We’re grateful for the time, heart, and dedication Sean Lacey and our volunteers have given to New American Pathways. His commitment to supporting our community has made a lasting impact, and we’re honored to feature him as our Volunteer Appreciation Month Thought Leader.
1. What inspired you to get involved with New American Pathways, and what has kept you committed to this work?
As an immigrant, I have an appreciation for how challenging it can be to rebuild a life in a different land. I emigrated to the US from the United Kingdom with my parents and siblings during high school. My experience was vastly different from that of a refugee: we arrived by choice, our economic circumstances were stable, and the US and UK share many cultural commonalities, including language. Despite these advantages, I recall how difficult it was to fit in—and how powerful a welcoming hand can be.
New American Pathways has given me the opportunity to extend that same hand to others.
What has maintained my commitment is the inspiring resilience of the NAP team—they amaze me—the feeling of making a small difference, and the joy of interacting with some of the bravest people you will ever meet.
2. Can you share a moment from your volunteer experience that changed your perspective or stayed with you?
I don’t know if the following example so much changed my perspective as reinforced it. One of my assignments is driving NAP clients back and forth to The Shop of Hope. The Shop of Hope provides clothes to new refugees.
My favorite trip involved two young Afghani women. They sat in the back seat of my car dressed in conservative Muslim attire, I in the front in the dismal fashion of a past his prime Western male. They spoke little English, I not a word of Dari. And yet, we experienced a universal human moment.
On the drive back from the shop, having barely spoken during the entire trip, one of the women tapped me on the shoulder and with a series of hand gestures and a cell phone asked me to play a song on Spotify on the radio. It turned out to be an Arabic pop song (a new genre for me).
Then she requested another. And so it went, until after about the fourth song they both began to sing along with the lyrics. By the fifth they were videoing their performance. This was two young women just enjoying being two young women exactly in the manner my similarly aged daughter does with her friends.
What a wonderful example of how we share a common humanity. Makes me smile every time I think about it.
3. In your experience, what do people often misunderstand about refugees or the resettlement process?
There are many misunderstandings. A few include:
- That refugees enter the US with little to no vetting
- That refugees are dangerous
- That refugees don’t want to integrate
- That refugees are bad neighbors
- That refugees receive excessive government support
- That refugees have nothing to offer
4. How has volunteering shaped you personally or professionally?
Volunteering has:
- Increased my ability to see others through their eyes
- Shown me that I can do things I didn’t think I could
- Inspired me to stay positive in a time when despair is easy
5. For someone considering volunteering but unsure where to start, what would you say to them?
Don’t overthink it. Check the website, find something that interests you, sign up, and give it a try.
