Sister Christin Ann of the St. Agnes Sisters is a self-described activist in Washington DC and locally, a defender of human dignity. She has also dedicated herself to the transition house that their nonprofit Somos La Misma Familia (We Are One Family) runs, where no fees are charged for services that strive to promote healing for women who have served time for drug-related charges. To help in their mission to improve wellness for both the body and mind, we decided to make a run to the local market - and to buy out most of the art supply section. We provided the center with paints, brushes, canvas, and journals, so that women can practice different methods of expressing and empowering themselves in vibrant ways. Creating art is a way to re-imagine the future, to build bridges, to foster understanding and to work collaboratively, all things that help to promote peace. What is Sister Christin Ann's solution to making our border areas a great place to live? "We need to stress … [Read more...] about A Splash of Color

Hi! I'm Jilla from the Alight team, based out of Minneapolis. This week and next, I'll be sharing stories from some of the work we've been up to with asylum-seekers on the U.S. Mexico border - people who are working their way through the immigration process - and those who have stepped up to help them. Less than 30 minutes away from Naco, Mexico, on Purdy Lane, lives a group of St. Agnes nuns. They're committed to ‘building a happy and safe community’ for asylum seekers along the international border. I was immediately impressed by their immense compassion for the people they're called to serve. I was also surprised by their love of all things cats and their mid-west décor from their home states - in the middle of the desert no less! Sister Susan and Sister Kathy were particularly inspiring - they work to provide legal counsel to immigrants so they can become US citizens, a dream many strive for in these parts. Right now, 127 of their cases are open, while another 20 are … [Read more...] about Signed, Sealed, Delivered