OpinionPoliticsLiving FaithNonviolence and Peace

Hope Is Not Optimism; Hope Is Defiance

By Marion Sarkisian Ramón Pareja
Protests against ICE activities in Portland continue. An interfaith solidarity march, organized by churches in the area, marched silently to and past the ICE building on Southwest Macadam Avenue, lay flowers, and then gathered for a brief prayer service on Aug. 25, 2025. Credit: John Rudoff/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
Oct 28, 2025
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Working at a peacebuilding organization during times of war, genocide, and political upheaval is a strange kind of calling. At Telos, where I serve as director of marketing and communications, our mission is to equip communities to be peacemakers—working across lines of difference to help all people live in safety, freedom, and dignity. 

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Protests against ICE activities in Portland continue. An interfaith solidarity march, organized by churches in the area, marched silently to and past the ICE building on Southwest Macadam Avenue, lay flowers, and then gathered for a brief prayer service on Aug. 25, 2025. Credit: John Rudoff/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect