The Off Ramp

06/16/2026

There's something special about sitting down with someone and passing along a skill that could change their future.

That's exactly what happened when Nell visited our friends at Make Welcome Refugee Sewing School and taught one of our graduates how to make a t-shirt quilt. These quilts are more than a craft project. They're blankets made from memories, carrying the worn-in fabrics of a life already lived, and they make a meaningful gift for graduates or anyone marking a milestone worth celebrating.

For this woman, it's also a skill she can now use to generate income on her own terms.

If you'd like to have a t-shirt quilt made, please reach out to us!

06/09/2026

Islamabad. New Zealand. The United States.

The Off Ramp has been working to secure safe shelter for Afghan refugee families still waiting in Islamabad, helped one family successfully resettle in New Zealand, and helped another family resettle here in the United States.

It's quiet work, and it doesn't always make for a tidy story. But there are families who are safe and building new lives because a small group of people stayed with it.

06/03/2026

What does it mean to be a "worthless servant"? Not what you'd think.

Our co-founder Christen wrote something personal this week—about Ann Patchett, about the people doing the real work at The Off Ramp, and about why she can't stop talking about all of it. Pull up a chair in her imaginary hotel ballroom.

I've been in an Ann Patchett phase lately. Not her novels (though, yes, those too), but her essays.

05/28/2026

Appreciate this group of young men who helped at the Furniture Bank last evening! If you would like a volunteer opportunity, we have more organizing to do!

At Oakland, we strive to be "the presence of Christ at the crossroads of life" and last night, these incredible volunteers lived that mission beautifully. 💛

They spent their evening preparing donated items for The Furniture Bank, helping ensure that neighbors in need have the everyday essentials so many of us take for granted, from couches and tables to plates and frying pans.

Thank you for showing up and serving with such generous hearts. This is what community looks like.

05/27/2026

When families are forced to start over, they don't just need resources. They need each other.

That's why The Off Ramp helped launch two Strengthening Families support groups, one for Dari speakers and one for Spanish speakers, where women gather to learn coping and parenting skills in a space that truly feels like theirs. What begins as a circle of strangers becomes a community of women who see one another, support one another, and grow together.

Rebuilding a life is hard enough. No one should have to figure it out alone.

04/28/2026

Board member Sairah Malik is truly one of our favorite people.

Brilliant and compassionate, she leads by example. We are so grateful for her continued commitment to The Off Ramp, and to the refugee community in Houston and beyond!

We’re thrilled to introduce our LAST 2026 Women in Medicine honoree… 💫

Dr. Sairah Malik 👁️‍🗨️

A visionary optometrist and co-founder of Pro-Optix Optometry & Dry Eye Center, Dr. Malik has helped turn a bold dream into one of Houston’s leading dry eye specialty practices—breaking barriers and transforming patient care along the way.

From her roots in Vancouver to becoming a nationally recognized leader (named one of the 26 Optometrists to Watch in 2026 👏), Dr. Malik continues to lead with innovation, compassion, and purpose.

But her impact doesn’t stop there—through her work with The Off Ramp, she’s helping refugees, immigrants, and survivors rebuild their lives right here in Houston. 💛

Leader. Founder. Mother. Changemaker.

🔥 Catch her on the runway TOMORROW at our Women in Medicine Runway Show—you won’t want to miss it!

Optometry

03/26/2026

"The flowers did not replace the tables the women remembered from home, but they honored the meaning those tables carried.

Participants later reflected on how they might create small moments of beauty, prayer or shared reflection with their children during Ramadan, even in unfamiliar surroundings in a new country."

The Off Ramp has partnered in implementing a program helping families who are displaced to cope with trauma and stress.

This blog post so beautifully captures the spirit and impact of the program as on this particular day in one of the Strengthening Families groups, the facilitator prepared the room differently for her group of Afghan women.

By Sue Smith It was Ramadan, and the women in the Strengthening Families group spoke quietly about what they missed. Ramadan is the holiest month in Islam, a season of...

03/11/2026

In our latest Strengthening Families class we learned how to take intentional rest for ourselves and with our families.

We listened to music and relaxed. We did henna for each other and a friend of mine pointed out that is also healthy touch. There is so much laughter in this group. I am sad to see it end in a few short weeks.

Strengthening Families is a program designed to help refugee and immigrant women build stable, thriving lives for their families.

How do you take intentional rest to help your own family thrive?

03/08/2026

We’re so grateful for the leadership and heart behind this year’s Ramadan project.

Through an “Adopt a Family for Ramadan” effort organized by —with guidance from her mom , a member of The Off Ramp board—10 refugee families have already been sponsored. Working with our partners at Interfaith Ministries in Houston, donors are helping meet real needs for refugee families in the form of groceries, household items, and even rental assistance.

This video shows a glimpse of the iftar dinner hosted in collaboration with as part of the celebration. It’s a beautiful reminder of what happens when community comes together across traditions to care for one another.

Thank you, Alaya and Sairah, for the time, coordination, and compassion you’ve poured into this work. We’re honored to work with you.

01/05/2026

In December we began a new program called “Strengthening Families”. This particular group is with a group of women from Afghanistan. I am humbled as I listen to them help and encourage each other even as they learn techniques to decrease stress and deal with trauma.