NawRuz Celebration Luncheon and Enkindled Souls
The 2025 NawRuz celebration included our second “Enkindled Souls event. The project originated from an individual initiative inspired by paragraph 4 of the December 2021 message from the Universal House of Justice describing “enkindled souls” who are raised up through the processes of the plan in the community building process. The objective of the local project is to acknowledge persons and/or organizations in the Thurston County community whose efforts to serve others embodied some of the qualities described in the UHJ message. They are those lighted torches who shine in the heaven of humanity.
Recognized at the event:
Jennifer Miller
Jennifer chose teaching as a course of study in 1988. That choice has brought her to serve in the education field at both the grade school and college level. For the past 5 years she has assisted Afghan refugees to settle in Olympia. She demonstrates a belief in the oneness of humanity that goes far beyond words. For example, Jennifer gave her single dwelling to a family and moved to a smaller space; gave her car to a family that needed transportation; is working to support others who are perilously caught in the web of international affairs. Jennifer is committed to the prosperity of all; has an outlook that everyone is a potential partner with which to collaborate; is committed to remain respectful of the freedom of conscience of every soul and the necessity never to impose her own standards on others.
Belinda Hill
Retired professor of education at St. Martin University, provided online education for students who are deprived of access to learning in places like Iran. She is an artist whose work has been displayed locally at libraries and college Belinda is committed to the prosperity of all; recognizes that the welfare of individuals rests in the welfare of society at large. She harmonizes perspective; recognizes that the welfare of individuals rests in the welfare of society at large; and abstains from partisanship and the contest for wordly power.
Maria del Consuelo Guijosa
Consuelo contributes every day to improving the lives of countless people in our area with her work as Program Manager for Sound Learning. She assists people who wish to broaden their language skills by setting up programs and by connecting volunteer tutors with students. Consuelo is well known for her hard work, compassion, and expertise. She is kind, she works to accommodate the needs of volunteers and students. She is committed to the prosperity of all; recognizes that the welfare of individuals rests in the welfare of society at large
Claudia Rodriguez
First generation immigrant from Mexico whose single parent paid for Claudia and her siblings to be brought across the Mexican border. Despite unimaginable hardships Claudia earned a 4.0 GPA in high school, worked a part-time job and took care of her siblings while her mother worked. Claudia later earned a Masters in Education from St. Martins University. Because shenever forgot how her school system failed to assist her post high school education Claudia decided to accept a job in which she served families called Supporting Partnerships in Education in Beyond. While this program was created to support students and families from the Somali community the demographics swelled to include Black and African American, Hispanic and Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander, Immigrant and refugee, Indigenous and Native American, Low Income, Individuals with disabilities, Youth and Children. Claudia along with another parent has formed a non-profit called Helping Achieve Community Connections, Empowerment, and Renewal. They see themselves as “boots on the ground” to help others. Claudia transcends differences, harmonizes perspectives, promotes consultation for decision making, has a view that everyone is a potential partner with whom to collaborate, believes in the inherent oneness of humanity.
