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On this episode, we speak with Rev. Chris McNabb, the Program Officer for Recruitment & Engagement of Neighbor to Neighbor. We explore the experience, evolution, and expansion of this program since its inception around August 2021, as well as some continued challenges around funding, and the call to respond to issues of forced-displacement as a result of environmental changes and gender identity. Fr. Chris McNabb is an Episcopal Priest who has been called to the work as Program Officer for Recruitment & Engagement of Neighbor to Neighbor, a program of Episcopal Migration Ministries. He graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity, and earned his diploma in Anglican Studies from The General Theological Seminary. Prior to his role with EMM, Fr. McNabb served as the Curate for "Caritas, Justice, and Healing" at Trinity Church in Princeton, NJ and was the Priest in Charge of St. Francis Episcopal Church, on the south shore of Long Island. When not working, Chris enjoys hiking, camping, and hanging out with his dog Lucky. Neighbor to Neighbor trains community groups to welcome newcomers into their communities. You can play a critical role in this ministry. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, stitcher, Google play, or SoundCloud. To support the ministry of welcome, make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

On this episode of HomeTown, we speak with members of Neighbor to Neighbor's own St. John's Norwood Sponsor Circle team, doing the critical work of welcome with individuals arriving in their communities. We speak with the Rev. Anne Derse, Deacon and St. John’s Minister for Community Engagement, as well as St. John's parishioners Melanie Folstad and Rick McCumber, husband and wife team-leads for the St. John's Norwood Neighbor to Neighbor Sponsor Circle team. Our Neighbor to Neighbor program trains community groups to welcome newcomers into their communities. You can play a critical role. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, stitcher, Google play, or SoundCloud. To support the ministry of welcome, make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

In this episode of HomeTown, we speak with members of Neighbor to Neighbor's own Tri-Parish Sponsor Circle team. This Sponsor Circle consists of three Episcopal parishes who have teamed up together with EMM's Neighbor to Neighbor program to do the critical work of welcome with individuals arriving in their communities. I speak with Embry Howell and Rev. Julianne Buenting from All Souls Episcopal Church in Washington D.C., Jess Sanchez and Lacy Broemel from St. John's Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square, Washington D.C., and Dana Martin from St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, VA about their process, experience, and call to this critical work of welcome. Our Neighbor to Neighbor program is an official Sponsor Circle Umbrella under the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans! **We are in urgent need of sponsor circles to support the move of Afghan newcomers into welcoming communities. You can play a critical role. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or SoundCloud. To support the ministry of welcome, you can make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

On this episode of HomeTown, we are joined by some of our very own Episcopal Migration Ministries team members, Allison Duvall and Zoë Bayer, who will help us break down the different types of sponsorship and how community groups can get involved. Many efforts to welcome our newest neighbors are happening in the form of co-sponsorship, community sponsorship, and Sponsor Circles-- but as folks who are called to this work, we want to know: what exactly is the difference between them all? Join us for this illuminating breakdown of sponsorship. Our Neighbor to Neighbor program is an official Sponsor Circle Umbrella under the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans! **We are in urgent need of sponsor circles to support the move of Afghan newcomers into welcoming communities. You can play a critical role. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or SoundCloud. To support the ministry of welcome, you can make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

In this episode recorded on International Women's Day, we spoke with some special guests from Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston about their Women Refugee Art Program (WRAP), and the Women's Empowerment Group (WEG). We spoke with Narelle Sissons, a visual artist, theatre designer, professor, and art instructor who teaches and empowers the women of WRAP to use art concepts to express themselves and their stories. We also spoke with Chloe Krane, a former TV producer for Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and BBC, who is now the Interfaith Ministries' Women’s Empowerment Liaison and leader of the Women's Empowerment Group, and Sucre Woodley, Director of Marketing & Communications at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. We explore the complex, and often traumatic journeys of rebuilding one's life in a new place, and how creating safe places and brave spaces for expression and education are crucial, liberating opportunities for women refugees, asylees, and parolees as they go through resettlement processes. Our Neighbor to Neighbor program is an official Sponsor Circle Umbrella under the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans! **We are in urgent need of sponsor circles to support the move of Afghan newcomers into welcoming communities. You can play a critical role. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, stitcher, Google play, or SoundCloud. To support the ministry of welcome, make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today's episode features a conversation with with some members of the St. Matthew's & St. Andrews Pentecost Partnership Committee, a joint effort between two parishes in Evanston, IL, who are working with RefugeeOne to do the critical work of welcome within their community. We speak with Cynthia Doucet, Marta Humphreys, & the Rev. Terri J. Morrisey, who are parishioners & clergy of the two churches in Evanston, along with Kelli Wendt, the Community Engagement Coordinator at RefugeeOne. This episode highlights what it looks like for organizations to get involved in this critical work of "welcoming all in community, joyfully doing God's work in the world." episcopalmigrationministries.org/neighbortoneighbor Our Neighbor to Neighbor program is an official Sponsor Circle Umbrella under the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans! **We are in urgent need of sponsor circles to support the move of Afghan newcomers off of bases and into welcoming communities in the coming weeks. You can play a critical role. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, stitcher, Google Play, or SoundCloud. To continue to support the ministry of welcome, you can make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today's episode features a conversation with Fr. Chris McNabb, the Program Manager of EMM's new Neighbor to Neighbor program initiative, to discuss the beginnings of this program, and also how it brings communities together in a ministry of welcome, inviting faith communities to join together in community sponsorship to welcome our newest neighbors. episcopalmigrationministries.org/neighbortoneighbor Our Neighbor to Neighbor program is now an official Sponsor Circle Umbrella under the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans! **We are in urgent need of sponsor circles to support the move of Afghan newcomers off of bases and into welcoming communities in the coming weeks. You can play a critical role. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, stitcher, Google play, or SoundCloud. To continue to support the ministry of welcome, you can make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today's episode features a recording from the Thursday, Jan. 20th webinar hosted by EMM called: "Welcoming Afghans: EMM's Neighbor to Neighbor Program", where we join with Fr. Chris McNabb, Program Manager of our new Neighbor to Neighbor program, along with Beth Frank, program director of the Community Sponsorship Hub's Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans, and Brian Dyck, national migration and resettlement program director, from the Mennonite Central Committee Canada to discuss this monumental joining of efforts to create communities of welcome through sponsorship for our newest Afghan neighbors, and to introduce EMM's new Neighbor to Neighbor initiative. episcopalmigrationministries.org/neighbortoneighbor Our Neighbor to Neighbor program is now an official Sponsor Circle Umbrella under the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans! **We are in urgent need of sponsor circles to support the move of Afghan newcomers off of bases and into welcoming communities in the coming weeks. You can play a critical role. To learn how you can be a community sponsor, visit https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, stitcher, Google play, or SoundCloud. To continue to support the ministry of welcome, you can make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Join us this spring and summer for Season 6 of Hometown, where we zoom in on EMM's newest ministry of welcome program, called Neighbor to Neighbor. We'll hear the voices who are directly involved in this emerging ministry of welcome, such as our Neighbor to Neighbor Missioner, Fr. Chris McNabb, as well as congregations who are stepping up and doing this vital ministry. We will also feature the voices of individuals positively impacted by this new, monumental program, and voices of leaders who are on the ground spearheading this ecumenical initiative. To learn how you can get involved in community sponsorship, visit: https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/initial_congregation_interest_form Be sure to follow us on FB, twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. To stay up to date on all new episodes, make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, stitcher, Google play, or SoundCloud. To continue to support the ministry of welcome, you can make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. With your help, we will continue to welcome and resettle refugees in communities across the country, offer support to asylum seekers, and create beloved community for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.or/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at https://abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today’s episode features a recording from the June 10 panel discussion hosted by EMM. The discussion highlighted the work to rebuild the refugee resettlement program, perspectives from different faith traditions and practitioners, and the role of community support in providing welcome and integration to newly arrived refugees. The 90-minute event included a moderated panel discussion, followed by a question and answer session, with the following guests: - The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church - Demetrio Alvero , Director of Operations for Episcopal Migration Ministries - Dr. Heval Kelli, Cardiologist, co-founder and president of the Kurdish American Medical Association, and former refugee - Larry Bartlett, Director of the Office of Refugee Admissions, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, U.S. Department of State Follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are emmrefugees. Join in the ministry of welcome by making a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. No gift is too small, and all gifts are used to support and grow our work resettling refugees, supporting asylum seekers, and creating welcoming communities for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today's episode features a recording of the June 1 webinar hosted by Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations - Welcoming our Newest Neighbors: How Americans and the Episcopal Church Integrate Refugees into Their Communities. The event featured the following experts: • Jessica Darrow, Assistant Instructional Professor, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, University of Chicago • Drocella Mugorewera, Executive Director of Bridge Refugee Services • Rachel Peric, Executive Director, Welcoming America Follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are emmrefugees. Join in the ministry of welcome by making a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. No gift is too small, and all gifts are used to support and grow our work resettling refugees, supporting asylum seekers, and creating welcoming communities for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today's episode features the recording of Reflecting on The Geneva Convention: The State of Global Refugee Trends and Refugee Policy Today, a webinar from Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations. In addition to the Church’s migration ministry and policy staff, the event featured the following experts: • David FitzGerald, Professor, Gildred Chair in U.S.-Mexican Relations, and Co-Director, Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, UCSD • Susan Fratzke, Senior Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute • Jana Mason, Senior External Relations Advisor, UNHCR ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries. Follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are emmrefugees. Join in the ministry of welcome by making a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. No gift is too small, and all gifts are used to support and grow our work resettling refugees, supporting asylum seekers, and creating welcoming communities for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today’s reflection comes from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, the 27th and current presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church. Follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are emmrefugees. In this season of giving we invite you to make a gift to support the refugee and immigration ministries of The Episcopal Church through the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries.. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at https://abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today’s episode features a reflection from Ana Reza, Bridge Chaplain at the Diocese of the Rio Grande, living in El Paso, Tx and working in Juarez, Mx. Ana works within one of the asylum shelters in Juarez, MX. Ana provides pastoral care and seeks and trains volunteers to go to the shelters and do a variety of activities from teaching to prayer. During COVID she is involved with EMM in building solidarity with other members of the community working along the border and with asylum seekers throughout the USA. Follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are emmrefugees. In this season of giving we invite you to make a gift to support the refugee and immigration ministries of The Episcopal Church through the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at https://abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today’s episode is part of EMM’s weekly Advent reflections from our supporters and friends. Our reflection author is Thomas Diaz, a 5th generation Angeleno. Thomas is from the diocese of Los Angeles and his home parish is All Saints Church, Pasadena. Follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are emmrefugees. In this season of giving we invite you to make a gift to support the refugee and immigration ministries of The Episcopal Church through the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries.. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at https://abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Our reflection author The Rev. Anna Page is a priest in the Episcopal Church and Captain in the United States Army. She is canonically resident in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts but serves as the Curate at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Raleigh, NC. When not on Zoom, Anna enjoys lifting heavy things, tending to her plants, and renovating her camper van. Join us on December 13 from 7-8PM Eastern for a virtual Advent Vigil, available by Zoom webinar or Facebook live. Register for the Zoom webinar at bit.ly/emmvigil. Follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are emmrefugees. In this season of giving we invite you to make a gift to support the refugee and immigration ministries of The Episcopal Church through the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries.. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at https://abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today’s episode is the first in a series of weekly Advent reflections from EMM supporters and friends. Our reflection author Rushad Thomas is a policy advisor in The Episcopal Church’s Washington, D.C.-based Office of Government Relations. We invite you to join us each week during Advent for reflection and prayer. Reflections are also available on the EMM website blog - www.episcopalmigrationministries.org/blog. Join us on December 13 from 7-8PM Eastern for a virtual Advent Vigil, available by Zoom webinar or Facebook live. Register for the Zoom webinar at bit.ly/emmvigil. Follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are emmrefugees. In this season of giving we invite you to make a gift to support the refugee and immigration ministries of The Episcopal Church through the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries.. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. We also invite you to get your very own EMM swag at bit.ly/weareemm. We have a variety of EMM branded shirts to help you proclaim loudly that you welcome our newest neighbors. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at https://abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today’s episode features an interview with Ben, a pastor, evangelist and asylee from Nigeria. He lives in the Southeast United States and was granted asylum in 2020. We also speak with the Reverend Leeann Culbreath, who has accompanied individuals and families impacted by immigrant detention in South Georgia, most often at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ccilla, Georgia. In 2017, she helped found South Georgia Immigrant Support Network, which they referenced in today's interview. South Georgia Immigrant Support Network is a humanitarian nonprofit that provides a hospitality house, visitation, pen pal, post-release, and advocacy programs. Leeann frequently travels around the Diocese of Georgia teaching and preaching about immigrant detention and accompaniment ministry. And in 2020, she became one of our volunteer co facilitators for EMM's detention ministry network. Join us on December 13, from 7 to 8pm. Eastern for a virtual Advent vigil and it will be available by Zoom webinar and also Facebook Live we invite you to register for the zoom webinar at bit.ly/EMMvigil. Follow EMM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram where we are @EMMrefugees. In the season of giving, we invite you to make a gift to support the refugee and immigration ministries of the Episcopal Church through the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text Hometown to 91999. We also want to invite you to get your very own EMM swag at bit.ly/weareemm. We have a variety of EMM branded shirts to help you proclaim loudly that you welcome our newest neighbors. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com.

Today’s episode features the recording of Walking with Asylum Seekers: Ministry Opportunities for Congregations, the first of a three-part virtual training series offered in partnership with The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s AMMPARO program and Lutheran Family Services of the Rocky Mountains. The three 90-minute virtual events are for congregations interested in supporting and walking alongside asylum seekers. We provide advocacy updates, resources for group discernment, ministry models, and important considerations when engaging in ministry with asylum seekers. Visit bit.ly/asylumministrytraining to register for one or both of the virtual sponsorship trainings. Follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are emmrefugees. Join in the ministry of welcome by making a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. No gift is too small, and all gifts are used to support and grow our work resettling refugees, supporting asylum seekers, and creating welcoming communities for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at https://abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com

Today’s episode features our interview with The Rev. Mike Wallens, co-chair of the Rio Grande Borderland Ministries (RGBM) for the Diocese of the Rio Grande, and Nellie Fagen, project coordinator for Rio Grande Borderland Ministries (RGBM) through Blueprint. Mike Wallens is the Vicar of an Episcopal church in Marfa, Texas and serves four other churches in the Big Bend region of Far West Texas. The Rio Grande Borderland Ministries which Mike serves covers all of New Mexico and Far West Texas. The ministries of Rio Grande Borderland Ministries include working with the Anglican Diocese of Northern Mexico as well as shelters on the U.S. side of the border. Mike helps coordinate responses to the humanitarian crisis along the southern border of the United States, maintaining open communication with the Border Patrol in the Big Bend Sector and supporting Rio Grande Borderland Ministries partnership with Boquillas Beyond Mexico Mission, Inc. Nellie Fagen serves as project coordinator for Rio Grande Borderland Ministries and focuses on developing and implementing strategy for marketing, communications, and fundraising. Nellie has passions for social justice, advocacy, and community building. Be sure to learn more about Rio Grande Borderland Ministries at their website riograndeborderland.org. Sign up for their monthly newsletter and stay up to date on their ministries and ways you can be involved. Follow Rio Grande Borderland Ministries on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @RioGrandeBorderlands. Follow EMM on FB, Twitter, and Instagram where we are @emmrefugees. Join in the ministry of welcome by making a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries. No gift is too small, and all gifts are used to support and grow our work resettling refugees, supporting asylum seekers, and creating welcoming communities for all of our immigrant siblings. Visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give or text HOMETOWN to 91999. Our theme song composer is Abraham Mwinda Ikando. Find his music at https://abrahammwinda.bandcamp.com