How one woman is making strides for equity and inclusion in her city – for everyone.
This is another entry in Canopy’s March series celebrating strong female leaders who support refugee resettlement and live out holistic, inclusive community leadership.
By Hannah Lee, Director of Community Engagement
In January, Governor Hutchinson called Arkansas’ leaders to make a choice regarding their reactions to refugee resettlement in the state. “All of you are leaders in your community; you have the ability to create fear or resolve fear.”
Jurena Storm is a leader who works to resolve fear.
This past winter, I spent the majority of my time reaching out to local government, city offices, and various community leaders to garner support for resettlement in Arkansas. At times, this work was discouraging and difficult, but ultimately, it was so rewarding; to see our elected officials and community leaders take a stand for refugees was such a beautiful reminder of who we can be in the U.S.
One such conversation stands out vividly in my mind. It was a cold December day when I got the call from Fort Smith’s mayor’s office. I answered the call to find Jurena Storm, a staff member in the mayor’s office, on the other end. My heart sped up as I readied myself to ask the pressing question: will Mayor McGill’s office support resettlement in Arkansas?
Jurena’s response was quick.
“Of course. What else can we do? How else can we support Canopy?”
For Jurena, community development and leadership is a way of life, and standing alongside vulnerable communities is instinctual. She is passionate about restoring and unifying her community —and that includes all members of the community.
Jurena has worked in the public and non-profit sectors, which gave her a unique insight into the shortcomings of institutional governance. Now, Jurena is making strides in her community of Fort Smith to build a stronger, more inclusive community where everyone feels welcomed and has access to community resources.
“Holistic community development has the power to change the trajectory and outcomes of a society. It can give hope to the hopeless and shed light in dark places. To me that is what community is all about. Pulling up the man next to me so that we can climb a little higher together. ”
Her perspective is unique: “A community is no different than the human body. The body has different parts and each part has a different function. When one part doesn’t perform its assigned function, the entire body suffers.” The same, she says, is true with any community. A community is made up of intertwined individuals, woven together. “We must realize and understand that our actions or inaction has an effect on everyone and everything around us.”
And she asserts that refugees should be intimately involved in these community processes. “I believe everyone deserves a chance; an opportunity to live in peace and unafraid. If that can’t be accomplished in your native country there should be an option. America was built on the idea of an option. An option to resettle and begin life anew unafraid and in peace.
Jurena traces her stance on inclusivity and equity back to the founding of the U.S.
“Just think about those who sat at the table during the development of the Constitution. Different life experiences, different beliefs and different perspectives crafted a document that has survived for over two centuries. And to this very day we honor and respect the individuals who drafted those words.”
So what is her advice for other women who are working to become leaders in their own communities?
“You can do anything you want to do. It will take work, hard work. People will discourage you. You will fail at times. You will be looked over, not appreciated and sometimes misused. Stand firm…then go do it.
The sky is not the limit, you are.”
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