An Americorps Reflection

To sum up my experience at ReEstablish Richmond: welcoming, loyalty, learning; the importance of language, perseverance, friendship, multicultural experience, feedback—and the fact that I’m already holding back tears just trying to start this blog post. My Capacity Building AmeriCorps service with ReEstablish Richmond, lasting over a year, has come to an end.  

Born and raised in Lancaster, PA, I graduated with a degree in History, focusing on Human Rights, from Dickinson College in May 2024. Toward the end of my time there, I found myself facing the same terrifying existential crisis as every soon-to-be grad: the job market. I regretted not taking full advantage of internship opportunities and felt like I lacked grounding experience. I knew I wanted to dedicate my time to do meaningful work with refugees and other newcomers but did not know where to start. Thankfully my best friend alerted me to the opportunity to come to Richmond and engage in just that sort of work with the AmeriCorps position at ReEstablish Richmond. Before I knew it, I was packing up and moving to Richmond, Virginia. I was instantly welcomed to the organization with open arms. It was my first professional working experience, and I was overwhelmed—in the best way. In my role, I joined the Outreach Team and had the privilege of working directly with Executive Director Kate Ayers and Outreach + Volunteer Engagement Manager, Will Cumbia.  

I’m limited in space here (cue Will behind me saying, “Only 900 words, Megara!”), let me take you on a whirlwind tour of the moments that made this year unforgettable. One of my first memories at ReEstablish Richmond was attending a Conversation Café, where newcomers practice English with volunteers. There, I met a woman from Afghanistan who told me how hard it was to build a life here without speaking English or having a driver’s license. That conversation stuck with me. It reminded me that while our systems can be confusing or inaccessible, human connection cuts through. That moment opened the door to so many more.

In outreach events across the city, I had the opportunity to speak with community members about our work, proudly representing ReEstablish Richmond at many tables and community fairs. I even designed a brochure titled “Who Are Newcomers?” to challenge harmful narratives and show what refugees and immigrants bring to our communities. I had the honor of being welcomed into the homes of newly arrived families, often over tea and conversation.

One family from Afghanistan invited Sara (my fellow Americorps member) and me in while we delivered holiday gifts. The mother, who had been a doctor for ten years in Afghanistan, was eager to return to her field, but language barriers made it feel out of reach. Her warmth, hospitality, and determination remain unforgettable. Meeting people like her fueled my passion to keep doing this work and to push for policies that ease newcomers’ paths back into their careers in the U.S.

I helped plan our Refugee and Immigrant Volunteer Summit, and had the privilege of introducing the keynote speaker, Professor Lucas Guttentag (who informed my undergraduate senior thesis), to a room of experts, advocates, and practitioners. In addition to many outreach events, I wrote blog posts and organized a book club where we read The Map of Salt and Stars, by zeyn joukhadar. I even had the opportunity to teach swimming lessons to some of our clients, determined to learn so they could take their children to the pool.

There were busy days filled with Excel spreadsheets and volunteer coordination, designing and delivering invitations for the Multicultural Festival in five different languages, managing transportation for clients, and making social media magic happen (yes, every post you saw this year–good, bad, or cringey–was probably me (with Will’s gentle edits)). And yes, there were hard days too. Days where I doubted myself, made mistakes, or had to face the learning curve head-on. But ReEstablish Richmond taught me how to take feedback, not personally, but seriously, and to grow from it. That’s a skill I’ll carry with me wherever I go next. If I had to pick a favorite recurring moment, it would be English class and Sewing class graduations. Getting out of the office and celebrating with the people we serve, seeing how proud they were of themselves, and getting to know them, was always the best reminder of why this work matters.  

When I think about the people at ReEstablish Richmond, I think about laughter echoing through the office, the smell of homemade baked goods, delicious milk tea, and conversations that can swing from deep talks to ridiculous inside jokes in seconds. One of the absolute best parts of working at ReEstablish Richmond was getting to know the people who are the organization. They’re the heartbeat of this work. It’s a place where creativity meets compassion—where someone’s always ready with a random fact, a helping hand, or a well-timed one-liner that will leave you crying from laughter. It’s a team of quiet powerhouses and big personalities; of meticulous organizers and spontaneous problem-solvers; of artists, bakers, storytellers, and advocates who each bring their own kind of brilliance to the table.

Most of all, it’s a group of people who care–deeply, tangibly, and without hesitation. Being surrounded by colleagues who share my values, who will show up for both the mission and for each other, is a rare and beautiful gift. This team reminded me why I do this work, why I’m committed to refugee resettlement, and why I’ll keep showing up. I’ll miss our Monday meetings that started with “New and Good,” where we shared what we were looking forward to or something small that brought us joy. There were laughs, sometimes tears, but always a sense of belonging. I’d leave those meetings smiling and ready to take on the week.  

Now, I am off to England to pursue my Master's at the London School of Economics in International Migration and Public Policy. I will be continuing this path, working to make the world safer and more welcoming for not only refugees but everyone, and striving to ensure America can be a place of true belonging.