Stories

An email arrived the way so many of our connections do. Someone knew someone, who knew someone, who knew The Off Ramp and Threads by Nomad. A physician’s assistant working in Southeast Asia had met two women with real sewing and embroidery skills, and she wanted to introduce us. Priscilla and Mary live in a place shaped by guerrilla warfare. They have been displaced more times than we can count. Mary has embroidery skills. She has embroidered the labels for our women's clergy

As he logged onto our Zoom call, we saw gray walls and a door behind him. Bernard told us he was still at the university, having just finished an exam, and realized it was time for the call. He didn't want to miss talking to us, so he sat down on the floor right there to visit. Bernard is a refugee from Afghanistan currently attending a university in Pakistan. He fled his home country after witnessing the murder of his father and his brother. He was being sought by the Taliba

Every Wednesday morning, Nell logs onto Zoom and before she can even say hello, she hears it. "How are you, Mum? I am glad to see you, Mum!" It doesn't matter how hard the week has been. That greeting resets something in her every time. That conversation has continued for over a year now. We hoped to welcome this family to the United States. When that door closed, they were resettled in New Zealand instead. Their daughter just turned one. She was born in a country that took t

I've been in an Ann Patchett phase lately. Not her novels (though, yes, those too), but her essays.

For International Women’s Day, we set out to do something simple for four weeks. We wanted to introduce you to women founders whose work we’re honored to carry through Threads by Nomad , and to make the story behind each product easier to see. Each week, we’ve shared an interview , highlighted the brand’s work, and offered a small, time-limited discount as a practical way to support what these founders are building. This final feature is with Stacy Hollingsworth , founder of

International Women’s Day gave us a reason to start something we’ve wanted to do for a while. For four weeks, we’re sharing interviews with women founders whose work we’re honored to carry through Threads by Nomad . Each feature is a simple introduction to the person behind the products, along with a small, time-limited discount during her week. This week, we’re featuring Sharla Shaver and The Master’s Handicrafts , a social enterprise connected to women artisans in Kyrgyzs

Starting on International Women’s Day, The Off Ramp is publishing a four-week series featuring women founders we’re honored to know and work with through our marketing and commerce arm Threads by Nomad . Each week, we’re sharing a short interview, introducing the brand behind the products, and offering a small discount to help more people discover their work. Last week, we opened the series with Kari Masson of Kayoong, whose work creates flexible, dignified employment for wom

International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate women who are building bold, practical, life-giving work in their communities. This year, we’re marking IWD by launching a four-week series featuring female founders we’re honored to know and work with through Threads by Nomad , the social enterprise that helps fund The Off Ramp’s mission. Each week, we’ll share a founder interview, tell the story behind her work, and spotlight a small collection of products on the Threads by

We’re nearing the end of our stay in Kampala, and I am truly pooped! But it has been worth every moment, every conversation, every project. Today was filled with experiences I wish each of you could have heard with your own ears and seen with your own eyes—because you would have witnessed how your support of The Off Ramp and Threads by Nomad is making a real difference through our partnerships with Amani Sasa and Refuge and Hope. We began the day with the basket weavers at Am

I met Vivian and Jovan through a networking group I participate in—a small gathering that meets once a month via Zoom to share ideas about economic empowerment strategies in Uganda. One of the women in the group introduced me to this remarkable young couple. Vivian and Jovan recognized a serious need among school-age girls: access to basic sanitary and hygiene items. When girls begin their monthly cycles, many stay home because they don’t have what they need. The missed days

I arrived at the center earlier than usual—we had a full day ahead. The other team members each wanted a simple dress made by the women of Sewing for Hope , so the work began! First, Elizabeth taught everyone how to make patterns. I learned a lot! It’s not a skill I’ve ever really practiced. I’ve made a few patterns before, but nothing extensive. Then came measuring—something I was ready for, thanks to lessons from our former master tailor in Houston, Haydar. The afternoon wa

We came to Uganda for two reasons: the retreat you’ve hopefully already read about , and Sewing for Hope —a program within the center Refuge and Hope. We’ve been working with Sewing for Hope since around 2016 or 2017. The goal is much like ours at The Off Ramp: to create opportunities for economic stability and, in doing so, reduce the need for displacement. We partnered with them as mentors and marketers—offering guidance on improving production and helping sell their creat

Our retreat for the women of Refuge and Hope grew out of concerns identified during our last trip to Uganda just two and a half years ago. The original plan was to invite someone who could address reproductive health. But when an Ebola outbreak occurred last January, the trip was postponed—and that person was no longer able to participate. So, what to do? Around that time, I had completed a training called Strengthening Families. The course teaches skills that help parents

Oy vey! The journey! It was quite an adventure getting here. We were on our way to Northern Virginia to catch our flight out of Dulles when we learned that our connection from Istanbul to Uganda had been canceled. So, we began preparing for an unexpected overnight stay in Istanbul. The challenge? Each of us had three pieces of luggage—one for ourselves, one for the retreat we were leading, and one carry-on packed just for the night. At check-in, the agent at Dulles decided t

Where are we? Where are we going? I helped my grandchildren with homework and piano practice. Then I took the dog and grand-dog on a...

She doesn’t have a case number. She desperately wishes she did. Her son Bernard* would love to secure one. It is too dangerous. Bernard...

“Where do we go from here?” The question filled our minds with seemingly no solution. Zachary* and Maryam* were safe in New Zealand. We...

On Monday an urgent message came to my WhatsApp. The leader of a non-profit that we had been partnering with informed us that it appeared...

As he logged onto the Zoom call, we saw a beautiful blue sky behind him. Bernard* was at a local market in Pakistan when he realized it...

It is uplifting each Wednesday morning when we log on to zoom. They are usually waiting for us, even though we are right on time. Their...