Mia thanks Katie-Jay and Gabriel for their humanity

By Mia Murakami Cho

Editor-in-Chief

I met Katie-Jay Scott and Gabriel Stauring during the summer of 2020 through my internship under their organization, iACT. iACT is a nongovernmental organization based in Hermosa Beach that works to help refugee communities affected by mass atrocities. From my very first Zoom call with Katie-Jay and Gabriel, I saw their genuine love and passion for their work. I remember feeling taken aback; the authenticity and sincerity in their desire to support others was something I had truly never seen before. 

Katie-Jay and Gabriel didn’t express interest in the petty matters our world seems to be so engulfed in today like politics, money or gossip; instead, they spent their time working on what truly mattered to them: advancing  human rights for all. Beyond the immeasurable impact they had on refugee communities, they inspired a unique perspective in everyone they worked with, including myself.

Their honest and humble approach to humanitarian work first inspired me when I was fifteen and continues to inspire me today. They saw the communities they worked with as human before they saw them as refugees. They saw me as human, even when I made mistakes. They based their work on the true needs of the communities rather than what they believed the communities needed, which is a refreshingly unique approach to humanitarian work. In our current, divided world, we need more of Katie-Jay and Gabriel’s spirit:  they were selfless, compassionate, considerate, and true. I am beyond lucky to have known Katie-Jay and Gabriel for the time that I did. I know that their legacy lives on through their family, children, iACT community and close friends. 

Every day, I remind myself to live like Katie-Jay and Gabriel. I hear Katie-Jay telling me to “trust the process” when I feel discouraged or saddenned by the disappoinments that feel so crushing. I hear Gabriel reminding me, “humanity before politics,” while I try to focus on what unites us, rather than our differences. Katie-Jay and Gabriel, thank you for your humanity; thank you for your impact.