Systemic Change Making it Happen SSVP – 2015 Hamilton AGA June 25, 2015 Jere Hartnett

1. Systemic Change Making it Happen SSVP – 2015 Hamilton AGA June 25, 2015 Jere Hartnett Chair – ONRC - Systemic Change Committee

2. Workshop Goals • Understand Charity - Systemic Change & Advocacy • Why it is important – Our Vincentian Charism • What you can do to start working on Systemic Change and Social Justice in your Conference/ Council How can You

3. Overview of the presentation • Systemic Change – What is it ? • Why is it important • Where and How to Look for Change • Principles and Strategies for SC • Sharing Needs and Success Stories • Networking & Collaborating for Systemic Change

5. DEFINITION OF SYSTEMIC CHANGE Systemic Change among those living In poverty aims beyond providing food, clothing and shelter to alleviate immediate needs to helping people themselves engage in the identification of the root causes of their poverty and to create strategies, including advocacy to address those structures which keep them in poverty. Systemic Change requires transforming attitudes.

7. Charity & Social Justice Charity: • Private, individual acts • Responds to immediate needs • Requires repeated actions • Directed at the effects of injustices (symptoms) • Giving a hungry person some bread

8. Charity & Social Justice Justice: • Public, collective actions • Responds to long term needs • Promotes Social Change in Communities & Institutions • Resolves Structural injustices • Directed at Root causes of injustices

9. Example of Systemic Change for some one in poverty without a job Charity Providing food and clothing Systemic Change Providing help to obtain an education in order to get a better job that allows buying food and clothing

10. Why Systemic Change in helping the poor is important • Part of our Vincentian Charism • A key Principle of Catholic Social Teaching • We are being reminded by Pope Francis

12. “ Do not be afraid of new beginnings. Be creative. Be inventive. Organize new works of love in the service of the poor. You who have energy; who have enthusiasm; who want to do something of value for the future; be inventive, launch out; do not wait.” Frederick Ozanam

13. BACKGROUND “Charity is not sufficient. It treats the wounds but it does not stop the blows that cause them. Charity is the Samaritan who pours oil on the wounds of the traveler who has been attacked. It is justice’s role to prevent the attacks.” F. Ozanam “The Society is concerned not only with alleviating need but also with identifying the injustices that cause it. Therefore, it is committed to identifying the root causes of poverty and contributing to their elimination.”The Rule (ed. 2009) art. 3.22 (p 111)

14. Principles of Catholic Social Teaching The principles of Catholic Social teaching are aligned with our SSVP Mission to address Social Justice issues (“Should be the Basic principles for our country”)

15. CST- Human Dignity ..that human life is sacred… ..and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.

16. CST – Community and the Common Good Our church teaches that the role of the government and other institutions is to protect human life and human dignity and promote the common good.

17. CST – Rights and Responsibilities ….every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency.

18. CST - Option for the Poor and Vulnerable Catholic teaching proclaims that a basic moral test (for our society) is how our most vulnerable members are faring.

19. CST - Participation All people have a right to participate in the economic, political, and cultural life of Society

20. CST – Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected – the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages…….

21. CST - Solidarity We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. Solidarity means that “loving our neighbor” has global dimensions in an interdependent world.

22. CST – Role of Government ..the state has a positive moral function. It is an instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights, and build the common good. It’s purpose is to assist citizens in fulfilling their responsibility to others in society.

23. CST – Promotion of Peace Catholic teaching promotes peace as a positive, action-oriented concept Peace is the fruit of justice and is dependent upon right order amoung human beings.

25. Pope Francis & the Poor.…Remember the Poor…

26. Human Dignity & the Poor Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor. Pope Francis – The Joy of the Gospel 2013

27. Human Dignity…. “The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty!” Pope Francis – The Joy of the Gospel 2013

28. Be Courageous Christians We cannot become starched Christians, too polite, who speak of theology calmly over tea. We have to become courageous Christians and seek out those (who need help most) Pope Francis – May 2013

29. Social Justice • Where do we start ?

30. Some Definitions • Social Justice/ Injustice • System • Systemic Change • Advocacy • Voice of the Poor • Advocate

31. Social Justice / Injustice • Justice for those living in • poverty in our Social System

32. System • A system is an entity that • maintains its existence and • functions as a whole through • the interaction of its parts. • Gertrude Foley SC

33. Systemic Change • Fundamental change to a part • of the system that results in • brining about different outcomes • from the overall system.

34. Systemic Change to correct for Social Injustices • Our Systemic Change efforts • are focused on looking for • Root Causes of Social injustices • for those living in poverty and • making changes that alleviates the • Issue.

35. Systemic Change & Advocacy • Advocacy (Voice of the Poor) • Is advocating (lobbying) for • Systemic Change with Institutions • for changes that correct social • Injustices

36. Where to look for Systemic Change? • Individuals – start with the barriers out of poverty with our Neighbours in Need • Communities – are there common barriers in our communities that are keeping people in poverty? • Institutions – look for ways that our institutions can remove the barriers for getting out of poverty

37. What can we do ? • Understand poverty and it’s causes • Understand Systemic Change • Look for opportunities with our “Neighbours in Need” • Be creative and share ideas across our Vincentian Family & Communities

38. Poverty The extent to which one does without resources

39. Resources Financial Emotional Social Support Education Integrity & Trust Language Motivation & Persistence Physical Relationships/Role Models Spiritual Social Skills

40. Systemic Change forIndividuals

41. Individual Cases Where & How to look • Review long term Individual cases • Look for the “Root Cause” of poverty? • What are the missing resources? • What is available in the community? • How can I help to bring about SC? • Who can help us?

42. Individual Systemic Change 4 Steps • Understanding the Resources • Creating the Vision • Formulating the Solution(s) • Follow up with support

43. Step 1Understanding the Resources • Which Resources are needed? • Which Resources can we bring? • Which Resources can we obtain by partnering with others? • Which Resources can we help develop?

44. Understanding the Resources • ResourceNeedsBringPartnerDevelop • Financial X X ----- X • Emotional ------ ------ ------ ------ • Mental / Educational ------ ------ ------ ------ • Language X ------ X ------ • Physical ------ ------ ------ ------ • Spiritual ------ ------ ------ ------ • Social Support X ------ X ------ • Integrity & Trust X ------ ------ X • Motivational ------ ------ ------ ------ • Relationships X X ------ ------ • Social Skills ------- ------ ------ ------

45. Step 2 - Creating the VisionWhere do we want to go? • What is the present situation? • What are the missing links (resources)? • What is the Vision of a better future? • What has to change? • What are the Goals?

46. Step 3 – Formulating the solution • Engage those in need with • meaningful discussions • Provide or introduce them to • the required resources • Help them develop their plan

47. Step 4 – Follow up with support • Listen to them and the issues • Follow up as a friend • Check for new obstacles • Provide new help as required

48. Examples of Individual SC • Specific Critical Training to get a job • Mini Loans to get established • Help getting services (Government or other) • Coach on life skills • Provide references & resources for skill training

49. Systemic Change in the Community

50. Community Systemic Change 1. Understand the community need and the existing resources 2. Create the vision and buy in 3. Formulate the solution 4. Implement the Plan (Systemic change)