We Exist to empower and equip the refugee to thrive in their community; believing that when the whole person is well and thriving so is the community.
Our Story:
Alex and Erika share a passion for other cultures, and peoples across the globe and have lived and worked cross culturally since 2002. After being married and living in Alex’s home country of Brazil they immigrated to the United States to pursue formal education, and build their family. Erika holds a B.A. in Intercultural studies with a minor in Bible and Theology. Her Master’s degree is in Leadership with an emphasis in Executive Coaching from William Jessup University. Between them they speak four languages, have lived on four different continents, and have traveled to more than 22 different countries solidifying their mutual commitment to continued education, and personal, and professional growth.
Refuge and Strength was founded in 2020 following 18 years of experience with international and intercultural humanitarian aid, and program development. Alex has developed programs for sports and music in Africa, South America, and North America. His work in Africa gave opportunity for many youth to practice sports, and receive training, and mentoring where there was no such program available. His programs have always served to empower others to express themselves in healthy ways through sport, and art. Erika developed a child sponsorship program in Africa supporting children with the least access to education. Erika’s work resulted in the more than quadrupling in size of the primary school from 60 students to over 400 current students allowing for more teachers to be employed, and many more students to attend class. Additionally her work paved the way for many more programs to be developed within the school which continue until this day. This allowed the school to be recognized by the local government to become an official educational institution in that country.
In the USA, Alex and Erika have devoted themselves to educating others on inter-faith friendships that are honoring, as well as resettling numerous refugee families in their local city. What began with provision of practical assistance to refugees eventually grew into an opportunity to invite many others into community, to learn from as well as alongside one another, together progressing toward the fullness of life that we all dream of having. Alex and Erika strive to see those who have come here as refugees make their dreams reality, and to truly be at home here in their new country.