Month: June 2017

I think the refugee children’s retreat at Pompanuck Farms, which ended about 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon, was about freedom. There is the freedom associated with coming to America, of course, but there is another, more personal kind of freedom that I saw over these last few days.

I came to know these children well, and I saw their shock and joy at simply being free for a few days – to swim, play basketball, sing, play Capture The Flag, soccer, to hike and ask about nature, to sit by a campfire late into the night, to knock some applies off of trees, to listen to their music, to tell stories and hear stories, to eat fresh and beautifully prepared food, to run around with three dogs that loved them, to be completely free, of the challenges in their own lives, and of the raging debate and anger over refugees and immigration in our country.

Today, we sat around a table in the Round House building, the centerpiece of the Pompanuck Farm Institute, and we each talked about what the retreat meant for each of us.

The kids -there were 14 young men plus Ali, Maya the goalie of their soccer team,  was sick and the other women came just for the day Wednesday – talked about being so carefree, about their love for Ali and for one another, about the good food Scott and Lisa Carrino prepared for them, about the beautiful woods around them.

The children all attend some classes at RISSE, the refugee and immigration center based in Albany. This group – now in the process of naming themselves the Bedlam Farm Warriors Soccer Team – is mostly from Southeast Asia and Africa, the other students coming to visit Bedlam Farm this summer are from all over the world.

They said they were grateful. They all slept on sleeping bags in the big Pompanuck Yurt, and wore every adult down to the bone with their energy and drive.

I spoke at the last circle gathering. I said I was grateful for their presence, happy to get to know them. I said I had come to love them and also my brother, Ali (Amjad Abdullah Mohammed), I said Maria and I were so happy to be a part of this, to help wash dishes and clean up and serve food and tell stories and walk in the woods with them.

I told them I love the songs they sang of courage and connection whenever they faced a difficult or strange situation. They have beautiful voices and open hearts. I told them I was the grandson of immigrants and refugees, much of my family did not make it over to the other side and perished.

I said I was committed to supporting them in their difficult transition, and I promised I would not go away. I told them Ali and I were plotting all of the time to help them, I told them about the new scholarship program we were funding to get them help with their passions and interests and needs. I told them I loved them, and was surprised to hear the words come out of my mouth.

Then they packed up, cleaned up and left. They gave me a group hug that nearly knocked me over. I was thrilled with the retreat, exhausted from the work involved, drained by their amazing energy, moved by their sweetness and good hearts. They will make wonderful citizens for our country, and I am proud to know them.

I meant what I said. I do love them, and I will not abandon them, Ali and I are magic together, we call one another “brother,” a term I don’t throw around lightly.

Fate and Red and Gus were an integral part of the retreat, the kids just loved them, and Fate ran herself into the ground keeping up with them, I think she wanted to get on the van and go home with them. Gus loved playing with them and racing around with them outside, he was happy to be picked up and cuddled. And he was cuddled.

These dogs do a lot of good.

They asked me if there is any way they could return to Pompanuck – the safest place many had yet known – again, and I said I would talk to Scott and Lisa about arranging for some day trips, one day retreats that did not involve cooking or overnight stay and other costs. We’ll see what we can do and how much it will cost. I’m thinking of two or three one-day visits. The trip was sponsored by the Children’s Refugee Fund, a new project with its own bank account I’ve opened.

If you wish, you can contribute by sending a donation to Jon Katz. P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816 or donating via Paypal Friends And Family, ID: [email protected].

This was one of the best things I have ever been involved with, I think these children got something important, something they needed.  I tried to tell them what a great gift this is to me, but I’m not sure they grasped it.

They also learned – thanks to the generosity of a woman named Helen – that the real America, a generous country where people care for other people apart from themselves, is alive and well, and welcomes them here.

It is a great gift to give, it feels so rich and deep and satisfying. Thanks again to the Army Of Good, we don’t just argue about what is good, we do good.

Today, the refugee ban affecting seven majority Muslim countries goes into effect in the United States. In Syria alone, more than 50,000 children have perished in the civil conflict there, in the other affected countries the United Nation estimates that are many thousands more.

For $1, you can send these children a message of hope.

Their hopes for safety and freedom have been shattered by the country they most looked to for help, the richest and safest country on the earth. The country that saved and welcomed my own grandmother, and many millions of other refugees.

The ban strands these children – all of them – in horrendously overcrowded and underfunded refugee camps or great danger in their in their own communities.

I have been blessed to get to know many of the refugee children who the United States has welcomed and saved. Some are spending the week at Pompanuck Farms on retreat. To know them is to love them.

They represent a microscopic fraction of those children in need, many of whom have now been condemned to great suffering by a country founded on freedom, openness and generosity.

We have always cared about people other than ourselves. It is chilling for me to try to comprehend the idea that many of the children I have come to know and love would not be in this country, or would be dead, or would be living in filth, poverty, disease and great terror.

What can I do?

I can work to do good.

I can continue my work with the refugee children, and I can send another $1 dollar to RISSE, the refugee immigrant and support center based in Albany, N.Y., the place that helps so many refugee children every day.

One dollar may seem like a small amount, but that’s not so. If a million people send a dollar, then it will make a great difference. RISSE has already received $1,000 in $1 messages of support. It will help keep the dream and spirit of America alive.

it is a simple statement that tells these children and their families that there is another America than the one they keep seeing on the news or that controls Washington.

We are a generous people, we care about other people than ourselves, our faith is not selfishness or hatred or callousness but empathy and freedom and sanctuary. That is our message. We don’t hate anyone or seek division or argument.

If you would like to send a message of hope to the refugee children and their families struggling to understand America, or to the children seeking safety and freedom all over the world, think about donating $1 to RISSE today and tell them it is for the vulnerable children of the world.

Tell them we support their work.

Tell them we welcome these children to America and hope to help them in every possible way. This message costs almost  nothing, is simple to do – Paypal or credit cards – and it will do a great deal of good. The Army Of Good is on the march, and gaining in focus and strength.

If you prefer, you can also support my separate work with with Ali (Amjad Abdullah Mohammed) with  these children by sending donations to me c/o Jon Katz, Bedlam Farm, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816 or via Paypal Friends and Family, [email protected]. The money will be used to support the children’s soccer team, for scholarships to support their passions and needs, and for summer classes, activities and day trips.

We do not stand for hate or argument, but for empathy and compassion. And liberty. You can send a $1 message of goodwill on this sad day right here.  You can say, if you wish, it is from an Army Of Good representing the true America.

Red spreads his magic wherever he goes, he has adopted these kids, refugees from RISSE, the refugee and immigrant center in Albany. They are on a two-and-a-half day retreat at the Pompanuck Farm Institute, made possible by the Army Of Good. They love Red, look for him, touch him and sit with him.

Many of these children have never seen a dog, or left their dogs behind. They are all animal lovers. We left Gus and Fate home tonight, didn’t wish to wear them out. We are all returning in the morning.

Gordon McQuerry, a local musician, and his friend Justin and the refugee kids rocked the pastoral Pompanuck Farm Retreat today, Gordon and a friend came to teach music and sound, he brought a full music studio with him, and they sand and drummed (he set up a drumming circle, paradise for teenage kids).

Gordon was wonderful with these kids, so was Justin, they ended up having lunch with us and coming back in the evening to oversee a game of Capture The Flag.

He thought them some notes,  how to use a microphone, how to get the most out of a drum. He gave them ideas about careers in music and they all sang some rap and rock and roll.

These children were going all day – hiking, swimming, playing soccer, tag, singing. Mandy Meyer-hill , a massage therapist and healer in my town, came by to show them muscle-stretching exercises and breathing to help with stress.

I don’t know how anybody was standing. I am barely standing.

When we left a fine pizza dinner at Pompanuck around 9, the kids were still going. Some other teachers came to help Ali, and he got to take a nap. I’ll be honest, I couldn’t make it through another fireside story session. I’m going in the morning – this is their last day – and will do a story-telling workshop if there’s time.

I loved having my community behind me for this retreat, they really came out in support of the kids.

I’ve set up a Children’s Refugee Fund to help these children acclimate to America, to get some tutoring if they need it, to take one day trips to the beach and parks in the summer, to get some spiffy soccer uniforms, to celebrate birthdays and special event so they can stay together in their very powerful and supportive community.

I’m going to try to negotiate an arrangement with Pompanuck for the children to come on Saturdays three or for times this summer – just for the day. We’ll see what happens.

They love this place, I can see it, they feel free and safe there, hour by hour, I see them opening up. Tonight, after dinner, I told stories of my farm and dogs for a half-hour or so, I am connecting with these kids, they are open and loving and bright. It took a while.

I’ve opened a special bank account to collect donations for these children, so I can separate them from my stuff and account for all of the money.I’m calling the account the Children’s Refugee Fund, and I hope the Army Of Good takes to it, because this is a good and worthy cause. A little bit of money goes a long way with them.

If you wish to donate to my project, you contribute by writing to my post office box, Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. You can also contribute via Paypal, Friends and Family, my ID is [email protected].

Thanks. More later. I am struggling to keep from nodding off. Tomorrow is the last day of the retreat, the kids will be  leaving after lunch and clean-up and a final circle. I miss them already. The dogs will certainly miss them.

Gus has had a first week unlike any other first  week. He has been all over time, been hugged by hundreds of people, ran around the refugee retreat at Pompanuck until he crawled into his crate for rest. He seems to be housebroken – two small accidents during the week (due to our distractions), he rides in the car, runs into his crate, sleeps through the night, has not caused a minute of sleeplessness, does not complain when left alone.

Gus has been socialized beyond the experience of any dog I have ever had or known, and has begun his work as a therapy dog at the Mansion Assisted Care Facility, where he has made two very joyous visits.

He adores Red and follows him around, he and Fate are still wary of one another – Fate steals his toys and keeps hers guarded under the dining room table. Red is a generous spirit, Fate not so much.

We took him to the retreat with a bunch of hyper-active teenagers the last few days and he had a  blast running around them, going over to a towel to sleep when he was tired. He is a curious and loving spirit, and we are delighted to have him. The vet say she is in perfect health and asks that we keep him away from other dogs and most people for another five or six weeks. She admits he will not be kept away from people, but we are keeping him away from other dogs.

I’ve been compiling some training tips I want to share with people, and I’ll do that later this week, once the retreat is over. Gus is a rock star on the Internet, for sure. I am focusing my next book on him, it will be called: “Gus And The Small And Big Lessons Of Bedlam Farm.”