On this episode of HomeTown, we are joined by some of our very own Episcopal Migration Ministries team members, Allison Duvall and Zoë Bayer, who will help us break down the different types of sponsorship and how community groups can get involved. Many efforts to welcome our newest neighbors are happening in the form of co-sponsorship, community sponsorship, and Sponsor Circles– but as folks who are called to this work, we want to know: what exactly is the difference between them all? Join us for this illuminating breakdown of sponsorship.

About our Guests

Allison Headshot

Allison Duvall serves on Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s staff as Senior Manager for Church Relations and Engagement for Episcopal Migration Ministries, the Church’s refugee resettlement agency and migration ministry. In her role, she oversees EMM’s church engagement work and programs, including Neighbor to Neighbor and the Asylum & Detention Ministry Network, and works with EMM’s resettlement team on the development of new affiliate partners. She resides in Lexington, KY with her husband Clay, an attorney.

Zoë Bayer is a Post-Arrival Program Officer at Episcopal Migration Ministries. Zoë provides technical assistance, monitoring and evaluation, and support to EMM’s national network of affiliate offices for the Reception and Placement and Matching Grant programs, federally funded programs which support newly arrived refugees. Zoë’s portfolio focuses on technical assistance regarding community sponsorship and volunteer engagement for local affiliate offices and new community partners. Zoë joined EMM in 2019 and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

EMM’s Neighbor to Neighbor Program
Our Neighbor to Neighbor program is an official Sponsor Circle Umbrella under the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans! **We are in urgent need of sponsor circles to support the move of Afghan newcomers into welcoming communities. You can play a critical role. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form

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To support the ministry of welcome, you can make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999.

Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com