š§ Episode Summary:
In this episode, host Robert Artisciuto sits down with Ryan Pennington, Executive Director of the Refugee Language Project. Ryan shares his journeyāfrom growing up in Washington State to studying linguistics and Bible translation at Dallas Baptist University, then serving as a missionary in remote villages of Papua New Guinea. He reflects on the challenges of firstācontact language work, the power of cultural humility, and the life-changing lessons learned on that mountain ridge. After returning to Amarillo in 2016, Ryan channeled those insights into welcoming displaced families, launching āThe Placeā community center, and expanding the Refugee Language Projectās English classes, interpreting services, and cross-cultural trainingsāall driven by the belief that language is the doorway to genuine welcome and community flourishing.
š Resources & Mentions:
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Refugee Language Project: https://refugeelanguage.org
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āThe Placeā Multicultural Community Center
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Panhandle Gives Campaign: https://panhandlegives.org
š£ Call to Action:
If you believe everyone has something to offer, consider volunteering as an English tutor, interpreter, or cultural ambassador through the Refugee Language Project. Subscribe to This Is the Panhandle for more stories of community, connection, and the surprising lessons we learn when we truly welcome our neighbors.
