I come from people who say “uff dah”—a Norwegian American exclamation you might use when finally sitting down to relax after a long day, or when several inches of snow have fallen and you’re imagining the effort it will take to bundle up and shovel. It’s a flexible expression that can be used across a range of circumstances (good and bad), but mostly describes something remarkable, surprising, or overwhelming.

Now that you’ll know what I mean, I’ll begin my year-end reflection in my native parlance:
Uff dah. It’s been quite a year.

We’ve had some setbacks as a nation and as an organization. You might say that Michigan IPL’s setbacks mirror a slice of what our country as a whole is facing. Exciting legislation was passed, funds were appropriated, contracts were signed, and meaningful investments into our communities were promised… then taken away.

The cancellation of federal grants cut Michigan IPL’s budget this year by 40% and prevented us from hiring two additional full-time staff members who would have empowered more congregation partners to better serve their communities—especially those on the margins.

Our financial outlook for next year is even more challenging.

I'm writing this to share the goodness we’re still sowing in the world—in spite of all this—and also to ask: will you consider including Michigan IPL in your year-end giving?

While reflecting on the hardships, it can be hard to see the goodness. The Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh offered the metaphor “no mud, no lotus” to illustrate how beauty (a lotus) emerges through the transformation of hardship and suffering (mud). Hardship and suffering are inevitable, but by learning how to be in touch with suffering— without being overwhelmed by it—we have the chance to find happiness.

As we enter into 2026, will lotuses emerge from the mud?

Looking back at our work this year, I can see our work yielding some beautiful results that still came through this muck. I chalk this up to a few things: 1) we have been able to invest in and share resources with our partners more than ever before, which grows our impact, 2) we have recommitted our efforts to be a prophetic voice on state and national issues, and 3) we are committed to practicing “active hope” and doing good in the world, no matter what. Here are some highlights:

• We brought our regional chapters—from the Capital Area and Hope for Creation from Southwest MI—together in person for our first ever chapter convening. Out of this emerged a joint advocacy initiative (Calling for Climate Justice on the 1st Tuesday of each month). Then we gave $5,000 to each chapter to empower them to empower others. 
  
  
• With funding from State of Michigan’s Community Service Commission, we’ve been implementing a 2-year grant, infusing nearly $600,000 into our 6 congregation community center partners in Detroit for building repairs and improvements. We’re now helping them develop their visions and plans for climate resilience. Over the last year, these physical spaces have had a tremendous impact in their communities:
  
  
  • Together, these congregations serve over 1,200 unique individuals each month—with food, meals, hygiene, fellowship, education, and more. At Pilgrim Baptist alone, energy savings are helping enable 17 volunteers distribute food to more than 1,000 metro Detroiters each month.
    
    
  • Across these 6 sites, volunteers provide more than 14,000 hours of service a year.
    
    
  • As a result of this project, more than 500 individuals will receive education or training in environmental stewardship this year.
    
    
• We have renewed our focus on advocacy, especially targeting our state and federal lawmakers, by joining the Climate Action Campaign and the MI Energy, MI Jobs table. Since March, we’ve held 2 press events and have prompted our supporters to complete 595 grassroots actions (e.g., signing a petition, calling a lawmaker).
  
  
• And, of course, regardless of the current administration’s priorities and tactics to draw institutions away from commitments to racial equity and climate action, Michigan IPL has remained steadfast in our dedication to centering racial equity in our work to heal the earth and act on climate.
  
  

Will you help us continue this sacred work by making a gift this year?

• We’ve created a much more robust online donation page at givebutter.com/miipl to help you give in a variety of ways (give through ACH, set up a monthly or annual recurring gift, and more) 
• As always you can mail your donation to us at 1950 Trumbull, Detroit MI 48216

I am always interested to hear from you: what do you need and want from Michigan IPL in the year to come? Please reach out with your ideas.

Uff dah!

Yours in solidarity with all beings,

Leah Wiste
Executive Director

P.S.: enjoy our Year in Photos!