who these leaders are. These women and men have long been pursuing a safe world free of slavery and violence and leading change on the ground in their communities.

These leaders are truly an unstoppable force for hope and transformation. And they are now your faithful partners in the fight to end slavery in our lifetime. When you invest in IJM, you invest in these world-changing leaders and fuel their shared movement until every child, woman and man is free.

As you flip through these pages, memorize these faces. You’re going to be seeing a lot of them in the next year.

Outside of my full-time job, I've had the opportunity to freelance write for Mockingbird magazine. In their "Sickness and Health" print issue, I had the privilege of interviewing Daniel Harris, a native Memphian cerebral palsy artist, author, actor, and activist who has a doctorate of ministry focused on disability.

Here's an excerpt from Redefining Disability:

If I asked you to name three stories of sickness from the Bible, I’m guessing you could easily rattle them off: stories of leprosy, plagues, the bleeding woman who touched Jesus’s robe and was healed. But what about disability? Could you still name three? And here’s a catch — the stories don’t end with a healing.

It’s difficult, right? Partially that’s because this subject isn’t often talked about in church — and there might be a reason for that. When we look at wellness through an able-bodied lens, we either lose or ignore stories about disability altogether. To understand where people with disabilities have been present in God’s story, and where they’re alive and well in the body of Christ today, we need another lens.

Enter: Daniel Harris. At six months old, Daniel’s parents were told he had cerebral palsy and might never walk or talk. But God had other plans for Daniel. Today, Harris identifies as a native Memphian cerebral palsy artist, author, actor, and activist. I first met Daniel a few years ago on the other side of the screen in Washington, D.C., as he spoke for my church’s five-year anniversary. I kept hearing his name mentioned during discussions about disability and the Church. And I understood why after I learned that he’s currently working on his doctorate of ministry focusing on disability.

You can find him acting in a theater, or at Western Theological Seminary working on his dissertation relating blues music to disability, or on YouTube, where you can watch his recent TEDx Talk. Today you’re going to find him here, in this interview, where he defines disability theology and shares the powerful ways God uses people with disabilities in His story — both in the Bible and in the body of Christ now. 

Welcome to Accra, Ghana—home of the largest man-made lake in the world: Lake Volta. This beautiful lake is teeming with life and a kind, welcoming community that surrounds it.

But it’s also where tens of thousands of children are trapped in slavery, forced to produce the fish sold in its massive fishing industry.

Each day begins before dawn with the hope of making it to dusk. Drowning and other hazards are a constant threat while child after child is forced to dive down into the lake’s dark depths to untangle the web of fishing nets.

But no more. Because Freedom Partners like you continue to send boat after boat until we can find every child and bring them to freedom.

Today, we want to take you on a journey to Lake Volta on several of the boats you sent to see how your partnership has changed the course of each of these children’s lives.

First, let’s step into the boat where you’ll meet Godwin.

For IJM’s Race to Rescue campaign, I was the lead writer on the project and collaborated with the lead designer to strategize, brainstorm, and concept the theme and messaging for this brand new event during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown—all within a 24-hour timeframe.

Campaign Slogan: The Race to Rescue
Tagline: One weekend. One race. One mission. Your Move.

Messaging:
On Saturday, June 26, and Sunday, June 27, we’re racing to send rescue to the millions of children trapped in slavery around the world. Join us nationally as we unite as walkers, runners, bikers, and every type of movers.

Whether you take on a 5K through your city, a 10K on the trails, or an entire marathon on your back porch (like this guy), you can help us get one step closer to bringing every single child trapped in slavery to safety. Ready? Commit your miles, recruit your sponsors and start training! Customize your race to make it what you want–run it solo, join a team, or even create your own.

Make it your move, your way!

And you won’t be alone. Leading up to the race, we’ll have coaches equipping you with special training plans, tips, and playlists to motivate you throughout the entire month and help you reach your goals. Together, let’s bring children trapped in slavery and violence to safety. The Race to Rescue is on. Now, it’s your move.

#IJMRacetoRescue

If you lived in India around 2017, you would have definitely heard the names Arul and Pachayamma. Between newspapers, television, and radio, this duo’s story was unmissable. We begin in their hometown, Chennai.

When you notice your neighbors disappearing one-by-one, you have to ask why. But for Arul and Pachayamma, it wasn’t enough to simply ask. They needed to find the answer for themselves—then stop it at the source. What they would soon discover is that their community was being forced into bonded labor, enslaved by debts they could never repay.

Arul and Pachayamma couldn’t live with this reality. Instead, they decided to go on a mission to rescue them, not resting until they helped each neighbor return home.

How could these two people, youthful and poor, possibly help? With a simple, yet undervalued ability that we all have: our voices.

They used their voices to build meaningful relationships with their government officials. They lobbied for their neighbors to have food, land, and everything they needed to live in freedom. Any way that they could bring freedom to these hidden families, they demanded it—loudly.

Their passion for justice only grew along with their voices. Local leaders and neighbors alike began to take notice of how powerful this couple was becoming. So, when word spread of a survivor-led advocacy group forming, Arul’s and Pachayamma’s names immediately came to mind.

The question on everyone’s mind was, who would rise up to become the group’s courageous leaders? The answer was obvious and unanimous: Arul and Pachayamma. With this empowered couple leading their mission, the rescue operations could finally begin.

Together, they started searching for the hidden and rallying for their rescue. Because of them, hundreds once trapped in slavery are now walking in freedom.

But they weren’t always this power duo. In fact, these rescuers were once the rescued.

“I never had an idea that in my life I would come out of bondage,” Arul said.

For the past few years, we’ve joined thousands of advocates taking a visible stand against human trafficking for a very unique opportunity: the Dressember Challenge.

We pulled out our most chic dresses and dapper ties every day in December and sported them among friends, family and coworkers who posed the question: “Why are you wearing that?”

Even though we may need to dig a little deeper into our closets, this year is no different.

IJM is once again so grateful to be a part of the Dressember movement. We truly believe #YouCanDoAnythingInADress — even if you’re stuck at home.

So, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, let’s make this Dressember challenge the most memorable one yet!

Raid your closets to put together 31 days of outfits (or repeat a few—no one will notice!) this December and ask your family and friends to support the purpose behind your stylish wardrobe: to raise awareness and funds to rescue women and children trapped in slavery.

Sign up to join our team of IJM staff and friends today!

Greetings from our IJM Philippines team! For the last 6 years, I’ve been working in the Philippines to help put an end to child trafficking. During this time, I’ve had the privilege of seeing the impact of your support over and over again. A big win we celebrated was a 75% reduction in the number of children available for commercial sex trafficking in Metro Manila. So first and foremost, I want to thank you for your generosity and continued support.

Today, I want to update you on a new and dangerous form of trafficking we’ve seen emerge as the world has moved online during this pandemic—one with the Philippines as its global hotspot.

It is called the online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC). Put plainly, it is the livestreaming of child sexual abuse for profit. This form of trafficking exploits children in seconds all around the world.

What was once relegated to brothels, bars, and back-alleys, is now easily available online. The global expansion of the internet and social media platforms has put even more children at risk of violence and abuse. And to compound this horrific reality, as COVID-19 forced children to be locked in their homes, the rates of abuse have grown exponentially. And continues to rise.

We need your help. I’m writing to invite you to partner with us again in this crucial work to protect children. Together, we can stop OSEC and slavery for good.

Ron thought the few years spent on Thai waters would have been worth it for his family. Little did he know, that ship would never return home.

“I only learned that I was trafficked when I was in the middle of the ocean. The Thai captain told me that I was sold.”

Read Ron’s Story.

An intimate audience, faintly chattering with wine glasses in hands, quieted at the sound of a cactus being played over an amplifier. And yes, you read that correctly: I said playing a cactus.

This was the scene of the Amplified Cactus event on Thursday, March 9—the fourth in a series of six—at Spirits of Mt. Vernon. The prompt-based performance series always starts the evening with this odd musical plant presentation, making each guest wonder what could possibly be in store for them next.

A brief moment of silence echoed before pianist Aaron Thacker, a Peabody Conservatory grad, began the night’s journey. Framed by wooden shelves and wine bottles, Thacker played a haunting melody paired with the vocals of a seasoned opera singer.

It only took that first key to engage the audience and set the bar for the remaining talent yet to have performed that night.

Some may find a wine shop to be an odd venue for an art performance event, and they’re right.

Read the full article published on BmoreArt.

It was dark in the Motor House theatre, all except for the stage. A young woman with bouncy red hair stepped up and faced us. Her excitement was palpable. After taking a deep breath, the keyboardist began to play, and then she invited us to “fade in on a girl with a hunger for fame.”

Emily belted out the TV show “Smash’s” leading song as if she was Karen Cartwright reincarnated, pleading for her listeners to “Let Me Be Your Star.” The choice of song from the 2012 ABC show shining a spotlight on the inner-workings of a Broadway production seemed appropriate for what was unfolding. It was as if she too was auditioning for her big break on Broadway and she didn’t seem too far off.

This is one of the purposes of Broadway Live: to make Broadway seem accessible. Created by musical theatre veteran CJay Philip, this newly developed monthly event in Baltimore gives both Broadway fans and musical theatre professionals a chance to shine.

Split into Act I and Act II—one for children and one for adults—this event hosts games, featured performances, and a Q & A session all surrounding the theme of Broadway. And for anyone who can hand over some sheet music and tolerate a spotlight, the open mic portion is the highlight.

“I love the way that Broadway can bring people together… what it can do to connect people… I love that. To me that’s what it’s about,” Philip said.

Read the full article published on BmoreArt.

Language is a mouth-gaping human phenomenon. With over seven billion people in the world today each speaking at least one of over seven thousand living languages, these numbers alone reveal the vastness of our world’s people and cultures. I’m always humored by how deeply entrancing conversations in foreign languages can be. Regardless of my inability to understand their words surrounded by gestures and hand movements, like music I could listen to their melodic sounds tirelessly.

I’ve wondered what would be considered the most romantic language in the world. Would it be Spanish? Italian? French? I would have never considered a language that has an unfortunate link with a war-torn country and terrorism.

Read the full article published on BmoreArt.