Serve Well Blog

"Justice, like people, has living impact" writes Nikkita Oliver ('08), who currently teaches poetry, debate and biblical leadership, and runs the chapel program at the Seattle Urban Academy (SUA). Serving for two years as a chaplain and service provider at the King County Youth Detention Center, Nikkita accompanied youth struggling in the system, and listened to their stories. "...The law should work to the benefit of the people,"writes Nikkita, "In my experience, I have not seen the law work as such." These troubling encounters have strengthened her resolve to bring legal literacy and empowerment to her south Seattle community.

She has a track record of developing community youth. An active musician and spoken word artist, Nikkita facilitates community spaces for youth to give voice to their world. A member of the 2011 KF Conference planning team, also she used her artistic gifts to lead the worship service. This month, Nikkita received the exciting news that she earned a full scholarship to attend the University of Washington Law School. The KF community celebrates Nikkita as she takes the next step on her journey of service leadership.

Event Announcement:

The Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship is pleased to invite you to a special author reading and signing. Andrea Palpant Dilley is the sister of Krista Colleague Nathan Palpant, and a long-time friend of the Foundation. We anticipate a lively and meaningful evening of connection and dialogue.

Faith and Other Flat Tires:

Saturday, March 31, 7:00 p.m.
The Green Bean Café
8533 Greenwood Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103
Visit andreapalpantdilley.com for more information.

In her deeply personal memoir, Andrea navigates the doubts that plague believers and skeptics alike: Why does God allow suffering? Why is God so silent, distant, and uninvolved? And why does church seem so dysfunctional?

Yet amid her skepticism, she begins to ask new questions: Could doubting be a form of faith? Might our doubts be a longing for God that leads to a faith we can ultimately live with?

About Andrea: Andrea grew up in Kenya as the daughter of Quaker missionaries and spent the rest of her childhood in the Pacific Northwest. She studied English literature and writing at Whitworth University. Her work as a writer has appeared in Rock and Sling, Geez, and Utne Reader, as well as the anthology Jesus Girls: True Tales of Growing up Female and Evangelical. Her work as a documentary producer has aired nationally on American Public Television. She lives with her husband and daughter in Austin, Texas.

"Andrea tells her story without becoming indulgent as a victim or preachy as the victor . . . It is so carefully and seamlessly crafted that, though I began the book thinking about her story, I ended up thinking about my own . . . Her ability to reflect on the past, to find meaning, and to see grace in people and events that seemed anything but gracious is what won me over. I suspect it will win you over too."
-Jerry Sittser

Related Documents

Faith and Other Flat Tires Download (2.11MB, pdf)

No. Seriously. Greetings!

Have you noticed the world is full of thousands of spoken and unspoken ways to meet, greet, or just acknowledge someone?
In intercultural service assignments, whether in U.S. neighborhoods or international settings, we adapt to local ways of meeting somebody, entering a room, or just passing a stranger.

Watch this video prepared by 09 Colleague Brandon Adams, and be sure to post your short paragraph response below:

Here's some quick food for thought from Sean Rawson, a volunteer with Jesuit Volunteers International:

"Nicaraguans almost always greet everyone in a room upon entering, either individually or collectively as a group. This usually means a handshake or a cheek kiss for old friends or new acquaintances alike. Even if somebody enters a conversation or a meeting, he or she generally interjects at least a "Buenas tardes" to those present. To my North American-educated mind, this initially came off as extremely rude; I'd be having a conversation or even presenting some point in a workshop, and someone would walk in late with a public "Buenas!" distracting me and the rest of the group from whatever was being discussed. As time went on during my first few months here, I began to realize that this wasn't just a group of inconsiderate youth, but in fact a great example of the beauty of cultural diversity.

Anyhow, I've been working on learning from my Nicaraguan co-workers, friends and acquaintances to recognize that human relationships are worth taking a few seconds out of a busy schedule to make someone feel recognized."

How about you? Share a custom or a story about the greetings you've learned or observed in service.

(Comments may not post immediately, as they'll go through a moderator to prevent spam.)

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The Krista Foundation is thrilled to announce the completion of Volume 5 of The Global Citizen: A Journal for Young Adults Engaging the World through Service.

This is our 10-Year Celebration Edition: a compilation of new and 'best-of' articles, combined with curricular questions for individual and small group/class reflection.
Staff, Colleagues, and Foundation Friends invested many hours producing this journal, and we truly believe it's worth reading and sharing!

With the Journal's Release, we want to thank ALL of you who submitted images for the
COVER ART PHOTO CONTEST... and most importantly unveil the WINNERS!

PLEASE CLICK HERE to view the winning photos & description/explanations.

The themes included: Joy Dance, US Urban Beauty, Global Beauty, Bridge Crossing. 
Congratulations Joe, Brandon, Chris, and Abdul!

Click to view the winners!