Written by Shannon Mahedy, communications coordinator

I joyfully and enthusiastically joined LPGM six months ago as its first ever communications coordinator.

While I am not Lutheran, I was raised in a progressive Catholic household in New Jersey that emphasized service, social justice, and global connection. As a child, I volunteered with my mom and sister at a Catholic global fair-trade nonprofit that empowered women economically. I majored in international studies and human rights at Macalester College and completed a post-graduate service year through the Catholic Volunteer Network (CVN). All this to say, LPGM immediately felt like a strong fit for my values, and LPGM's mission of providing access to education for people at the margins immediately drew me in. 

At the same time, I was unfamiliar with Lutheran customs, culture, and beliefs. I also only knew about LPGM on a surface level. So, as you can imagine, I felt a bit like an imposter. I quickly found that my worries were unfounded, as I've been warmly embraced since day one. Over the past six months, I've looked at LPGM with fresh eyes, and I wanted to share my major takeaways as a newcomer:

LPGM's deep roots and devoted community of supporters continually impress me. Supporters are seen as partners in the work and are treated like family. I believe this is a key reason why LPGM has been around for 30 years.

During my first staff meeting, everyone kept name-dropping folks who were involved in the work in some way or another. They talked about them like they were close friends or family, and in some cases, they were. I quickly realized that LPGM approaches everything from a place of being in relationship with others, both locally and globally.

I saw this again at former managing director Naomi Staruch's retirement party. She had been involved with LPGM since its very inception, and the party was filled with past and present colleagues, donors, travelers, board members, and leaders. Everyone seemed genuinely pleased to be there and committed to LPGM. A former board member told me that LPGM was a special organization, and that she cared deeply about its success. Since then, I've continued to witness the personal connections fostered by LPGM every day. 

Beyond relationships with supporters, LPGM "walks the walk and talks the talk" when it comes to global partnerships. There is a clear and authentic commitment to helping our partners thrive by providing mental, spiritual, programmatic, and material support. 

I love that LPGM approaches partnerships by sharing power, showing up authentically, and checking in frequently. Building trust takes time and work, and I've seen that process in action over the past number of months. Our team is constantly in communication with our partners, despite physical distance, language barriers, and time zone struggles. We use WhatsApp, email, Zoom, and Teams to bridge the divide, and communication is ever present.

Our partners' work is deliberate, often thankless, and exhausting. This is why our support and solidarity are so crucial. Beyond financial support, our emotional and spiritual support helps them to keep going when the obstacles feel overwhelming. 

Our partners truly understand the importance of a comprehensive and creative approach to education for people at the margins. 

As I've gotten to know our partners in India, Tanzania, the Central African Republic, and Guatemala, I've been struck by their brilliance, ingenuity, and tenacity. They are providing access to education for people at the margins, but it's so much more than just education. They are local to the regions where they work, so they understand the cultural contexts, unique barriers, and pressing needs.

They are inspiring women, girls, and boys to dream and to believe in themselves. They provide safe shelter, so that girls have somewhere to go during school breaks. They are combatting the effects of extreme weather in lands ravaged by deforestation. They are teaching leadership skills and nonviolent communication to create a more peaceful and just world. They are adjusting schedules to allow women to both study and provide for their families. They provide joy and dignity to children who are part of ostracized social groups.

I've already seen the impact on the lives of the people served by LPGM's partners, as well as the impact on our sponsors and supporters. As I read stories about the girls, women, and boys served by our partners, I can viscerally feel their confidence, gratitude, and grace. I have also read testimonies from LPGM sponsors and supporters, and I can see the ways in which their lives have been enriched, especially after traveling with LPGM. From what I've seen, LPGM truly changes lives. 

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone in the LPGM community for welcoming me. I am looking forward to my next six months with LPGM, as I continue to bring you stories, news, and updates from our partners. I hope to meet more of you in person, and I am especially looking forward to eventually meeting our global partners and seeing their work in action. 

If you have a story idea to share with Shannon, please email her at shannon@lutheranpartners.org.