from Darfur to Adventure Village

The Lomaurro family - who have given us Lauren (a great VC of Lakota a few years back) and now Nick (this summer's Newark Partnership Coordinator) - met two families in recent months. One family consisted of a mom and a daughter Malaz who are political refugees from the Darfur region of Sudan; Malaz's mom is active in the effort to bring the Sudanese regime to justice for the crime of genocide. The other family, Gigi (mom) and Jeanne (daughter), are from Egypt, also in the U.S. under special political circumstances. These two families live in a shelter near where the Lomaurros' live. Well, of course Lisa Lomaurro got the idea that the girls, Malaz and Jeanne, would enjoy two weeks at camp. She called Jerry Huncosky and arrangements were very hastily arranged, including financial assistance. The girls just finished two weeks in Adventure Village and loved it. We chatted with them on their way out a few hours ago and I snapped this not-very-good picture: from right to left, Gigi, Jeanne, Lisa, Malaz, and Jerry. If someone asks me why we do what we do here, I'm just going to tell them about Lisa's generosity, Jerry's flexibility, the two moms' courage, and Malaz and Jeanne's two weeks of wilderness, tent-camping, and fun.