one year ago today I was standing in a very different place than where I am now
very different place than where I am now
very different place than where I am now at exactly this time last year I was in
at exactly this time last year I was in
at exactly this time last year I was in the middle of a war zone I was working
the middle of a war zone I was working
the middle of a war zone I was working in the largest displaced persons camp in
in the largest displaced persons camp in
in the largest displaced persons camp in South Sudan with a population of over
South Sudan with a population of over
South Sudan with a population of over 100,000 people been to camp wasn’t just
100,000 people been to camp wasn’t just
100,000 people been to camp wasn’t just the largest in South Sudan it was one of
the largest in South Sudan it was one of
the largest in South Sudan it was one of the largest in the world and there was a
the largest in the world and there was a
the largest in the world and there was a day in that camp that I will never
day in that camp that I will never
day in that camp that I will never forget I was managing a malnutrition
forget I was managing a malnutrition
forget I was managing a malnutrition center in the middle of the camp and in
center in the middle of the camp and in
center in the middle of the camp and in front of me there stood a woman she was
front of me there stood a woman she was
front of me there stood a woman she was wearing a tattered red dress her bare
wearing a tattered red dress her bare
wearing a tattered red dress her bare feet covered in mud and in her arms she
feet covered in mud and in her arms she
feet covered in mud and in her arms she held a small bundle as I approached her
held a small bundle as I approached her
held a small bundle as I approached her she unwrapped the bundle to reveal a
she unwrapped the bundle to reveal a
she unwrapped the bundle to reveal a tiny two-year-old boy it was the worst
tiny two-year-old boy it was the worst
tiny two-year-old boy it was the worst case of all nutrition that I’d seen in
case of all nutrition that I’d seen in
case of all nutrition that I’d seen in my entire career and I knew right away
my entire career and I knew right away
my entire career and I knew right away that the case was too severe to treat
that the case was too severe to treat
that the case was too severe to treat there at our malnutrition center so I
there at our malnutrition center so I
there at our malnutrition center so I decided to take them to the Doctors
decided to take them to the Doctors
decided to take them to the Doctors Without Borders Hospital on the other
Without Borders Hospital on the other
Without Borders Hospital on the other edge of the camp and on the way there
edge of the camp and on the way there
edge of the camp and on the way there that woman told me her story she had
that woman told me her story she had
that woman told me her story she had spent ten days walking through the
spent ten days walking through the
spent ten days walking through the swamps of South Sudan escaping the
swamps of South Sudan escaping the
swamps of South Sudan escaping the brutal civil war that had engulfed her
brutal civil war that had engulfed her
brutal civil war that had engulfed her country she had braved crocodiles hidden
country she had braved crocodiles hidden
country she had braved crocodiles hidden from soldiers and had eaten nothing but
from soldiers and had eaten nothing but
from soldiers and had eaten nothing but water lilies to stay alive for those 10
water lilies to stay alive for those 10
water lilies to stay alive for those 10 days but as we got to the hospital
days but as we got to the hospital
days but as we got to the hospital something strange happened all of a
something strange happened all of a
something strange happened all of a sudden this woman this brave mother that
sudden this woman this brave mother that
sudden this woman this brave mother that had carried her child to safety and now
had carried her child to safety and now
had carried her child to safety and now we were almost there she told us she
we were almost there she told us she
we were almost there she told us she didn’t want to stay at the hospital the
didn’t want to stay at the hospital the
didn’t want to stay at the hospital the nurses and I argued with her we pleaded
nurses and I argued with her we pleaded
nurses and I argued with her we pleaded and still she told us that she wanted to
and still she told us that she wanted to
and still she told us that she wanted to go finally we persuaded her to stay and
go finally we persuaded her to stay and
go finally we persuaded her to stay and as I left that hospital I felt a small
as I left that hospital I felt a small
as I left that hospital I felt a small sense of victory but it was short-lived
sense of victory but it was short-lived
sense of victory but it was short-lived my colleague was with me a member of our
my colleague was with me a member of our
my colleague was with me a member of our local staff
local staff
local staff and he turned to me and without meeting
and he turned to me and without meeting
and he turned to me and without meeting my eyes he said I think the reason she
my eyes he said I think the reason she
my eyes he said I think the reason she didn’t want to stay at the hospital is
didn’t want to stay at the hospital is
didn’t want to stay at the hospital is because she had other children in her
because she had other children in her
because she had other children in her shelter back at the camp and she didn’t
shelter back at the camp and she didn’t
shelter back at the camp and she didn’t want to leave them alone for the whole
want to leave them alone for the whole
want to leave them alone for the whole night my heart sank I had traveled
night my heart sank I had traveled
night my heart sank I had traveled across the world to be there spent
across the world to be there spent
across the world to be there spent almost five years working in
almost five years working in
almost five years working in humanitarian aid and I had just
humanitarian aid and I had just
humanitarian aid and I had just convinced this woman to stay at the
convinced this woman to stay at the
convinced this woman to stay at the hospital potentially putting her other
hospital potentially putting her other
hospital potentially putting her other children in danger suddenly I began to
children in danger suddenly I began to
children in danger suddenly I began to question everything and that night
question everything and that night
question everything and that night sitting in the humanitarian hub on the
sitting in the humanitarian hub on the
sitting in the humanitarian hub on the edge of the camp I asked myself how did
edge of the camp I asked myself how did
edge of the camp I asked myself how did I end up here
I end up here
I end up here well that begins with my own story as a
well that begins with my own story as a
well that begins with my own story as a seven year old refugee coming to the
seven year old refugee coming to the
seven year old refugee coming to the United States from the former Soviet
United States from the former Soviet
United States from the former Soviet Union I was terrified I didn’t speak a
Union I was terrified I didn’t speak a
Union I was terrified I didn’t speak a word of English and according to this
word of English and according to this
word of English and according to this article that’s me right there I didn’t
article that’s me right there I didn’t
article that’s me right there I didn’t speak a word of Russian either because I
speak a word of Russian either because I
speak a word of Russian either because I was in too much shock my family had come
was in too much shock my family had come
was in too much shock my family had come with nothing and through the kindness of
with nothing and through the kindness of
with nothing and through the kindness of the community we were resettled housed
the community we were resettled housed
the community we were resettled housed and built an incredible new life and as
and built an incredible new life and as
and built an incredible new life and as I got older I began to ask myself why me
I got older I began to ask myself why me
I got older I began to ask myself why me why was I so fortunate why did I get to
why was I so fortunate why did I get to
why was I so fortunate why did I get to have these opportunities like an
have these opportunities like an
have these opportunities like an incredible education and access to
incredible education and access to
incredible education and access to health care and I didn’t have all of the
health care and I didn’t have all of the
health care and I didn’t have all of the answers and I still don’t but what I did
answers and I still don’t but what I did
answers and I still don’t but what I did come to realize is that I feel I have a
come to realize is that I feel I have a
come to realize is that I feel I have a sense of responsibility to give back and
sense of responsibility to give back and
sense of responsibility to give back and for me after three months spent in India
for me after three months spent in India
for me after three months spent in India during college that meant giving back in
during college that meant giving back in
during college that meant giving back in some of the most marginalized places on
some of the most marginalized places on
some of the most marginalized places on the planet I decided to pursue my dream
the planet I decided to pursue my dream
the planet I decided to pursue my dream I became passionate about health and
I became passionate about health and
I became passionate about health and nutrition became a registered dietitian
nutrition became a registered dietitian
nutrition became a registered dietitian obtained my master’s in public health
obtained my master’s in public health
obtained my master’s in public health and then I was ready to save the world
and then I was ready to save the world
and then I was ready to save the world well saving the world ended up being a
well saving the world ended up being a
well saving the world ended up being a little bit more complex than I’d
little bit more complex than I’d
little bit more complex than I’d initially envisioned and it was during
initially envisioned and it was during
initially envisioned and it was during my first sojourn into the world of
my first sojourn into the world of
my first sojourn into the world of humanitarian aid that I really came to
humanitarian aid that I really came to
humanitarian aid that I really came to see this
see this
see this I was working in Geneva Switzerland with
I was working in Geneva Switzerland with
I was working in Geneva Switzerland with an NGO a non-governmental organization
an NGO a non-governmental organization
an NGO a non-governmental organization on hiv/aids policy issues and though the
on hiv/aids policy issues and though the
on hiv/aids policy issues and though the work was fascinating I still felt
work was fascinating I still felt
work was fascinating I still felt removed from the issues on the ground I
removed from the issues on the ground I
removed from the issues on the ground I wanted to see with my own eyes to
wanted to see with my own eyes to
wanted to see with my own eyes to understand the root causes of the
understand the root causes of the
understand the root causes of the poverty malnutrition and health
poverty malnutrition and health
poverty malnutrition and health disparities that are still so pervasive
disparities that are still so pervasive
disparities that are still so pervasive in our world today so I decided to go to
in our world today so I decided to go to
in our world today so I decided to go to Africa
Africa
Africa initially I worked in Gabon at the
initially I worked in Gabon at the
initially I worked in Gabon at the Albert Schweitzer hospital alongside
Albert Schweitzer hospital alongside
Albert Schweitzer hospital alongside medical doctors and researchers fighting
medical doctors and researchers fighting
medical doctors and researchers fighting malaria and treating malnutrition that’s
malaria and treating malnutrition that’s
malaria and treating malnutrition that’s me with some of the nurses at the
me with some of the nurses at the
me with some of the nurses at the hospital in Ethiopia I learned about
hospital in Ethiopia I learned about
hospital in Ethiopia I learned about chronic food insecurity and the effect
chronic food insecurity and the effect
chronic food insecurity and the effect that climate change is having on
that climate change is having on
that climate change is having on indigenous populations there are now an
indigenous populations there are now an
indigenous populations there are now an estimated 36 million climate refugees
estimated 36 million climate refugees
estimated 36 million climate refugees around the world and that number is only
around the world and that number is only
around the world and that number is only projected to drastically increase in the
projected to drastically increase in the
projected to drastically increase in the coming decades in dark fur I spent two
coming decades in dark fur I spent two
coming decades in dark fur I spent two years working on programs for the
years working on programs for the
years working on programs for the treatment and prevention of severe acute
treatment and prevention of severe acute
treatment and prevention of severe acute malnutrition in children and women you
malnutrition in children and women you
malnutrition in children and women you know it’s interesting in the field of
know it’s interesting in the field of
know it’s interesting in the field of humanitarian aid as you work your way up
humanitarian aid as you work your way up
humanitarian aid as you work your way up you often go into a tougher situation I
you often go into a tougher situation I
you often go into a tougher situation I was thinking about it and in the
was thinking about it and in the
was thinking about it and in the corporate world as you climb the ladder
corporate world as you climb the ladder
corporate world as you climb the ladder get promoted you often you may get that
get promoted you often you may get that
get promoted you often you may get that corner office with a nice view in the
corner office with a nice view in the
corner office with a nice view in the humanitarian world as you work your way
humanitarian world as you work your way
humanitarian world as you work your way up you may go into a more difficult
up you may go into a more difficult
up you may go into a more difficult situation you might go from working in a
situation you might go from working in a
situation you might go from working in a peaceful village in Ethiopia to a war
peaceful village in Ethiopia to a war
peaceful village in Ethiopia to a war zone in South Sudan this was the view
zone in South Sudan this was the view
zone in South Sudan this was the view from my corner office I was living in a
from my corner office I was living in a
from my corner office I was living in a shared shipping container had a grab bag
shared shipping container had a grab bag
shared shipping container had a grab bag ready to go in case of an emergency
ready to go in case of an emergency
ready to go in case of an emergency evacuation and that was my commute to
evacuation and that was my commute to
evacuation and that was my commute to work although I have to say there were
work although I have to say there were
work although I have to say there were days when the commute was a little bit
days when the commute was a little bit
days when the commute was a little bit more exciting as I got further and
more exciting as I got further and
more exciting as I got further and further along in my career I began to
further along in my career I began to
further along in my career I began to see how interconnected we are
see how interconnected we are
see how interconnected we are interdependent
interdependent
interdependent and that this global interdependence is
and that this global interdependence is
and that this global interdependence is a fact of life one which can either be
a fact of life one which can either be
a fact of life one which can either be an intimidating prospect or a cause for
an intimidating prospect or a cause for
an intimidating prospect or a cause for hope and I also began to see the power
hope and I also began to see the power
hope and I also began to see the power that we each possess to make an impact
that we each possess to make an impact
that we each possess to make an impact and I’d like to share with you the three
and I’d like to share with you the three
and I’d like to share with you the three things that I’ve learned that are key to
things that I’ve learned that are key to
things that I’ve learned that are key to making an impact the first is to believe
making an impact the first is to believe
making an impact the first is to believe believe in your ability to make a
believe in your ability to make a
believe in your ability to make a difference right now in this particular
difference right now in this particular
difference right now in this particular moment we have an unprecedented
moment we have an unprecedented
moment we have an unprecedented opportunity to effect change because of
opportunity to effect change because of
opportunity to effect change because of all the resources and technology at our
all the resources and technology at our
all the resources and technology at our fingertips and because of these
fingertips and because of these
fingertips and because of these resources and technology you don’t have
resources and technology you don’t have
resources and technology you don’t have to go to the other side of the world to
to go to the other side of the world to
to go to the other side of the world to affect that change after five years in
affect that change after five years in
affect that change after five years in Africa I decided to come back home and
Africa I decided to come back home and
Africa I decided to come back home and launch my own nutrition practice to
launch my own nutrition practice to
launch my own nutrition practice to integrate all of the lessons I’ve
integrate all of the lessons I’ve
integrate all of the lessons I’ve learned and help improve the health and
learned and help improve the health and
learned and help improve the health and nutrition of people here something else
nutrition of people here something else
nutrition of people here something else that can help you believe is to find
that can help you believe is to find
that can help you believe is to find heroes who inspire you like Malala
heroes who inspire you like Malala
heroes who inspire you like Malala yousufzai who at 19 is fighting for
yousufzai who at 19 is fighting for
yousufzai who at 19 is fighting for girls right to an education around the
girls right to an education around the
girls right to an education around the world or Ron Finley right here in Los
world or Ron Finley right here in Los
world or Ron Finley right here in Los Angeles who’s promoting urban gardens
Angeles who’s promoting urban gardens
Angeles who’s promoting urban gardens and encouraging people to reclaim their
and encouraging people to reclaim their
and encouraging people to reclaim their health
the next is passion pick a passion you
the next is passion pick a passion you can’t fix everything but you can choose
can’t fix everything but you can choose
can’t fix everything but you can choose one thing one cause or one organization
one thing one cause or one organization
one thing one cause or one organization that sets your heart on fire there are
that sets your heart on fire there are
that sets your heart on fire there are currently 1.5 million NGOs in the US
currently 1.5 million NGOs in the US
currently 1.5 million NGOs in the US alone so chances are there’s one that’s
alone so chances are there’s one that’s
alone so chances are there’s one that’s perfect for you and there you’ll meet
perfect for you and there you’ll meet
perfect for you and there you’ll meet other people who share that common
other people who share that common
other people who share that common passion and together you could make a
passion and together you could make a
passion and together you could make a tremendous difference often it is that
tremendous difference often it is that
tremendous difference often it is that to which we feel a deep emotional
to which we feel a deep emotional
to which we feel a deep emotional connection that can lead us to the area
connection that can lead us to the area
connection that can lead us to the area where we’re meant to make an impact my
where we’re meant to make an impact my
where we’re meant to make an impact my personal experience is a refugee led me
personal experience is a refugee led me
personal experience is a refugee led me to my passion what is it in your
to my passion what is it in your
to my passion what is it in your personal story that will lead you to
personal story that will lead you to
personal story that will lead you to yours and last but most important
yours and last but most important
yours and last but most important take action for without action passion
take action for without action passion
take action for without action passion is just a dream it is during the leap
is just a dream it is during the leap
is just a dream it is during the leap from passion to action that we become
from passion to action that we become
from passion to action that we become our best selves we learn by taking
our best selves we learn by taking
our best selves we learn by taking action and though we will make mistakes
action and though we will make mistakes
action and though we will make mistakes it is in this space that we will be
it is in this space that we will be
it is in this space that we will be humbled and transformed you may have
humbled and transformed you may have
humbled and transformed you may have heard of the butterfly effect chaos
heard of the butterfly effect chaos
heard of the butterfly effect chaos theory states that if a butterfly flaps
theory states that if a butterfly flaps
theory states that if a butterfly flaps its wings on one side of the world it
its wings on one side of the world it
its wings on one side of the world it can cause a chain reaction that could
can cause a chain reaction that could
can cause a chain reaction that could lead to a cyclone on the other side what
lead to a cyclone on the other side what
lead to a cyclone on the other side what is the chain reaction that your actions
is the chain reaction that your actions
is the chain reaction that your actions will create I believe that we each have
will create I believe that we each have
will create I believe that we each have a role to play and a responsibility to
a role to play and a responsibility to
a role to play and a responsibility to create a more humane and peaceful world
create a more humane and peaceful world
create a more humane and peaceful world and my question to you is what is your
and my question to you is what is your
and my question to you is what is your role
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