The Beacon
- Christopher Edwards
- Jun 2
- 8 min read
Illuminating the Power of Community with Stories and Updates from WelcomeNST
June 2025
Be the Movement: A message from Liz |
I’ve always tried to live my life with one eye looking back from the end of my story. And I can’t help but see this moment, in which our very freedoms defined by our Constitution are under attack, as one that I and the generations that follow will look back on as the battle of my lifetime. And once that next volume has long since been written and history has made its judgements of us all, I want to know in my heart that I fought the good fight. I know that many of you feel the same, so we are launching a movement to enable us to do just that.
As attacks escalate on residents and families in our own neighborhoods, regardless of legal status, we are calling on each of you to “Be the Movement. Welcome the Stranger.” Our goal is to unleash the power of community to welcome by engaging neighbors to form Neighborhood Support Teams (NSTs) that surround a refugee or immigrant family with love and support. Through grassroots partnerships, WelcomeNST has identified families that are here lawfully and are primed for self-sufficiency, but need our help. And we are ready to match these families with NSTs and “NST-Lites”. Learn more here.
This is a movement driven by love not hate, faith not fear, and compassion not anger. It’s the superpower of community at work to welcome someone from the outside who’s unknown, to the inside where they are one with a community. And while this action does not define what happens next, it does mean that these families won't have to face these challenges alone. I hope you’ll join us. |
Welcoming the Stranger. Changing Ourselves |
In a world often overshadowed by division and despair, something remarkable is happening—quietly, persistently, and with great heart. Across the country, in over 300 neighborhoods and 37 states, thousands of ordinary people are doing something extraordinary: they're forming Neighborhood Support Teams (NSTs) to welcome refugees and immigrants into their communities through WelcomeNST.
“This is truly a positive virtuous cycle,” said Grant Bennett, NST Leader and WelcomeNST Board Member. “As we come together as neighbors to support refugees, we find our own communities and lives deeply enriched.”
Grant's words capture a paradox many have discovered: in seeking to serve others, we receive far more in return. Volunteers have found purpose, deep friendships, and the powerful reminder that we are all connected by a shared humanity. “I’ve formed deep, strong friendships with absolutely fascinating people,” he continued. “It’s created a wonderful sense of meaning.”
At WelcomeNST, the impact often goes both ways. Volunteers set out to offer refuge but find their own lives deeply changed in the process. Larry Tobin, Director of The Shapiro Foundation and WelcomeNST Board Member captured this beautifully:
“I have immense gratitude for WelcomeNST’s impact on my life, on my family’s life, on my professional life, on our ability to have real impact; for doing this powerful and holy work of just bringing us in and giving us the selfish opportunity to transform our lives while making the world a more connected, welcoming, and beautiful place.”
It’s a reminder that when we open our hearts and communities to others, we don’t just change their lives, we transform our own.
Now, as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts opens new channels to sponsor families, particularly Haitian families in shelters, the need and opportunity have grown. “We know that people are hungry for something they can do,” said Liz Davis-Edwards, CEO and founder of WelcomeNST. “And that’s what WelcomeNST offers: a chance to make a real impact.” For Liz and many others, this work is deeply personal. Time spent in refugee camps, meeting families full of hope and resilience despite unthinkable hardship, changed her life. “This work is a dream come true,” she said. “It’s the honor of my life to help bring people to safety, and to know them.”
The power of WelcomeNST lies not in large institutions but in small acts of collective courage. To date, over 4,500 people have come together through WelcomeNST, welcoming over 1,000 refugees into homes and communities. “The superpower of community,” Liz said, “is taking someone from the outside and bringing them inside, making them known and named.” Whether through, forming an NST, donating, or simply inviting someone into your circle of friendship, each step forward is a part of the “small work in the great work,” as Victoria Safford calls it. Work that reshapes the world.
And so, in a time of closed doors and overwhelming need, we invite you to be part of something bigger than yourself. The impossible is being made possible every day. The power is already in our hands. Let’s use it, together. |
WelcomeNST Updates: Rising to Meet the Moment |
This year has been one of urgent pivots, deep resolve, and remarkable community strength. In the early months of this year, we found ourselves racing to respond. Refugee families were arriving in the U.S. through various legal pathways only to find themselves stuck in a system overwhelmed by abrupt shutdowns, policy changes, and limited support. Many had nowhere to go. So we did what we always do: we showed up.
With little warning and no time for standard preparation, communities across the country, from Massachusetts to California, from Texas to New York, rallied. They opened their homes, hearts, and hands. They trusted in the good, leaned on each other, and stepped forward to welcome more than 320 refugees and immigrants. That’s the superpower of community...and it lives in each of you.
During this time, we also partnered with NSTs to help families already here understand and access critical legal protections, including assistance with asylum filings to safeguard against deportation. Communities once again rallied, stepping forward to offer stability, hope, and welcome.
Now, as the landscape has shifted yet again, we are focused on the following:
We don’t know what new policies or global events lie ahead. But we do know this: we will be there. We will adapt. We will act. We will keep showing up. And we invite you to join us. |
Team Spotlight: Team Denver and Farhad |
Farhad’s journey to the United States was long, uncertain, and filled with hardship. As a wartime ally to the U.S., he applied for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) in 2018. Years passed, and it wasn’t until early 2025, after extended delays and administrative processing, that his visa was finally issued. But there was no time to celebrate. The International Organization for Migration could no longer assist with travel arrangements, and Farhad had no way to purchase plane tickets for himself, his wife, and their five children.
Stranded in a hostile country, they faced constant fear. His children couldn’t attend school, and harassment was so intense that the family rarely left their home. The idea of returning to Afghanistan was impossible.
That’s when Team Denver, organized through WelcomeNST, stepped in. A group of strangers came together, fundraising to cover the cost of Farhad’s travel and bringing his family to safety in Colorado.
When he landed in Denver, Farhad was met by his sister, who was already living in the U.S., and Sarah, the team lead who had coordinated the family’s welcome. Sarah recalls, “His sister held balloons, and we had a big welcome sign and an Afghan flag. We wanted Farhad to finally have a moment to breathe, to feel safe after carrying so much on his shoulders for so long.” The reunion with his sister was deeply emotional. “He was so stoic when I met him that I didn’t even realize the state of shock he was in...he later told me he didn’t even remember meeting me at the airport,” Sarah shared.
Later that evening, eleven people crammed into Farhad’s small one-bedroom apartment. There were balloons, cake, and Afghan music. They spoke about new possibilities. “His daughters were so excited to go to school,” Sarah said. “When I told them they could be anything, one of his daughters raised her hand and said, ‘Doctor.’ I’ll never forget that.” Now, Farhad and his family are beginning again with the support of a community that stood behind them without ever having met them. “All I do is tell people of a need,” Sarah said. “And every time, the community responds.”
Farhad is overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers who welcomed him not just with words, but with action. But he knows his story isn’t unique. “There are others just like me,” he says. “Others are still waiting. The question is, do their lives matter?” |
Turning $30K into $130K:How Generosity Multiplied to Transform Lives |
We’re deeply grateful to the North America Northeast Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their generous $30,000 humanitarian grant, an early and vital investment that launched our Sponsor Fund and supported the resettlement of over 60 refugees and immigrants across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Thanks to this seed funding, combined with community donations and peer-to-peer fundraising by our incredible Neighborhood Support Teams (NSTs), nearly $130,000 was raised to help ten families begin their new lives in the U.S.
Volunteers from Latter-day Saint congregations and other local faith groups stepped up as NSTs, guiding families through housing, schooling, employment, and the journey to self-reliance. Special thanks to Chris George, whose partnership helped bring this vision to life. This effort is a shining example of what’s possible when communities and nonprofits join forces to transform lives and strengthen neighborhoods. Together, we're building something bigger than resettlement, we're building hope, resilience, and belonging. |
A Movement of Welcome Is Rising and We Need You |
Right now in Massachusetts and nearby areas, refugee families are being forced out of shelters, some as early as June 15. They need stable housing. They need support. They need you. This is your moment to respond. You can help by starting a Neighborhood Support Team (NST) to walk alongside a family seeking safety and belonging. Can’t start a team? You can still make a life-changing impact by donating to meet urgent needs. |
Be the Movement. Welcome the Stranger. Help a family find hope today. |