| Possumus Spring 2007 |
Leadership |
Unfortunately, the Commission members can’t follow up on every injustice in the world. Says Joänne Tromziak-Neid, Justice Coordinator for the St. Paul Province, “We ask the members where their passion is, and then where their energy is. We might have a passion to see a particular change happen, but not the energy. You need the energy to pursue it.
When a need is identified, a working group or a less-permanent task group is formed to address it. The working groups in turn invite any Sisters, Consociates or interested others with passion for the subject to join them in the work of the group. Currently, there are groups organized around eight topics: Criminal Justice, Dismantling Racism, Earth Partners, Homophobia and Heterosexism, Human Trafficking, Immigration, Legislative Advocacy Partners and Ending Poverty in MN.
The first order of business for any newly formed group is learning everything there is to learn about their subject. “Doing our homework,” as Ginger calls it. They explore all possibilities, unearth all options, and talk with the people most affected by the injustice—— until the group members know their subject thoroughly. By this point, says Linda, “You’re part of something so much larger than yourself. You’re moving forward in a collaborative and consensus leadership model.”
The group’s findings are then reported back to the full Commission. Most often the Commission supports their recommendations and involves the whole CSJ community in the conversation. Decisions to take action for systemic change are most often made this way, within the community at large. Linda says, “We disagree sometimes. But we make decisions everyone can live with. There’s no sabotage or undermining. It’s very different from most corporate environments.”
In fact, leadership on the Commission is about raising others up, putting them into an energetic, dynamic, fluid environment, and then putting aside your own ego to do what’s best for the group’s success. Once a course of action is decided upon, the Justice Commission swings into action. Distribution links disseminate what they’ve learned. That’s how the struggle for justice reaches the broader audience beyond the Commission. Everyone in the community makes it her business to learn the Commission’s point of view. Sisters and Consociates interested in the topic ask to be kept informed. That way, when the advocacy phase begins, the community speaks clearly, loudly and with one voice. The Sisters have found, over the years, that a communal voice, calling for truth, justice and freedom for the poor and oppressed can be a powerful thing.
Needless to say, the main work of the Commission and its many groups is advocating for justice. Bringing about change in the system peacefully through legislation. It is indeed about educating legislators on specific issues, but what the Commission is doing is not lobbying. Lobbyists are paid to represent one topic or special interest or industry. These advocates volunteer their time on the Commission, and they represent many different topics of interest. Locally, the thrust of this work is aimed at the Minnesota legislature in St. Paul, though the work also goes onwithin the national federation of the CSJs––in Washington and up to the United Nations level. Continued...
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