Jack Murphy National VOP Chair, Society of St. Vincent de Paul

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. Amen Ruth Zemek, Phoenix Council

 Participate in a group activity to get Voice of the Poor going in your conference.  Share examples of effective local advocacy  Learn to use stories as a way to influence policy makers  Increase awareness of available advocacy tools  Better understand the background and structure of the Voice of the Poor Committee to replicate in local situations

“Let us learn, first of all, to defend our belief without hating our adversaries, to appreciate those who do not think as we do, to recognize that there are Christians in every camp, and that God can be served now as always! Let us complain less of our times and more of ourselves. Let us not be discouraged, let us be better.” Blessed Frederic (Baunard, Correspondence, p.304)

10 Min systemic investigation exercise  Each home visitor should think about the last couple of people they’ve visited  What did they ask us for? What was their stated need?  What is the direct cause of the need?  What are the underlying causes or contributors to that need?  Do we think these root causes impact (or will impact) other clients?  Is there anything we can do about those root causes?  Are there other organizations in our area that work on these root causes?

7.4 The practical Vincentian approach to social justice The distinctive approach of Vincentians to issues of social justice is to see them from the perspective of those we visit who suffer from injustice. 7.5 A voice for the voiceless The Society helps the poor and disadvantaged speak for themselves. When they cannot, the Society must speak on behalf of those who are ignored. 7.6 Facing the structures of sin 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. 7.7 Striving to change attitudes The Society strives, with charity, to foster new attitudes of respect and empathy for the weak, so that all are able to understand, recognise and defend the right of each person to be responsible for his or her own life. The Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul 6

So What is Voice of the Poor About? Awareness of the Needs of the Poor and Vulnerable That Goes Beyond the Surface Level Advocacy That Influences Institutional Structures – Formal or Informal Catholic Social Teaching That Shows Itself In Action Systemic Change That Produces Meaningful and Sustainable Differences in the Lives of the Poor

US Conference of Catholic Bishops: “Responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” Pope Francis: “Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity inasmuch as it seeks the common good.” Our Catholic Mandate

Where Does Our Work as Vincentians Lead? Awareness of a Need “Traditional” Vincentian Charity (Direct Aid) “Not So Traditional” Social Justice (Advocacy)

ADVOCACY 10 Society of St. Vincent de Paul VOICE OF THE POOR Frank Monasterio, Vincentian from Mountain Home, ID testifying on Medicaid Expansion at the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee of the Idaho legislature- Feb Our positions are based on what we learn during Home Visits, not because of our personal opinions or political beliefs We represent what families in poverty would say about the obstacles they encounter When possible, we train people in poverty to advocate for themselves

VOP Committee for Social Justice

Close to the Heart of Vincentians Is there something positive we can do about it? Does the issue affect many/most SVdP clients? Probability of success? Application and consistency with Catholic Social Teaching

 Looking for common ground  Don’t always get exactly what we want  Create a backbone for the effort  list  Scheduled communication  Criteria for acting on issues  Ground rule/values  Small team of workers  Larger group of influencers

 Start Small with Education  Local Issues Identified by Vincentians’ Lived Experiences  SVdP Position Papers and Capwiz Action Alerts  US Conference of Catholic Bishops Public Policy Pronouncements and Resources  Newsletters from Catholic Social Justice Groups

1. A Just Wage for Employees of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, September Affordable Housing for the Poor, February Health Care for the Poor, Feb Immigration, Sept Fair Wages, Sept Restorative Justice, Sept Predatory Lending, April Homelessness, Aug Hunger, Sept Education, Apr Human Trafficking, Sept Current Position Papers of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Advocacy and Awareness Info

 Long Island, NY  Collaborated to stop cuts to bus routes/established Sunday service  Forsyth County, GA  Started with flyers in the pews, that lead to collaborative Affordable Housing Initiative  CCHD Restorative Justice Effort  Micro loans in Belleville, Il, Mobile, Al, Chatham, MA., Austin, TX

 Delaware  Successfully partnered with other organizations to address pay-day lending issues  Medicaid Expansion-Arizona Success  Vincentian Family Advocacy on Border Crisis  Self Sufficient Wage

Fact FindingSolution Development Advocacy Planning Action

Transportation How reliable is your vehicle? Can you use public transportation? Income Does your job pay enough? Are you getting any short term loans? Who does your taxes (VITA)? Housing Affordable? Livable? Education Need more? How are kids doing? Child Care? In touch with school counselor or social worker?

Divide into 4 groups around each subject. What else should your conference be asking on home visits to truly understand the challenges to self sufficiency for a single mother? Report back

Does Social Justice Advocacy Make Us Act Differently as Vincentians? YES!  At Personal Level – On Home Visits and for Other Direct Aid Look for Causes, Barriers for the Problems Being Encountered Identify Follow-up Systemic Change Opportunities  At Conference Level Devote an Agenda Section to Voice of the Poor Matters Engage in Social Justice and Advocacy Activities  At District and Central Council Levels Promote Systemic Change Thinking Seek Broad Systemic Change Opportunities

Advocacy Resources – “Capwiz”

Northeast Region Tom Dwyer Mideast Region Warren Wright East Region Lynne Betts Lois Jackson North Central Region Mary Ann Reinhardt Marian Lamoureux, Waukesha, WI Midwest Region Bob Haller, Lincoln, NE South Central Region Juan Pereira, Mountainair, NM National Chair & Southeast Region Jack Murphy Frank Voehl, Miami, FL West Region Giulio Grecchi Michael Stratton, michaelstrattonsvdp. Spiritual Advisor Rev. Louis Arceneaux, C.M.

For further information on Voice of the Poor, see pages on the National SVdP website: Or aspx aspx For further information on Catholic participation in public life, see page on the USCCB website: citizenship/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship-document.cfmhttp:// citizenship/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship-document.cfm For further information on Collective Impact, see The Collective Impact Forum: 25

We praise and thank you, O God, Creator of the Universe. You have made all things good and have given us the earth to cultivate. Grant that we may always use created things gratefully, and share them generously with those in need. Give us creativity in helping the poor meet their basic human needs. Open our minds and hearts so that we might stand at their side and assist them to change whatever unjust structures keep them poor. Enable us to be brothers and sisters to them, friends who walk with them in their struggle for fundamental human rights. We ask this through Christ our Lord. (from the Letter of Superior General on theme of annual Vincentian Day of Prayer 2008)