Katelyn Skye Bennett

Hometown: Connecticut

Bachelor in Sociology and Journalism Certificate from Wheaton College, IL. Pursuing MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies at DePaul University currently.

I am a beloved daughter of God, alive among verdant oak trees and when dancing in the indigo sky among the stars. Always seeking home myself, I work as an employment counselor in refugee resettlement, with the goal of working with refugees and other forced migrants in the Democratic Republic of Congo. When not at my day job, I’m editing for Intersected Project (intersectedproject.org), investing in my graduate degree, bouldering in one-to-two-hour increments at the delightful climbing gym, or possibly, just maybe, doing something social and food-oriented with friends!

Why did I decide to inspire change in the community?

To be honest, I don’t often feel that I have, or that I do. I feel like I’m stuck within the existing systems, often helping individuals to access some resource in the moment, but not able to move much past that small step. This goes for my paid and unpaid work. I do believe it’s valuable, and am in my field because I care about people, yet it’s often frustrating due to the limiting structures in place. My best friend Layla and I decided to begin Intersected Project (intersectedproject.org) after George Floyd’s murder, when the momentum for racial justice seemed to be continuing longer than usual. We wanted to maximize on that and help to educate and empower our communities to continue pursuing racial equity in all the ways they could! And while we would love for the impact to continue widening, whatever social change we are inspiring will be a better benefit than none at all. What inspires me to persevere is the love of God and my love for people, all made with dignity and grace in God’s image. And sometimes, I seek change because I love myself, too, and have higher hopes for both my future and the future of those who may come after me.

My day job as an employment counselor has me supporting refugees, asylees, and parolees from the immigrant communities in my city through job placements and other employment services. I enjoy engaging in job readiness training, involving hints of career coaching even as I engage with the immediate employment needs, and love when we can work together creatively to organize and complete a job application. Writing resumes is FUN. It’s also fulfilling to build relationships with my clients, lifegiving when I am able to see their faces or hear their voices, whether in person or virtually. Caring for my clients as whole people is something I find valuable and view as a form of community support, since connecting clients to employer contacts and other resources is of course reliant upon the local community itself.

I also appreciate that my Episcopal church is so involved in the community through its anti-racism team, support for refugee families, specific land acknowledgements, focus on the practical nature of faith, space created for local musicians, frequent outdoor festivals, and so forth. While I am only tangentially connected to these committees and events, I am grateful to worship in a space where people can come in all their fullness and to be part of a church body that ministers so incarnationally to the immediate community. To answer the question about what I enjoy most and why, I like the church’s outdoor activities the best because we have a beautiful yard and garden there and can soak up a little bit of sun.

What I would advise the younger me is……

You are a treasure. You are beautiful, created with dignity and intentionality, and there is no shame in your body or existence. Your worth is not in what you do, how much you do, or if you are a “leader” or straight A student. You are loved and held secure by the Creator God, who is with you, and are a delight simply because you are YOU. You are worth knowing intimately, worth being invested in by others, worth taking care of yourself. Stay open, and continue to dream big.

A fun fact that I would like to share with the Inspiring2BMore family …

Both therapy and medicine are wonderful supports for anxiety and depression! Whether you’ve been through something traumatic or simply have a lot going on, therapy is a blessing that only grows with time. And there’s absolutely no shame in medicine to help treat mental illness. In fact, it can significantly increase your quality of life! Additionally, as someone who lives in my head, I’ve found bouldering a marvelously effective way to get out of my incessant concerns and into my body. Another interesting fact about me is that I have a sweet old lady cat named Bugs and six cacti: Isabella, Mirabelle, Samalina, Rosie, Lucy, and Salina.

Interesting experience while serving in the community …

I recently took my client to pick up his LINK card, which is essentially a debit card with income-based federal food assistance given through the SNAP program. This visit allowed me to see social services from a new perspective as we waited in line in the office.

Some folks came in person only to be told they had to go home and do something online or wait for the mail. Others were able to get what they needed, having completed the previous bureaucratic steps. The locals spanned multiple generations and cultures, and they all waited patiently despite the continual hurdles they faced in accessing food assistance, even while there. They were good and kind people. I met a case worker from another resettlement organization, and my client recognized someone from their home country and was able to have a moment of connection.

While my paid job is in employment, my coworkers and I fill in the gaps for each other when necessary, and this week, that cooperative spirit allowed me the experience of learning more about the tedious process of gaining access to SNAP benefits — something 21,877,139 households have navigated thus far in 2021, according to national data from the program.

In the words of the Eli Young Band, “Keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart.”