United States

Familiar Faces

Ellin met some local refugees at a gathering in August 2016, and now helps them practice English weekly at their family home.

Writing, Photography by Garrett Gibbons
Unfamiliar Wm
Unfamiliar Wm
©2017 Garrett Gibbons / TSOS

Writing & Photography by Garrett Gibbons

January 2017

Ellin Spenser told me about her connection to the European refugee crisis when we recently met at a Thanksgiving event for refugees in Seattle. 


“My grandparents grew up on Lesvos,” she explained,“so when it became a focal point for refugee migration, I went to volunteer with my family in Dec 2015. The experience I had there has now colored everything else that I do.“

Ellin met some local refugees at a gathering in August 2016, and now helps them practice English weekly at their family home.  

“One of the most important things for volunteers is that they keep showing up, that they keep coming back,” she said. “Seeing familiar faces is such a big part of feeling welcome in our community. There are so many people in Seattle who want these refugees to feel welcome and safe here. So many people in this community will do anything we can to be there for them.”

Informed Consent

Our team members obtain informed consent from each individual before an interview takes place. Individuals dictate where their stories may be shared and what personal information they wish to keep private. In situations where the individual is at risk and/or wishes to remain anonymous, alias names are used and other identifying information is removed from interviews immediately after they are received by TSOS. We have also committed not to use refugee images or stories for fundraising purposes without explicit permission. Our top priority is to protect and honor the wishes of our interview subjects.

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