Be INSPIRED, INFORMED, and IGNITED (=discovering a bit more of what matters to YOU) during the Seeds Storyteller Series with Sarah Jackson, founder of the Casa de Paz. Join us for this ONLINE EXPERIENCE that can be accessed from anywhere in the world as we talk with Sarah about a recent trip to the US border where she was incensed by the “3-minute hug” … and is fueling and expanding her vision for her purpose on the planet.
This FREE online experience is curated and facilitated by me, Sarah Davison-Tracy – author, speaker, and founder of Seeds of Exchange, a community committed to making a difference locally and globally, together, through community, storytelling, and giving.
Here’s a replay of our conversation, during the Seeds Storyteller Series – or watch it on YouTube:
WHY THIS MATTERS TO ME …
Don’t know what the “3-Minute Hug” is? I didn’t either. We. Must. Know. (And do something!) About. This.
Yes – some of us are preparing for Thanksgiving feasts and celebrations, some are traveling for the holidays, and others are hard at work. But, my friend, please TAKE A PAUSE and TAKE THIS IN in the midst of whatever is goin’ on in your day. Whether you join us live or on the replay, listen and learn from our remarkable sister, Sarah Jackson.
Please … rather than being deterred or divided by things like politics or ideology, I invite you to be drawn into this story because it is about BEING HUMAN. I invite you to listen to this story, believing and claiming that these are not strangers, but they are our sisters and brothers. I believe that if we each listen to this story and as the potentially inconvenient and igniting questions, “Now that I know THIS, what is my ACT of courage and bravery? How shall I now live?” … some of us will be called to do something – and it WILL light up the world.
If you were only able to hug your mom or your dad or your kids or you best friend or your grandma – for only three minutes – what would you do to create a world where you could hug them a little bit longer?
A few weeks ago, I went to El Paso/Juarez where the border opens up every year for three minutes so families can hug each other. I saw moms hug their children for the first time in years. I saw teenage boys holding onto their dads so tightly as if they would never let go. I saw brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews run toward one another and not let go until “TIME” was called.
At the beginning one of the worst things to see was the young children who were sobbing from start to finish. They were crying before they got to hug their parents. They were crying while hugging. They were crying while saying goodbye. They were crying while walking away.
Children shouldn’t be crying like that. They just shouldn’t.
As the day went on, I began to realize for me, the hardest, most terrible moments were watching older grandmas and grandpas, probably some great-grandmas and great-grandpas embracing their children, their grandchildren, their great-grandchildren.
These men and women have lived 60, 70, 80 years on this earth and they still do not live in a world where they can hug for longer than three minutes.
I felt ashamed. I felt embarrassed. I felt sad. I felt heart-broken.
I felt ANGRY.
The anger wasn’t left back in Texas – I brought it back to Colorado with me.
I learned that some of these families in Mexico were selling their prized possessions to afford the trip. I spoke to someone who told me they even sold their chickens and goats in order to have enough money to make this trip to the border. They were willing to sell their livelihood for a three-minute hug.
That shouldn’t happen.
I’ve already started dreaming of a time where we can come together and put some money together so families. can. hug. each. other. without. any. financial. barriers. in. their. way.
You’ll hear more about that soon. For now I am still feeling my anger. And I hope you do, too. -Sarah Jackson
WHAT IS CASA DE PAZ? …
Just a few miles away from the immigrant detention center in Aurora, Colorado, Casa de Paz offers housing, meals, visits and emotional support to families separated by immigrant detention. (More info below on how to connect with and work with this remarkable organization.)
NUDGES TO CONSIDER OF INSPIRED ACTION …
- HOLIDAY CARDS for detained immigrants. Info here
- SPONSOR an asylum seeker. Info here
- CONNECT WITH, follow, and friend our team: www.casadepazcolorado.org | Facebook & Insta: @ CasaDePazCo | info about volunteering & to join mailing list: www.casadepazcolorado.org/volunteer | www.seedsofexchange.org | Facebook & Insta: @SeedsOfExchange
- SHARE! Send this link to 5 PEOPLE passionate about making a difference locally and globally, together. Let’s EXPAND this organization’s connections!
- WATCH (and subscribe to our channels) the replays of our Seeds Storyteller Series with more stories to inspire, inform, and ignite. Head to the Seeds of Exchange event page for a list of upcoming dates and times or check out our playlist of replays (and subscribe) on YouTube.
- WATCH the documentary on Netflix, “The 3-Minute Hug” – Stream on Netflix
I have a hunch you will BE INSPIRED by her story … BE IGNITED by tangible ideas of what you might do in your own difference-making at work … BE CONNECTED with us more in the days to come.
The Seeds Storyteller Series connects you with EVERYday changemakers from around the world: activists, visionaries, artists, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, educators … (the list is long and the ways to make change are vast!). Whether you’re interested in being INFORMED about global happenings from amazing changemaking friends of mine, looking for some INSPIRATION in your life today, or eager to be IGNITED more in your unique ways to make a difference, join us for this conversation from anywhere in the world!
xo,
-Sarah Davison-Tracy
Author | Speaker | Founder, Seeds of Exchange
Making a difference locally and globally, together
Community | Storytelling | Giving
