Changing Systems, Changing Lives: Systemic Change for Vincentians

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8/6/2019 Changing Systems, Changing Lives: Systemic Change for Vincentians

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Prayer for Systemic Chan

Brothers and Sisters to

What Is a System?

“A system is an entity thatmaintains its existence and

functions as a whole through tinteraction of its parts.”

Gertrude Foley

“In a spider’s web what happens onpart of the web af ects every other p

The same is true of a living systemwhether it be an ant colony, a forestcity. Like a spider’s web, a living systso intricately woven that no part exisisolation. Like a web, a living system

both purposeful and beautiful.”

Linda Booth Sween

To understand systemic changto understand that everything

connected to everything els

World Realities

Disparity between rich and poor• Environmental degradation

• Catastrophic natural disasters

• Disregard for human life

• Ethnic, racial, and religious intolerance

• Ethnic genocide

• Widespread unemployment

• Lack of af ordable housing

• Lack of access to educational opportuni

• Lack of available healthcare

• Sweatshops

• Global systems of economic injustice

• Military conflicts

Into this world we are calle

“Social thinking and social practice inspithe Gospel must always be marked by a ssensitivity towards those who are m

distress, those who are extremely poor,suf ering from all the physical, mentamoral ills that aict humanity, inchunger, neglect, unemployment and des

Charity and Justice

• Scripture: Good SamaritanStory

• Private, individual acts

• Responds to immediate needs

• Provides direct service

• Requires repeated actions

• Directed at the ef ects of injustice: symptoms

Charity…Social Service

e.g. homeless shelters, foodpantries, clothing drives

• Scripture: Exodus• Public, collective

• Responds to long• Promotes social c

institutions

• Resolves structur• Directed at the ro

social injustice

Justice…Social

e.g. legislative advcommunity organ

Charity

• Giving a hungry person

some bread

• Helping specific victims of war

• Well-to-do-peopleappeasing the poor bygiving money

Justice

• Trying to change thso that nobody hasbread while some h

• Trying to change th

that lead to war

• Asking why one canwhen so many are p

Theologians, scientists,organizational theorists recogn

the impossibility of separatenesa world that is intrinsically

connected.

“All the important problems we face asystemic problems: the survival of the plaecology, world peace, the elimination of h

and disease, the education of youth, and justice… Over the past several decades

systemic nature of these complex problemgradually entered the public’s conscious

Complex problems are systemic; systeproblems are everywhere, systemic prob

are messy problems.”

Moving from Hand-out to Han

Systemic Change Is Poss

Systemic change as we know it iscontemporary concept. It was unknin St. Vincent’s time. However, Vinhimself expressed many related idHe urged the members of the Fam

love the poor.

spiritually and corporally af ectively and ef ectively

by word and work

He encouraged his followers to examvarious elements in people’s lives to

what their most important needs wnourishment, health care, educatiowork, spiritual care, etc. Today weconscious that people living in pov

live within a social system where soor many of these elements are lackisystem that, if changed, can help

person emerge from poverty.

What Would Vincent D

Vincent of ers these guideli

Those living in poverty have priority

We must do the will of God

We need to globalize charity in order to humanizeglobalization

The heritage of…

Vincent,

Louise,

Rosalie, and

Frederic

in the 21st ce

Elizabeth,

Every person is sacred because s/created in the image and likeness o

Systemic change responds promptlyhuman needs while respecting th

individual’s right to determine his/he

1. Involve those living in poverty themselvincluding the young and women - at all stageidentification of needs, planning, implementa

evaluation and revision.

2. Have a holistic vision - addressing a sebasic human needs: individual and social, sand physical, especially needs like jobs, hea

care, housing, education, and spiritual grow

3. Place particular emphasis on self-helpself-sustaining programs that have a specview toward addressing the root causes of poverty. Systemic change projects must havhuman and economic resources necessary guarantee that they will last.

4. Foster transparency - inviting participatpreparing budgets and in commenting onfinancial reports, while promoting good mo

management and maintaining careful controover the use of assets.

5 Construct a shared vision with diverse

5. Construct a shared vision with diversestakeholders: poor communities, interesteindividuals, donors, churches, governments

NGOs, the private sector, unions, the media

The goal of systemic change in tVincentian Family is to create a m

just world order.

“Systemic change’ is a concept that once both universal and uniqVincentian. It is related to advoc

and the Vincentian approach tworking with persons living in po

which is never a quick fix, but ratcreative, practical and sustainab

AIC Training Boo

Tierra Madre Sustainable Commu

Tierra Madre Sustainable Commu“An option for the economically poor

the earth”

Best Practices in Poverty

The Tierra Madre Communit

The Tierra Madre CommunitSunland Park, New Mexico

• Af ordable housing• Leadership development

• Preservation of land for long-term housing

• Intercultural sharing

• Furthering appropriate technology and af ordin low-income areas

• Model of what is possible in other areas

The Salt and Light Program

The Salt and Light ProgramArkansas

“The Salt and Light Ministry is rooted inneed for systemic change in the CathChurch throughout Arkansas…Usinggrass-roots approach, parish based

ministry programs organized at the lo

parish level enable parishioners to becactive in addressing the needs of the

communities and provide the catalyststatewide activity…”

Disaster after disaste

The Salt and Light systemic cha

The Salt and Light systemic chaapproach provides formation

theological reflection, sociaanalysis, systems planning, a

program design in a pastoral cy

context to parishes so that theydevelop and sustain ministriestheir local parish communitie

Systemic Change in works among those livpoverty aims beyond providing food, cloth

shelter to alleviate immediate needs and epeople themselves to engage in the identifiof the root causes of their poverty and to strategies to change those structures whic

them in poverty. This also requires chanattitudes that have caused the proble

(working definition for North

Advocacy (LCUSA)

• Giving the person the opportunity to tell her story tohelping us understand her situation

• Structuring services so that they protect human dign• Educating ourselves and others about the challenge

the least, the lost and the left out in society

• Gathering data that can be used by policy makers

• Using our votes and our voices in the public square

people living in poverty to achieve basic social, econand political rights

• Convening policy makers, legislators, and people livpoverty to enable and empower poor people to partand to build better communities

Interfaith Center on CorporateResponsibility (ICCR)

Responsibility (ICCR)

• 275 faith-based institutional investors, associaand aliates that have a trillion dollars underinvestment

• View corporate responsibility as a way of addre justice issues at a systemic level

• Press companies to be socially and environmenresponsible

The Triple Bottom Line

• Proper return on investment

• Social accountability of corporations

• Environmentally sound practices

ICCR Headlines

• How Much Water Do You Really Use? ICCR Supports New Conservation Tool

• ICCR Investors Support Senate Ef orts to Eliminate Child Forced Labor in Agriculture

• Coca-Cola Releases HIV/AIDS Report in Response to ICCResolution

• ICCR Investors Open Campaign to Press Drug CompaniesDisclose Political Spending

• ICCR Investors File Record Number of Global WarmingResolutions with U.S. Companies

• ICCR Receives International Award for Focus on “Triple BLine”

ICCR in the News

➡ Investors File a Record 95 Climate Change Resolu40% Increase Over 2009 Proxy Season – Ecoaid – M

2010➡ Coalition Wants Exec Salary Info from Health Com

-The Business Review – December 1, 2009

➡ Faith Based Investors Target Members of US ChamCommerce -Hungton Post – November 10, 2009

➡ Investor Group to Chamber: Don’t Kill Health CareMarket Watch – November 10, 2010

➡ ICCR Takes Lead in Shareholder Advocacy FilingsInvestment Management Institute – November 1, 200

The Maritime Project

To do advocacy for women and children, espe

the areas of housing and social assistance, foster collaboration and growth in unity amofour congregations.

Networking

• Nova Scotia and New Brunswick: Make Pover

History• Session at Tatamagouche

• Public rallies: St. John and Moncton

• Community Action on Homelessness

• Norwood Housing Association

• Supportive Housing for Young Mothers

New Brunswick Groups

• Justice and Solidarity Committee of the Modioceses

• Common Front for Social Justice

• Saint John Non Profit Housing Inc.

• Vibrant Communities and Business CommuAnti-Poverty Initiative

Systemic Change begins wi

• Defining a need

• Building awareness

• Enlisting and empowering an organized, mu

faceted response

Ladies of Charity - USA

“In the Vincentian Tradition, relationship

people in poverty is our first and primgoal. We need to see with their eyes. Weview the world from the vantage point people we seek to help. We must ente

struggles, feel their pain, and understanbarricades that hinder their full particip

in the community…

“We must work with poor persons, allow

p p ,them to articulate their needs, concernpotential solutions. We must work with as they are the primary stakeholders in

to advance toward a more just societ

Let’s Start - LCUSASt. Louis

An organization dedicated to assisting win transition from prison life to society asupporting their families

• Of ers a variety of services dependent on

needs of participants• Committed to community education andadvocacy

Women’s ConnectionCincinnati, Ohio

• A neighborhood center committed to

strengthening families• Focuses on providing support for change by

educating, empowering, and enriching womechildren and families

• Connects women and families to communityresources, provides educational and personagrowth programs specific to the needs of thecommunity

Programs/Events• Teen Opportunity Fairs/Adult Employment Fairs

pp y / p y

• Dress for Success consultations

• Resume writing

• Employment connections

• Information and referral services

• Sewing/quilting classes

• AA support group

• Domestic Violence survivors group

• Hispanic outreach/ESOL classes

• Parenting skills

• Teen Moms support group

• Collaboration with over 50 agencies

Maura Clarke-Ita Ford CenteBrooklyn, New York

Th i i f h M Cl k I F d C

The mission of the Maura Clarke-Ita Ford Centeequip women with the skills they need to live a

in their new homeland, through education, ecodevelopment, and community change in the Bu

section of Brooklyn.

Programs

• Sewing Co-op

• Welfare to work training

• Leadership skills development

• Business skills development

• GED preparation

• ESL

• Computer and citizenship courses

• Advocacy skills/community organizing• Collaboration with other service organizations

• Social enterprise in crafting which supports work trainingbusiness incubation

“Never do for others what they cafor themselves ”

for themselves.

Josephine’s PlaceElizabeth, New Jersey

• A storefront drop-in space to empower wom

• A place for women to come and meet otherwomen

• A place to relax, pray, learn new skills, talk

what concerns them or discuss their proble• Provides a space that is reflective of the nee

women as they themselves have expressed

Programs“Programs and activities are designed by the desir

needs of the women of Josephine’s Place.”

• Resource center for networking to agencies

• Support groups for mothers of autistic children• Parenting skills

• Health education

• Support groups for victims of domestic violence

• English classes/Citizenship classes

• Sewing/Knitting/Quilting

• Tai Chi Chiah and Yoga

• Basic computer skills

• Prayer

The Rebuild CenterNew Orleans, Louisiana

Th f h R b ild C i

The purpose of the Rebuild Center is toprovide a setting, resources and opportunit

for collaboration among Catholic and othefaith-based organizations in the City of NeOrleans. The center will work with needy andisplaced residents to rebuild their lives an

repopulate the neighborhood.

“We will be a CENTER OF HOPE for thiscommunity.”

Moving from direct service to systemic change…

Programs

• Parenting skills

• Child safety• Doctor Dad

• Nurturing father

• Personal finance/budgeting

• Nutrition

• Energy reduction

• CPR

• Advocacy

The Society of St. Vincent dPaul

“I was hungry and you gave me food”

The Society gives immediate helpalso seeks mid-term and long-t

• Concerned not only with alleviating need butwith identifying the unjust structures that ca

• Committed to identifying the root causes of poverty and to contributing to their eliminat

• In all its charitable actions there should be afor justice

St. Vincent de Paul SocietyBelleville, Illinois

Voice of the Poor Committee is committed

• launching two intense legislative letter writing campaignaddress the issue of increasing utility costs

• advocating against Pay Day and Title Loans -a flier was dand is being distributed for the purpose of education

• attempting to help those caught in the mortgage crisis winformation and referrals for intervention

being a vocal advocate for the poor. In rec

months the committee has been active in mareas including:

Microcredit Lending:An alternative to payday loans for the workinBelleville, Illinois

• A loan program that charges 3% interest

• Of ers flexible repayment schedule

• Provides finance education• Budgeting classes

• Mentors for borrowers so they can learn new habits

“Payday loans prey upon people who are at their lowpoint and feel trapped.”

The Millennium DevelopmeGoals

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

• Achieve universal primary education

• Promote gender equality and empower women

• Reduce child mortality

• Improve maternal health

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases• Ensure environmental sustainability

• Develop global partnerships for development

Goals of the International Leadethe Vincentian Family

• To establish a pilot micro finance project in

• To establish a pilot micro-finance project in

To foster the participation of the Family fromthroughout the world

• To encourage the active engagement of the in Haiti

•To design a project that could serve as a mouse in other regions of the world

“Building new lives out of fragility.”

Systemic Change Goals for thProject

1 To help the poorest of the poor involving the

1. To help the poorest of the poor, involving theeach stage of the project, beginning from the discernment of needs and continuing until thecompletion of the project.

2. To develop a program of integral huformation (human, spiritual, professio

academic)

3. To evaluate and continue to refine project with the members of the

project with the members of the

Vincentian Family in Haiti and with athe partners.

4.To link with governments, foundatioand other agencies, locally and

internationally.

5.To create an infrastructure that canengage in advocacy for the poor.

www.zafen.org

ZafènCreole for "It's our business"

• Ofers the opportunity to lend or contribute to sustainab

Of ers the opportunity to lend or contribute to sustainabeconomic development projects in Haiti

• Provides support to micro, small and medium-sized ente

• Will create new jobs, and improve the lives of those livingof the poorest conditions in the world

• Enables peer to project relationships

Allows you to track your loans, watch them return, then ror withdraw all on-line

www.zafen.org

Continental Systemic ChangeWorkshops

• Mexico

• Brazil

• Cameroon

• Thailand

To Come: USA and Europe

Learn more about systemic chang

available from www.svdpusa.org

RememberGo to the people:

live with them, learn from them,

start with what they know,

build with what they have.

But of the best leaders

when the job is done,

the task accomplished,the people will say:

“We have done it ourselves.”Lao Tzu

“Do not be afraid of new beginnBe creative. Be inventive. Organize

works of love in the service of tpoor. You who have energy; who enthusiasm; who want to do

something of value for the future

inventive, launch out; do not waFrederic

How does our tradition as Vincentians, sondaughters of Vincent, Louise, Elizabeth, Rosand Frederic prepare us to engage in systechange?

•They were change agents during the time in which they l

• They had a vision of what was possible and were unfailinef orts to transform the lives of those in need.

• They had the courage of their convictions and the capacimobilize people and resources.

• They developed leadership skills among their followers aempowered others to act.

• They inspired those who followed with dedicationvision.

• They developed understanding, commitment andfor attending to the vision.

• They listened to others and sought their ideas an

advice.• They provided the tools needed to perform the m

• They gave us enduring models of servant leaders

We are called to live on themargins of possibility…

Where does God call us today?

What borders are we being called to c

What frontiers do we need to move be

Changing Systems, Changing Lives: Systemic Change for Vincentians

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