About Stephanie M Fast
Supporting U.S. Humanitarian Protection Efforts
Thank you for connecting with me on this mission. Thank you for those who've asked how they can support my current, unexpected, chapter.
I've made a career of serving others. And, I continue to serve its aims, now pro bono. Here's why and how I'm doing it and how you might support me in supporting others.
HOW I GOT HERE::
I unexpectedly retired from federal service, in May 2024, and am long-awaiting a pension or SS (anticipated for March 2025), while in cancer treatment. This is my second certified cancer (by the CDC) as being due to toxic exposure on 9/11, as a first responder chaplain with the American Red Cross. I was posted, immediately, at the perimeter to the WTC Pile attending to courageous fire fighters and police officers who were involved in non-stop search and rescue efforts.
WHAT I LEARNED::
That experience changed the trajectory of my whole career. I served in the early stand-up of the Department of Homeland Security at various levels from individual adjudications on complex humanitarian protection matters up to serving toward policy reform and enhancing interagency cooperation work at the HQ level. All of this had me attending to humanitarian matters including global refugee, SIV, SIJ, and asylum cases and trends, with a concentration in Iraq and Afghanistan and translators for the U.S. military.
HOW I'M HELPING::
During this unexpected and protracted time away from my career, as I fight cancer FT, I am able to serve in a pro bono capacity to assist with urgent humanitarian protection issues, in well-known channels and with amazing colleagues still working professionally in the space. This means, we give sound advice and process help, dozens of hours per person, to serve individuals and families needing immediate help, or we refer them to vetted, helping channels.
For six months, I've lived off savings. If you'd like to "buy me a cup of coffee" to support my pro bono work, I'd be so grateful. Either way, thank you for supporting humanitarian protection efforts, in whatever way. Here's more about a wide-range of service provision out there, in no particular order:
Global Refuge | Welcome & hope since 1939
www.supportkind.org/who-we-are
Best,
Stephanie
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