Amanda Gorman, Fellow Bridge Builder
On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman recited a poem she wrote, “The Hill We Climb,” at the inauguration of Joe Biden. At 22, Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet ever.
Like so many Americans, we at Building Peaceful Bridges were moved by Amanda Gorman, her poem, her story and her inspiration. We honor her as an ambassador of peace and a fellow bridge builder.
“If we’re to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in the blade. But in all the bridges we’ve made.”
“We are striving to forge a union with purpose, to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.”
“We will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one … There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
-Amanda Gorman
"The Hill We Climb" by Amanda Gorman (click to open)
When day comes we ask ourselves,
where can we find light in this never-ending shade?
The loss we carry,
a sea we must wade
We’ve braved the belly of the beast
We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace
And the norms and notions
of what just is
Isn’t always just-ice
And yet the dawn is ours
before we knew it
Somehow we do it
Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed
a nation that isn’t broken
but simply unfinished
We the successors of a country and a time
Where a skinny Black girl
descended from slaves and raised by a single mother
can dream of becoming president
only to find herself reciting for one
And yes we are far from polished
far from pristine
but that doesn’t mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect
We are striving to forge a union with purpose
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and
conditions of man
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another
We seek harm to none and harmony for all
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped
That even as we tired, we tried
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious
Not because we will never again know defeat
but because we will never again sow division
Scripture tells us to envision
that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid
If we’re to live up to our own time
Then victory won’t lie in the blade
But in all the bridges we’ve made
That is the promise to glade
The hill we climb
If only we dare
It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit,
it’s the past we step into
and how we repair it
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation
rather than share it
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy
And this effort very nearly succeeded
But while democracy can be periodically delayed
it can never be permanently defeated
In this truth
in this faith we trust
For while we have our eyes on the future
history has its eyes on us
This is the era of just redemption
We feared at its inception
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs
of such a terrifying hour
but within it we found the power
to author a new chapter
To offer hope and laughter to ourselves
So while once we asked,
how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?
Now we assert
How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?
We will not march back to what was
but move to what shall be
A country that is bruised but whole,
benevolent but bold,
fierce and free
We will not be turned around
or interrupted by intimidation
because we know our inaction and inertia
will be the inheritance of the next generation
Our blunders become their burdens
But one thing is certain:
If we merge mercy with might,
and might with right,
then love becomes our legacy
and change our children’s birthright
So let us leave behind a country
better than the one we were left with
Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,
we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one
We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west,
we will rise from the windswept northeast
where our forefathers first realized revolution
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states,
we will rise from the sunbaked south
We will rebuild, reconcile and recover
and every known nook of our nation and
every corner called our country,
our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,
battered and beautiful
When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it
![Welcome, Binja!](https://www.buildingpeacefulbridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Binja-567x675.jpg)
Welcome, Binja!
Welcome Binja, born December 16th to Hawa and Ahadi! Many thanks to all of you who made donations at BPB’s Annual Event. The donations exceeded our Call to Action of $6,000 for Hawa and Ahadi for:
- 6 months of rent support
- baby items and
- diapers
In addition, the evening’s program included the screening of “Belonging”, BPB’s documentary about a refugee’s journey to U.S. citizenship and BPB’s story and mission. If you are interested in watching “Belonging”, please register here:
Annual Event
Clothing Drive
![ICNA Sewing Machines](https://www.buildingpeacefulbridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ICNA-Sewing_Machines-960x675.png)
ICNA Sewing Machines
What you can do now
Joblessness is a challenge for all of us these days given COVID, especially for the refugee community. Let’s support training of our fellow refugees in gaining the skills that will facilitate getting work.
In partnership with ICNA Relief Chicago, BPB is seeking:
Four sewing machines (new or used) or
Donate $100 towards a new machine
If you wish to purchase a sewing machine for the ICNA sewing classes, please choose either the Singer Start 1304 or the Brother XM2701 and have it shipped to:
BPB c/o Lori Lucchetti, 1520 Forest Drive, Glenview, IL 60025
ICNA sewing classes began in May. Recent graduates have successfully completed the program and found employment! They have made face masks, t-shirts, hats, dresses, among other clothing.
Other refugees are on a wait list for these classes. With your donation, we can assist more refugees become financially independent.
![Dr. Galya Ben-Arieh on U.S. Immigration Policy](https://www.buildingpeacefulbridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Gayla_UN_plane_365x365.jpg)
Dr. Galya Ben-Arieh on U.S. Immigration Policy
Guest Speaker, September 21st
Building Peaceful Bridges (BPB) is pleased to have Dr. Galya Ben-Arieh, a professor of Political Science at Northwestern University (NU), as our speaker on “ U.S. Immigration Policy” at the September 21 Virtual Quarterly Luncheon Meeting, 12:00 – 1:00 pm. Please register for this event and mark your calendars.
Galya Ben-Arieh, J.D. ,Ph.D., is an international expert in refugee resettlement and forced migration studies for over 20 years. Galya brings her expertise as an academic and lawyer to broaden our understandings of the rights and processes of refugee protection and the role of law in settlement and inclusion in host societies.
![Kadjemba Family Success](https://www.buildingpeacefulbridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Kadjemba_Family-768x675.jpg)
Kadjemba Family Success
We did it!
CONGRATULATIONS!
BPB Goal Reached: $6000 (5 months rental assistance)
The Kadjemba Family and BPB thank you all for assisting them to survive through the challenging months ahead. By facilitating their food supply and housing we have assisted in bridging the gap towards their empowerment.
Hunger, housing and joblessness are three of the greatest challenges facing newly arrived refugee families. Muki and Asha were working prior to the pandemic. Now, they are jobless and your kind contributions have helped provide the much needed support for their family of five.
Your support has reduced their anxiety of homelessness and provides them hope of beginning their life in America. Please read their story.
Muki and Asha’s next objective is returning to work and the children hope for continued online or in-person schooling.
![Family’s Urgent Need For Funding](https://www.buildingpeacefulbridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Asha-and-Kadjemba.jpg)
Family’s Urgent Need For Funding
What you can do now
Hunger, housing and joblessness are three of the greatest challenges facing newly arrived refugee families. Muki and Asha were working prior to the pandemic. Now, they are jobless and in need of housing support for their family of five.
DONATE NOW and double your impact.
Donations received by July 7 will be matched by a BPB donor.
(matching donation extended)
BPB is committed to raising $6,000 to support their rent.
Goal: $6,000 (5 months rent).
Raised: $3600
Needed: $1200 (will be doubled) to reach the goal!
The Kadjemba Family and BPB thank you for assisting them to survive through the challenging months ahead. Please read their story.
![Refugees’ Urgent Food Needs During COVID-19](https://www.buildingpeacefulbridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Ahlam_wBoxes-1080x675.jpg)
Refugees’ Urgent Food Needs During COVID-19
Before the current crisis, our Refugee Families faced tremendous challenges in operating, integrating and frankly, surviving in a new land with a new culture, a new language, and new rules. The anxiety and uncertainty we all have during this shutdown is more acute for these families who escaped unimaginable horrors and now face a new hardship.
As a compassionate Bridge Builder, please provide hope and support a local refugee family. Donate $50 Family Food Box(es), which will be immediately delivered to our Refugee Families.
BPB and our refugees thank you for your support during these unprecedented times. Your assistance will help a family survive through the challenging months ahead.
‘My story is not a private one’
Mahmoud, who said she is a case manager for ICNA Relief, is featured in Deborah Campbell’s 2016 book, “A Disappearance in Damascus: A Story of Friendship and Survival in the Shadow of War.”
She is also the recipient of the 2011 woman of the Year Award from Evanston’s YWCA and the 2009 Muslim Women Alliance Inspiring Women award.
Now also a spokesperson for a new nonprofit, Building Peaceful Bridges, Mahmoud will sell and sign copies of Campbell’s book at the May 22 event, which will be presented at St. Ambrose Church in Crest Hill