one week, two events: how will you connect with us?

These are busy days at The Off Ramp!

We've got so much going on we can barely keep it all straight!

So, assuming you're not paying as close attention as we are to our events 😆, we thought it might help to remind you that we have two awesome opportunities to connect with us this week.

The first event starts tomorrow, Thursday, September 17 at 7 p.m.:

We have been planning this event since earlier this summer! 

We have worked with our friend Cynthia Aulds at the Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking to produce a virtual gathering that will address the increased risk of trafficking due to the pandemic. We will specifically address the increased vulnerability of children and teens.

This gathering is for EVERYONE—whether you work in the field of anti-human trafficking or just want to learn more!

Nell will facilitate the conversation. And Christen will be logging on, too. This is an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the situation as well as to ask any questions you have!

Register here.

The second event is related to our fundraising efforts for the Seminario Intercultural Mayense (SIM) in Chiapas.

Don't stop reading. You don't have to donate to participate and that's not all this is about. 

Saturday morning we are hosting a series of three Facebook Live conversations to raise awareness about SIM and its work.

First, Christen will be joined by her friend Rev. Colin Holtz to chat about their visits to SIM (9:30 a.m.). Then Nell will interview SIM's founder (10:30 a.m.) and they'll chat about why she saw the need for the work SIM does. Finally, you'll get to meet SIM's current coordinator Dalia Juarez (11:30 a.m.). Each interview will only last about 15-20 minutes.

For a glimpse into the lives of the indigenous communities living in remote parts of the mountains in Southern Mexico, tune into one, two, or all three!

There's more information about this particular project and the events associated with it in the graphic above. But since we're focused on what's happening this week we'll leave it at that for now.

RSVP here.

One more quick thing: We dropped a new episode of the podcast a couple of days ago. It's a really fantastic interview with Dalia (SIM's coordinator) to help our listeners, readers, subscribers, donors get a better feel for what it is they do. We talk about why members of SIM's team have become de facto school teachers during COVID, how hospitals aren't an option when the people they serve get sick with the virus, and the misconception that all Mexicans speak Spanish. You can listen to the fascinating episode here.

Alright, that's what we've got!

We hope to "see" you at one or both of these events this week—without you, none of this is possible!

With gratitude,

Nell and Christen