Staff Spotlight: Patrick Lines
2/13/23
Meet Patrick Lines, Pre-Arrival Associate at Exodus! Patrick helps to coordinate information about clients arriving to Indianapolis, and makes sure we have all the information we need to be prepared for clients arriving to Indiana. Patrick also works with our Reception and Placement team, helps out at the front desk, and is always willing to jump in and problem solve. We asked Patrick a few questions about himself so you can learn a little about him, and the work he does at Exodus!
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi! I’m the Pre-Arrival Associate here at Exodus. I’ve lived in Indianapolis for a couple years now, but have spent time living all over the country (and the world)! I grew up overseas in Kenya, went to school in California and Tennessee, and have also lived for a while in Lexington, Kentucky and Amman, Jordan. I’ve learned to appreciate so many things from all those places and it definitely makes it hard to answer the question, “Where do you call home?”.
I recently bought a home here in Indy and am right in the middle of all the things that come with a new house: new furniture, trying to figure out where to hang your art, and getting to know your neighbors. I’m also engaged to my partner of seven years and we plan to get married later in 2023!
In my free time, I love reading (I have 5 books in the works at any given time) and exploring the Indiana outdoors. I’m also a big lover of theatre, both musicals and plays, so I tend to search out any performances nearby!
2. What is your role at Exodus?
As Pre-Arrival Associate, most of my job revolves around preparing to welcome our newly arriving clients. I receive a lot of the initial information from our national and overseas partners and disseminate it throughout the rest of our staff. I’m also the primary contact for any family members or friends our new families may have here in Indiana, so I get the wonderful task of giving them the good new that their loved ones are on their way!
I work very closely with our R&P (Reception and Placement ) case managers to make sure they have all the relevant information when we welcome new families and can hit the ground running. I also communicate daily with our partners at the Marion County Public Health Department to alert them for any medically complicated arrivals.
On occasion, you may also find me covering the front desk in our office, driving clients to appointments, processing donations, or anything else I can do to help our Exodus team out.
3. How did you hear about Exodus and why did you want to get involved?
I actually knew of Exodus for several years before working here! Several Exodus families moved onto my block a few years ago and I had the great opportunity to get to know them, hear their stories, and introduce them to our community. In that time I also got to know some of the wonderful Exodus staff. I then spent several months living and studying in Jordan, and had the chance to volunteer at several organizations welcoming Syrian refugees into Amman. Flash forward a couple years, and this position opened up! I already knew of the positive impact Exodus had on their clients and the wider Indianapolis community, and I was eager to apply my life experiences and degree to something that felt worthwhile, so I was thrilled when I got the chance to join this wonderful team! That was in the summer of 2021, and I haven’t looked back!
4. What’s one thing you wish more people knew about refugees and other forcibly displaced populations?
I think it is important for people to remember that refugees are not just seeking a better life, but are often fleeing very extreme circumstances and have undergone immense trauma; many refugees have lost family & friends in addition to their homes. While providing basic needs like housing, employment opportunities, and language classes are essential, it is equally important that we are attentive to the mental and emotional needs of our new refugee families. The families Exodus works with bring valuable stories, resiliency, and diversity to our neighborhoods, and it is worthwhile to remember that we have a responsibility to care for them and address their trauma with dignity and respect.
5. What language(s) do you speak?
I speak English and do my best to recall the Spanish and Arabic I studied in school.
