Migration begins long before someone reaches a border — in the loss of stability, opportunity, and trust that makes it impossible to stay.

For decades, USAID helped address those root causes by strengthening democratic institutions, supporting communities, and building stability before crises took hold. It was one of the few agencies designed to prevent displacement rather than respond to it.

In this clip, Jeremy Williammee, former USAID Director of Democracy and Governance for El Salvador and Central America, reflects on what happens when that work disappears.

Watch the full episode to hear our conversation.

What does it mean to lead with service, not fear?

In this episode, former USAID Democracy and Governance Director Jeremy Williamee shares how investing in local governments and community stability helped address the root causes of migration—long before people reached the border. From small-town New York to Central America, his story is a quiet reminder that lasting security comes not from walls or fear, but from opportunity, dignity, and trust in the places people call home.

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When USAID was dismantled, Ashley Vij was mid-call planning the rollout of one of the most promising HIV prevention tools in decades — Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection that could revolutionize access for women and hard-to-reach communities. In this episode, Ashley reflects on her path from Tucson to USAID, the power of unsexy investments like policy reform, and how she’s channeling loss into action through Root to Rise. A story of science, resilience, and the fight to keep lifesaving innovations within reach.

If you would like to learn more about the organization Root to Rise that Ashley co-founded with her former USAID colleagues check out her website HERE.

Annē Linn, a sixth-generation Montanan, shares how her faith and early exposure to child mortality statistics led her into global health. From Peace Corps Senegal to serving as a USAID Community Health Advisor with the President’s Malaria Initiative, she reflects on the simple, proven tools—bed nets, indoor residual spraying (IRS), medicine—that cut malaria deaths in half across 30 countries. For Annē, that achievement is the very definition of American greatness: saving lives.

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At just under two years old, Cathy Nguyen left Vietnam with her mother. On the very day Saigon fell, they landed in Hawaii, where they reunited with her father, who was studying for a master’s in public health on a USAID scholarship. That moment of upheaval and new beginnings shaped her family’s life and her own lifelong commitment to service.

Cathy’s story weaves together family legacy, global challenges, and the quiet power of giving back. Drawing on over 20 years of experience advancing humanitarian and public service programs across Africa, Asia/Pacific, and the U.S., she has served as a USAID staffer, PEPFAR Coordinator, and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. With deep roots in Honolulu and a family history shaped by displacement and opportunity, her commitment to service runs deep.

She shares personal stories about her family’s journey, the transformative role USAID scholarships played in their lives, and the core values of community, responsibility, and public service that have guided her path. Together, we explore USAID’s critical work in global health—from supporting HIV/AIDS programs and vulnerable families to pandemic preparedness—and the lasting impact these efforts have on communities worldwide and at home.

Cathy also reflects on the current challenges facing foreign aid, the consequences of funding cuts, and the small but meaningful ways individuals can contribute to positive change.

Tune in for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation about resilience, global interconnectedness, and the enduring spirit of giving back.

As a child on Chicago’s South Side, Lauren Murphy dreamed of becoming a nun to help others. Decades later, she found herself working for USAID, supporting the U.S. government’s global efforts to care for children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

In this conversation, Lauren reflects on what it meant to serve communities affected by HIV — designing programs that kept children healthy, safe, stable, and in school, while supporting caregivers with dignity, not pity. She shares stories from South African townships, lessons in Ubuntu, and the radical belief that the best solutions come from within communities themselves.

Lauren also opens up about the abrupt and devastating dismantling of USAID’s work, and the profound sense of betrayal felt by thousands of local leaders and colleagues left behind.

This episode explores what happens when systems collapse, what community truly means, and how small acts can still hold up a future.