We dedicate this edition of CERI Monthly to our beloved Mory Chhom, Director for Youth and Families since 2021, who will soon join Richmond Area Multi-Service Agency (RAMS) as their Director of Population Focus, Prevention and Early Intervention.

We share this auspicious news as we delight in a fabulous (slightly selfish) detail: Mory’s rejoining our Board (she was a member from 2020 to 2021).

See? The ❤️ is real.

To keep us from getting too emotional during our brief Q&A with her below, we sprinkled in some of her favorite songs (she LIVES music) alongside reflections from our CERI community.

🎵→ Fancy Clown ←🎵

🎵→ Tendme ←🎵

What’s CERI’s magical power?

An unapologetically bold approach to humanitarianism. Leading with love and empathy. Something so deep within each staff member that they go above and beyond to meet the needs of our community.

Resilience. I know this word is played-out, but it’s infectious.

An auntie will bring lunch, not a big lunch, and she will share it with everybody. This generosity, this is a community of sharing.

She’s saying, “Let us eat together.”

🎵→ Love I Can Feel ←🎵

What excites you about the new building?

The space is big and can house all programs at once. It has a lift, so anyone with mobility or accessibility needs can enter. Besides the great condition, I’m excited about all the windows!

Just looking out at the lake is therapeutic, the closeness to natural and built environments. If we want to take an auntie for boba, if a youth wants to do physical activities…it’s all there. We can just breathe.

🎵→ Your House ←🎵

What do you think your transition back to the Board is gonna look like?

I’m excited to be able to provide on-the-ground insights and perspectives, something the Board always wants to hear. I would love to be the staff liaison so that there are opportunities for the Board to truly and authentically feel community because it’s their mothers and aunties that CERI serves.

🎵→ One Two ←🎵

Is there something in Khmer that you want to share, something that embodies looking forward together?

“Samaki” which means “unity” or “solidarity.” It’s something we’re hoping to achieve, especially when you think of the tension and separation between Southeast Asian groups because of war and other history. We still see this. Samaki among us and other marginalized groups. An uncle said, “Before there were this or that people, there were Africans…we all come from the same family.”

🎵→ Give Me One Kiss ←🎵

🎵→ Flowers in the Pond ←🎵