August 27, 2021 — We hope this finds you at complete peace with the world today. As with so many of our cards, this one has an interesting backstory and — at the close of another week of unimaginable hardship in Afghanistan — it feels right to share it and a sampling of peace-filled products with you today.

Contributing Cardie Mary Morini penned the message back in 2017. Once we’d found just the right image to go with it, we emailed Mary to ask who she might like to dedicate the new card to. She responded, “I’d like to honor refugees who’ve fled turmoil for peace.”

Our Creative team was accustomed to contributing cardies dedicating their cards to friends or family members (i.e., To My Brother), so this dedication took us by surprise. At the same time that we replied we would be happy to print it on the card back, we asked Mary to please tell us the story behind it. She explained that it was inspired by all the brave refugees she’d met while volunteering at the International Institute of St. Louis, “a pioneer in the field of diversity and this region’s Welcoming Center for New Americans.”

Above you see Mary (top right) and two photos she’s sent us over the years of people “I’ve had the pleasure to meet at the International Institute” and particularly admired. Pictured are “two remarkable women who fled Afghanistan back in 2019. And three wonderful folks who fled Sudan/Congo back in 2017. All started new lives here in St. Louis,” Mary said. And with each pic, she was always good to remind us, “Refugee’s photos and their countries of origin may be published, but never names.”

“We meet refugees at the airport and transport them to their new homes,” the International Institute’s website describes. “Depending on the needs of the refugee family, initial services can include registration for English classes for adults and public school for children, job program registration, community orientation, and healthcare access.” The Institute also offers services that address post-traumatic stress, grief, depression and other responses related to migration-related trauma.

Ever the cardie, over the years Mary has used the 21 card designs she’s written (yes, 21!) to help new Americans build confidence and English skills. She once took cards to a gathering of immigrants at the Institute explaining, “I thought it would be a fun way for these brave and beautiful refugees to practice English if they each read a card aloud, then explain what the words mean to them. If they got it right, the card was theirs! (I knew they’d all do just fine.)”

While we may not be as clever, giving, and caring as Mary, we all surely wish we could do more to end the violence and aid in the resettlement of the Afghan people longing for peace and safety. Honoring Refugees Who’ve Fled Turmoil for Peace is still the wish on the back of this card, as it is in Mary’s heart.

As the International Institute states so beautifully, “The only way to create an inclusive society is for each individual to make it a daily choice, a daily dedication, to create space at the table. Visit with groups or individuals with whom you might not have a regular opportunity to interact. Experience a shared meal. All the ways we can see and share with others leads us one step closer to inclusivity and acceptance.”

Thank you, Mary, for helping light the way for our Cardie Community.