Shoulder to Shoulder Advocacy With the Poor And Marginalized Society of St. Vincent de Paul Voice of the Poor Webinar October 15, 2015 Tom Dwyer, National Chair, Voice of the Poor Committee Benito Vega, MA State Coordinator, Vincentian Re-entry Organizing Project

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Lord of all people, During your time on earth you identified with the poor and instructed us to care for one another, for our neighbor and especially for the least of our brothers and sisters. Be with us as we advocate for the poor. Help us to persevere in joy and love on their behalf. Add your voice to ours as we speak out for those who are not heard in our communities. Guide us as we work, comfortable in the knowledge that we are doing your will for this day and time and place, and that you will take care of tomorrow. We ask this in the name of Jesus, his Blessed Mother, our patron St. Vincent and our founder Blessed Frederic. Voice of the Poor Prayer

With the Poor and Marginalized EmpowermentMentoringAdvocacyCollaboration Federal State Parish Local & Community The Shoulder to Shoulder Advocacy Model

Achieving Maximum Volume for Our Voice  Real Needs and Real Life Stories – the Parables of Our Times  Vincentian Witness  Testimony From the Poor and Marginalized Themselves  Community Support  Other Faith-Based Organizations’ Support  Clergy Support

Dispelling The “Catholics Don’t Do Politics” Myth Catholic Social Tradition Teaches: From US Conference of Catholic Bishops: “Responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” See “The Joy of the Gospel” (2014) – Chap. 4 – The Social Dimension of Evangelization “I ask God to give us more politicians capable of sincere and effective dialogue aimed at healing the deepest roots – and not simply the appearances – of the evils in our world! Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity inasmuch as it seeks the common good.” Paragraph 205 Pope Francis Teaches:

Dispelling The “Catholics Don’t Do Politics” Myth Except for the Pope!

Dispelling The “Vincentians Don’t Do Politics” Myth Rule 7.6 of Society of St. Vincent de Paul: “Where injustice, inequality, poverty or exclusion are due to unjust economic, political, or social structures or to inadequate or unjust legislation, the Society should speak out clearly against the situation, always with charity, with the aim of contributing to and demanding improvements.” What the Rule Says!

Dispelling The “Vincentians Don’t Do Politics” Myth What the SVdP Founders Said! "You must not be content with tiding the poor over the poverty crisis; you must study their condition and the injustices which brought about such poverty, with the aim of long term improvement.” Blessed Frederic Ozanam “There are many ways of providing Charity. The assistance of money or assistance in kind that we give to the Poor will not last long. We must aspire to a more complete and longer lasting benefit; study their abilities, their level of education and try to get them work to help them out of their difficulties.” Sr. Rosalie Rendu

Empowering the Poor and Marginalized A Conversation about Working Together Benito Vega Massachusetts State-Wide Coordinator National Vincentian Reentry Organizing Project Tom Dwyer National Chair Voice of the Poor Committee St. Vincent de Paul Society

Doubts the Marginalized Might Have about You!  Are You Sincere?  Do You Have Some Hidden Self-Interest?  Do You Have Some Internal Guilt You are Trying to Assuage?  Will You Be Condescending, Judgmental? Empowering the Poor and Marginalized Tips from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) and the Voice of the Poor Experience

Empowering the Poor and Marginalized Dispelling Those Doubts  Create a Comfortable and Safe Space to Interact  Emphasize the Unique Perspective They Bring (not their poverty, lack of education, or marginalization)  Be Honest – Acknowledge that You Can’t Fully Understand  Demonstrate that You are Really Listening  The Best Approach – Jesus in the Gospel Tips from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) and the Voice of the Poor Experience

How to Mentor for Mutual Success  Help Them Prepare for Public Presentations without Muting Their Distinctive Voice  Encourage Personal Stories (the Parables)  Explain the Systems – Governmental, Corporate, Community  Expose the “Hidden” Rules Impacting Influence and Power Empowering the Poor and Marginalized Tips from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) and the Voice of the Poor Experience

Learning More About Shoulder to Shoulder Advocacy Great Resources Poverty Simulation -- SVdP Bridges Out of Poverty Books and the Bridges Out of Poverty Books Bridges Out of Poverty DVDs (set of 7) “Walk A Mile in His/Her Shoes”

Food : poverty is concerned with quantity, middle class is concerned with quality, wealth is concerned with presentation Driving force: for poverty is relationships (the more you have the better chance of survivorship), for middle class is achievement (working lunch, working vacation and working retirements), for wealth is connections i.e., Poor name on their shirt, middle – name on door or desk, wealthy, name on a building Time: poverty is concerned with now, middle class is concerned with future, wealth is traditions and history Destiny : for poverty is fate (not planning future), for middle class is choices and consequences (difficult time living in and for a moment), for wealth “noblesse oblige” (giving back) Power: for poverty is strength or ability to fight, for middle class is information and institutions, for wealth is expertise and connections Learning More About Shoulder to Shoulder Advocacy Some “Hidden Rules” from Bridges Out of Poverty

Shoulder to Shoulder Advocacy in Real Life Present to: Vincentians Councils, Conferences “Do-Good” Community Groups Law Enforcement Local Social Workers Civic-Minded and Elected Leaders “Walk A Mile in His/Her Shoes” Using Techniques Like: Personal Witness Stories Vincentian Witness Stories Movies, Documentaries Simulations Podcasts, YouTube, Radio Story Boards

“Mainstream” Advocating money power position connections speaking ability appearance class writing ability dress knowing the system reputation favors lobbyists planning & strategic thinking Backroom Deals

“With Voice of the Poor” Advocating Number of Voters Rallies First-hand Personal Stories speaking ability Volunteer Witness Middle Class Support writing ability Broad Community Support Reported stories Clergy Support Validated Studies Moral High Ground planning & strategic thinking Popular Movements

At The Systemic Change Level The Getting Ahead ProgramThe Getting Ahead Program – A Mentoring Approach Shoulder to Shoulder Advocacy

How to Come Together for Systemic Change  Mutual Respect  Intense Desire to Listen to Each Other  Shared Humanity as the Underpinning  Commitment to Change Systems, Environments, and Policies that Offend and Oppress Empowering the Poor and Marginalized Tips from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) and the Voice of the Poor Experience

Advocacy Resources – “Capwiz” Sign up for Capwiz here:

Pope Francis’ Address to the World Meeting of Popular Movements “We desire change enriched by a collaboration of governments, popular movements and other social forces…But it is not easy to define the content of change – in other words, a social program which can embody this project of fraternity and justice which we are seeking. So don’t expect a recipe from this Pope. Neither the Pope nor the Church have a monopoly on the interpretation of social reality or the proposal of solutions to contemporary issues. I dare say no recipe exists. History is made by each generation as it follows in the footsteps of those preceding it, as it seeks its own path and respects the values which God has placed in the human heart. …In conclusion, I would like to repeat that the future of humanity does not lie solely in the hands of great leaders, the great powers and the elite. It is fundamentally in the hands of peoples and their ability to organize.” July 9, 2015, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

Shoulder to Shoulder Advocacy With the Poor And Marginalized Society of St. Vincent de Paul Voice of the Poor Webinar Supplemental Slides October 15, 2015

Where Does the Preferential Option for the Poor Lead? Awareness of a Need “Traditional” Vincentian Charity (Direct Aid) “Not So Traditional” Social Justice (Advocacy and Empowerment) Short-term or Intermittent Transactional Can Morph into “Toxic Charity” Interactive Transformational Can Bring About Systemic Change We Are Called to Practice Both Charity and Justice

Does Social Justice Advocacy Make Us Act Differently? YES!  At Personal Level Look for Causes, Barriers for the Problems Being Encountered Identify Follow-up all Opportunities  At Parish Level Engage in Social Justice and Advocacy Activities  At Community Level Promote Catholic Social Teaching Seek Broad Systemic Change Opportunities

The Spiritual Underpinning The 10 Principles of Catholic Social Teaching Awareness And Education Dignity of Human Person Respect for Human Life AssociationParticipation Preferential Protection for the Poor SolidarityStewardshipSubsidiarity Human Equality Common Good

Embedding Voice of the Poor Values The Basics – Some Concrete Suggestions Form a Voice of the Poor Committee for Social Justice Bring A Social Justice Perspective and Analysis  To traditional works of charity  Through workshops, seminars, movies, poverty simulations Build a Communications and Relationship Network Track Legislation at Public Policy at Federal-State-Local Levels Advocate on Behalf of and With the Poor  Capwiz – the on-line SVdP Federal Action Alert Tool

 25 Documents from 1891 to “Present” 1891 – The Condition of Labor 1931 – Reconstruction of the Social Order 1961 – Christianity and Social Progress 1963 to 2009 – 21 More Documents 2015 – Laudato Si – On Care for Our Common Home The Spiritual Underpinning: Catholic Social Teaching from Rome and Our Bishops

Advocacy Resources – SVdP Position Papers  Affordable Housing  Education  Circle of Protection  Health Care for the Poor  Homelessness  Human Trafficking  Hunger  Immigration  Predatory Lending  Restorative Justice  Fair Wages  Self Sufficient Wages

Prayer of a Reluctant Leader (Joe Seremane – Lifelines/Christian Aid) You asked for my hands that you might use them for your purpose, I gave them for a moment, then withdrew them for the work was hard. You asked for my mouth to speak out against injustice. I gave you a whisper that I might not be accused. You asked for my life that you might work through me. I gave a small part that I might not get too involved. Lord, forgive my calculated efforts to serve you only when it is convenient for me to do so, only in those places where it is safe to do so, and only in those who make it easy to do so. Lord, forgive me, renew me, heal me, nurture me, empower me, send me out as an instrument of your peace that I might take seriously the meaning of servant-leadership. Amen.