David's Corner

  U.S. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles' recent withdrawal from Olympic events has put another spotlight on mental health. It seems like a good time to remind us all to prioritize our mental health and physical well-being. Anyone that knows me knows that the pandemic over the last 18 months and continued social injustices shook me to the core. My role in keeping our agency going and everyone safe was hard. On the personal side, my father died June 29, 2019. I am the one now significantly responsible for my mother. I'm still navigating the grief of losing my dad while helping my mom. The stress led to frustration, a sense of helplessness and anger. I lost my inner peace and wasn't sleeping. My wife, Jane, helped me realize that it was time to talk to someone about it. I took the important step to care for my mental health. For the first time in my life, I reached out to a therapist to help me. I recognize that my talking about mental health may be uncomfortable for some of you a...

Happy New Fiscal Year, one and all! Thank you for your tenacious optimism, always ready to find solutions, and your fierce efforts to provide health, justice and hope. We have more work to do, and so my rallying cry is, "Let's Go!"  I know many of you are doing just that. One great example is LCSNW Salah Ansary who spoke at the Save Our Afghan Allies  rally, hosted, in part, by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and held in front of the White House. Salah shared his story of resettling in the U.S. in 1978 following the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union, and the pride he feels in the work he has done for the last 40 years advocating for and resettling refugees in the U.S. from around the world through LCSNW. Since 1975, LCSNW has resettled 45,000 refugees in the Pacific Northwest, including 696 refugees on special immigrant visas in the last three years. "I have witnessed the human generosity and compassion in welcoming our new neighbors and their str...