· PDF file · 2018-03-06RSVP to: Linus Ulfig 651-636-2382. Together for the...

TogetherSisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet & Consociates, St. Paul Province

Once again Lent comes to make its prophetic appeal to remind us that it is possible to create something new within ourselves and around us, simply because God is faithful, and continues to be rich in goodness and mercy; always ready to forgive and start afresh. ~Pope Francis, On Hope

I speak of hope in the African American experience as that inner orientation of the human spirit that motivates and sustains one to work for a nonguaranteed future in the face of formidable obstacles.

Hence hope is the expectation of a new future that is neither a simple rearranging of the old furniture nor a continuation of former ways in different configurations. Hope is the belief that things can—and will — be radically other than how they are now. Hope is the expectation of a new beginning that is as yet dimly perceived.

Hope is the calm confidence that the Beloved Community and the welcome table are visions worthy of trust, and worth giving one’s life for their realization. ~ Bryan Massingale, Racial Justice and the Catholic Church, p.147 Hope

www.csjstpaul.org

2 | March 2018 | Together for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet & Consociates

CONTENTS

2. Celeste’s Dream

3. Birthdays

Directory Updates

4. Consociate Services

6. St. Joseph Workers

7. Carondelet Center

8. Sarah’s... an Oasis

for Women

9. Cretin-Derham Hall

10. Learning In Style

Ministries Foundation

11. Wisdom Ways

12. Social Justice

March 13th 5-8pm

St. Catherine University

Coeur de Catherine

2nd Floor Atrium

Find out how the St. Kate’s and CSJ Community Gardens come together to fight food insecurity. Be

a part of the solution at our first annual SEEDS OF JOY event!

Start a seed in a pot and take it home with you to grow!

Contact [email protected] with questions or if you will require reasonable accommodations to attend.

New Grant for Garden EventBy Jennifer Tacheny, Celeste’s Dream

St. Catherine University junior dietetics major, Natalie Nation, works with Celeste’s Dream as student president of the St. Kate’s Food Justice Coalition. Nation received a National Catholic Sisters Week (NCSW) grant to host a seed-starting event at St. Kate’s entitled “Seeds of Joy.” She hopes to bring students, Sisters and the larger CSJ community together for a seed planting event that educates participants about food insecurity on St. Kate’s campus and how community gardens can be part of the solution.

2018 marks the 14th year of Celeste’s Dream community garden. Together, Celeste’s Dream and Earth Partners have mentored and collaborated with students, faculty and staff on the St.

Kate’s Food Justice Coalition (FJC) for nearly a decade. Celeste’s Dream also offers leadership in the St. Kate’s Food Insecurity Project (FIP) which currently provides a food shelf for students experiencing food insecurity on campus.

This year, students hope to increase the amount of fresh produce grown for students in need. The Seeds of Joy event is a way to engage more community members in this meaningful work of accompanying students in CSJ mission (Acts of Chapter 2013, “Communion within the Earth Community”). Please join us for this hands-on event on Tuesday, March 13 from 5-8 p.m. at St. Catherine University, Coeur de Catherine, 2nd Floor Atrium. Snacks will be served.

Find out how the St. Kate's and CSJ Community Gardens come together to fight food insecurity. Be a part of the solution at our first annual SEEDS OF JOY event!

March 13 from 5-8 p.m. at St. Catherine University, Coeur de Catherine, second floor.

Contact [email protected] with questions or reasonable accommodation requests to attend.

March

Sisters Appreciation Day

hosted by Knights of Columbus

Sunday, March 25 12:30 - 4:00 p.m. Immaculate Conception Church Hall 4030 Jackson St. NE Columbia Heights

Social, Games, Supper RSVP to: Linus Ulfig 651-636-2382

Together for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet & Consociates | March 2018 | 3

Celebrate!Celebrate St. Patrick's Day and St. Joseph's Day at Althea's apartment bake sale and crafts. Irish Soda Breads, soups, cookies (just to name a few things). Also gifts, wooden art and other interesting things to see.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday. March 5, 7, 9, 12, 14 and 16 from 1 - 3 p.m. Carondelet Village # 115.

Stop by for a look or call 651-695-5204 when you would like to come.

All are welcome.

BIRTHDAYSMarch 1

Joe Claus, Friend Anna Marie DeVos, CSJ Mary Syfax Noble, Consociate Candidate

March 4

Agnes Iten, CSJ

March 9

Mary Reinhardt, Consociate

March 11

Ann Diehl, CSJ Donna Hauer, Consociate

March 12

Jane Arens, CSJ

March 13

Peggy O'Leary, CSJ

March 14

Kathleen Niska, CSJ Annabelle Raiche, CSJ

March 15

Dorothy (Dot) Wolking, Consociate

March 16

Joseph Boyle, Consociate Bonnie Steele, Consociate

March 17

Patricia DeBlieck, CSJ

March 19

Mary Joe Dolan, Consociate Suzanne Reedy, Consociate Mary Sarto Revier, CSJ

March 22

Mary Fowler, CSJ Betty Gits, CSJ Lilly Long, CSJ

March 23

Vicki Musech, Consociate

March 24

Mary Kaye Medinger, Consociate

March 25

Jean Rooney, CSJ

March 25

Denice Peterson, Consociate

March 27

Ann Redmond, CSJ

March 28

Michele Murphy, CSJ

March 30

Joyce Manning, Consociate Cathy Steffens, CSJ

March 31

Sandy Dodson, Consociate Barbara Palmer, Consociate

March

Directory UpdatesOn page 96, there are two corrections for Lynn Shubitz. Her correct e-mail address is: [email protected] and her zip code is 55811

Mary Freitag, Consociate has a new address: 10480 Perkins Ave. N., Stillwater, MN 55082

Maureen Rose Doran, Consociate has a new address: 2241 Creekside Court, St. Paul, MN 55112

Mary Kay Fortier-Spalding, Consociate has a new address: 8400 Pennsylvania Road #128, Bloomington, MN 55438

Remove the "Comm." in Mary Hunt's address. It should be: 441 Desnoyer Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104

Nancy Tang, Consociate has a new address: 2850 Market Place Drive #309, Little Canada, MN 55117


Consociates Mari Ann Graham and Donna Hauer guided the community through the terrain of these deep questions at the 2018 Stirring the Fire Retreat. Upon entering the Dining Room attendees knew that this year’s event was going to be something different. Rather than the usual smattering of tables surrounded by chairs, the room was arranged in concentric U-shaped rows of chairs centering not on a stage but on a “living room setting” of a comfortable sofa and electric fireplace. This created an intimate space where the 100 or so assembled attendees vulnerably and honestly engaged the above questions.

The Opening Ritual welcomed the Sisters, Consociates and Candidates, Partners in Mission, Friends of St. Joseph, St. Joseph Workers, and Inquirers who attended; it also set the retreat’s theme in the context of current events and the CSJ mission (Acts of Chapter 2013, “Partnering with New Eyes). A short video highlighting events that have recently again brought racism to the forefront of our nation’s consciousness: The song “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” served as background to images of Tamir Rice and Philando Castile, hate groups marching openly in public places, protesters struggling to have their voices heard, politicians and others maligning immigrant and refugees in their time of need. At its conclusion Mari Ann asked: How is it that a song steeped in sadness and lament ends with the words “Glory, Glory Hallelujah’? Individuals moved into the “living room” to reflect and share insights. From there the rest of the retreat unfolded into an honest, vulnerable conversation about our lament of and healing from the ways racism separates us from our humanity and one another.

Donna and Mari Ann skillfully presented questions, invited sharing, and offered us valuable resources. Their gentle guidance helped people feel safe to navigate difficult feelings and experiences, engage spiritual work and learn from one another. Attendees praised the soul-space created.

Before leaving some attendees signed up for the following opportunities to continue engagement and learning about racial healing:

1. On Being Civil Conversation Project: a podcast w/john a. powell on opening the question of race to the question of belonging. Listen to this powerful conversation with Krista Tippett, host of the popular radio show On Being and john a. powell, Director of the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at The University of California Berkeley. You can access the link at: https://onbeing.org/programs/john-a-powell-opening-the-question-of-race-to-the-question-of-belonging

On February 27, Justice and Celeste’s Dream Offices hosted an opportunity for attendees to learn from this podcast and the civil conversations model developed by On Being Studios. All are welcome to continue to engage this podcast and model with others. The civil conversations model is similar to CSJ process of Sharing the Heart.

2. On February 12, Consociate Kate O’Connell hosted a racial truth and reconciliation process based on the 12 Steps. This group will meet again on the Monday, March 26 and hopes to meet regularly on the 4th Monday.

Other highlights from the day included a delicious, zero-waste lunch from Agra Culture, a new neighborhood restaurant committed to using organic produce and sustainable practices whenever possible. After lunch, Cathy Steffens, CSJ, led us in a short session of Tai Chi. And, in true Stirring the Fire tradition, the closing ritual invited time for quiet reflection and the invitation for attendees to make a generous promise to themselves and the community for the year ahead.

Consociate ServicesHow is it that the trouble and the praise of life’s experiences are often tied up in one another?

What have we lost in the experience of racism? What do we need from each other to heal from the separations caused by racism?

What Do We Need from Each Other?


Strengthen the Consocium for CSJ MissionIn 2016 and early 2017, as the Sisters began preparations for the Extraordinary Chapter, many Consociates voiced the same question: What can we do? How can we help prepare for a stronger future? We received our answer loud and clear: what Consociates can do, in this time and in others, is strengthen the Consocium for CSJ Mission.

It was clear to many Consociate leaders that in order to truly strengthen the Consocium, we need to find a structure that better fits this dynamic and growing group. In March 2017, a committee was created (through discernment) called the Consociate Process Planning Committee (CPPC) and members of this group were tasked with engaging the whole Consocium in creating a new structure to support the work of mission.

CPPC members engaged individuals and groups of Consociates through direct mail, phone calls, online surveys, listening sessions and assemblies. The result was a process that was transparent, participatory and reflective of the will of the Consocium at large. Together, we started by defining our collective values and vision for the Consocium, which served as the bedrock on which the new structure was built. At the end of this process, Consociates approved a new structure that is reflective of these core values.

At the Consociate Assembly on November 18, 2017, Consociates affirmed by vote a new structure that, upon implementation later in 2018, will replace the current governance

structure. This new structure has two main components:

• A seven-member Consociate Leadership Collaborative (CLC). These seven members will include five discerned Consociates along with the two Consociate Services staff members. This group will be responsible for key areas of work with the support of Ad Hoc committees. • A twelve-member Consociate Council. These twelve members will include the seven members of the Leadership Collaborative, two affirmed at-large Consociates, two Sisters and one Province Leadership Team liaison member. This council will be responsible for strategic thinking, advising and giving counsel to Consociate Leadership Collaborative.

This structure will replace the current governance model used by the Consocium, including the Consociate Coordinating Circles and the Consociate Advisory Council. This structure does not replace or make redundant the two Consociate Service Office staff members who will also serve on the Leadership Collaborative, the Council and continue to be solely responsible for day-to-day operations of the Consociate Service Office including work with Inquirers and Candidate Formation.

On February 1, 2018, Consociates and Sisters met so the Consociates and the members of the planning committee could present this new structure and give a glimpse into the process that created it. The more than 45 people in the room had positive

feedback and were encouraged to keep in touch with Consociates concerning their feedback at the beginning of this great experiment. Handouts from that evening, including important documents generated by the Consociate Process Planning Committee over the course of their work, can be accessed on the forum in the “Consociate Resources” section.

The next step in this process is the creation of a Selections Process group. This group of 4-6 people will be responsible for designing the process by which the community will choose the members of the Consociate Leadership Collaborative and Council.

Many thanks to the members of the Consociate Process Planning Committee for a job well done: Anita Duckor (chair), Jill Garcia, Barbara McIlquham, Peg Schwendemann, and staff members Joan Pauly Schneider and Andrea Pearson Tande.

Our Next Community Assembly: What’s Next?April 14 from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Carondelet Center Dining Room.

Together we will engage with the Ministry Commission around some of their latest work, check in with the Justice Commission and Relationship and Association Commission, and make important decisions concerning the future of the Community Assembly. If you are willing to donate time to help with ritual, environment, set up, clean up, greeting or other logistics, please contact Consociate Lois Mineau at 612.388.5027 or [email protected].


St. Joseph WorkersThe second priority date for 2018-2019 applications is April 15th.

For more informaton, visit www.stjosephworkers.org.

This year has not been easy, but it has had more rewards than challenges. I have especially enjoyed the work I do at my placement site with Catholic Charities: New American Services. I am a Case Aide. My main job is helping clients with AOR (Affidavit of Relationship) applications. This is a family reunification program. I help the client fill out the application, inform them what documents need to be submitted with it, and then I submit the application for them. However, this only takes up part of my time. I also spend a lot of time helping the case manager with refugee resettlement. I help fill out applications for clients, get hygiene kits ready, do home visits, take clients to appointments, and help with apartment move-in.

I have greatly enjoyed my time with New American Services. I had been extremely interested in working with refugee resettlement before I knew about the St. Joseph Worker Program.

I have learned so much in the last five and a half months. I have a better and deeper understanding of the journey that refugees undertake to come to the United States. However, learning such information can make one feel worse instead of better.

I often find myself feeling frustrated, whether it is with national politics or local agency systems. It is hard when there are things that we cannot help our clients with, whether materially or

financially. It is even harder to tell people who have been waiting a long time for their family that there is nothing that they or we can do but wait.

However, despite all the hardships, the work I do is very rewarding. I love interacting with the

clients and building relationships with them over their ninety-day resettlement period. Overall, my work and my community have taught me patience, self-advocacy, and how to better love my neighbor without distinction.

How to Better Love My Neighbor Without Distinctionby Mikyla Denney, St. Joseph Worker, Catholic Charities

“My work and my community have taught

me patience, self-advocacy, and how to

better love my neighbor without distinction.”


Carondelet Centerwww.carondeletcenter.org

Construction is Underway for a New, More Welcoming Space

Construction is underway in Carondelet Center! The company selected for the work is Reiling Construction. It is a woman and minority owned business that has sixty years of general contractor experience in both commercial and residential construction. The crews have been very respectful of our space and considerate of our staff, tenants and guests. They even provided staff with earplugs during the demolition phase! We are looking forward to a beautiful, new welcome space in the building entrance when the project is complete!

Before Before Before

Before During During


Sarah’s... an Oasis for Womenwww.sarahsoasis.org

Sarah’s makes it a priority to select and buy products that are safe and healthy for the residents of Sarah’s and for the Earth. We advocate for purchases that are locally grown, organic, shipped

the shortest distance, fair-trade, made or sold by small

or female-owned businesses.

Your contributions to Sarah’s help us accomplish

this goal. One recent example is the opportunity to donate a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share to Sarah’s for the 2018 season.

For a healthier home, Sarah’s makes its own natural cleaning products,

refilling our reusable spray bottles as needed. We also have a wonderful recycling program that includes organics resulting in a 70% decrease in our solid waste. We benefit from donations from community partners like Breadsmith and Trader Joe’s who hold similar values.

Here are some of the things we do at Sarah’s to stay healthy:

• Eat vegetables • Avoid sugar • Wash hands • Go for a health check up with a doctor or dentist • Exercise by walking or bike riding • Use the exercise equipment at Sarah’s • Story-telling and writing • Creating jewelry • Visit a counselor or spiritual friend • Gardening

As we await the rebirth of spring this month, the women and staff of Sarah’s give thanks for all our many blessings, and we pray for good health and the good health of the Earth.

As the weather warms, please stop by Sarah’s to renew your health by walking one of our two labyrinths. Our Legacy Labyrinth is located in the southwest corner of Sarah’s property in the “Mothers’ Garden”. Our Dancing Woman Labyrinth is located in the southeast corner just off the backyard.

Sarah’s will always be our home! We love and care for the good health of Sarah’s home and all its residents.

A Healthier Home, Heart and Earth

Mark Your Calendar!Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women “Welcome Home” Breakfast Buffet and Benefit Wednesday, June 20th, 2018, 8:00-9:30 a.m. at Anderson Center, Hamline University

This event is free. An RSVP is requested. Contact Martha at [email protected] or call 651-696-8672 for more details. More information will be sent to you in early 2018.


Cretin-Derham Hallwww.cretin-derhamhall.org

Embracing Ishmael: Connecting Catholics and Muslims in Minnesotaby Lou Anne M. Tighe, Consociate

Always inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph and Consociates, Cretin-Derham Hall hosts Justice Week each school year. Past topics have included: Human Trafficking in Minnesota, the Civil Rights Movement, JustArt (art that promotes justice), Gender Equity, and Water Justice. Aware of the many tensions in our country due to misinformation and stereotypes, this year’s Justice Week connected students and faculty to our Muslim brothers and sisters of the Twin Cities.

Saint (Pope] John Paul, in an Address to Young Muslims in Morocco (August 19, 1985) said:

Christians and Muslims, in general, have badly understood each other, and sometimes, in the past, we have opposed and even exhausted each other in polemics (i.e., strong verbal and written attacks) and wars. Dear young people, I wish that you might be able to help in building a world where God [Allah] may have first place in order to aid and save humankind. On this path, you are assured of the esteem and the collaboration of your Catholic brothers and sisters whom I represent among you this evening.

This profound affirmation of the power of young people, both Catholic and Muslim, to build a world where God [Allah] reigns was significantly affected by the events

on September 11, 2001. Since that unforgettable day in our nation’s history, Islam has been associated with terrorism. It is time for education and connecting our Catholic students with Muslims in order to gain a deeper

understanding of their faith and experiences in Minnesota. For the KKK is to Christianity about as much as ISIS and the Taliban is to Islam. In both examples, a group forms to promote hate while aligning itself to a major religion even though the major tenets of that faith are opposed to their rhetoric and actions.

Keynoting the week was Ryan Harris, a devout Muslim, and a Cretin-Derham Hall graduate of 2003. The Islamic Resource Group of Minnesota provided speakers on the Four Pillars of Islam, Muslims in Minnesota, Women in Islam and War and Islam. Consociate Lou Anne Tighe and St. Joseph Worker, Sophie Mongoven, presented “Now that We Know, What Can We Do: Developing Skills and Becoming Allies.”

Justice Week was an opportunity to grow as a people of God. Going back to the beginning of the Judeo-Christian faith, Abraham and Hagar were parents of Ishmael, whose descendants are Muslims today. Therefore, by “Embracing Ishmael,” may we continue to seek God whose grace is active among Catholics and Muslims.


Learning In Style School

www.lisschool.org

Ministries Foundationwww.csjministriesfoundation.org

The Children's Room is place to make new friends! These three boys love to play with cars, create puzzles and

make up imaginary worlds.

Want health care for all? You can do your part! Join us at the 2018 Carondelet Gala supporting St. Mary’s Health Clinics and enjoy a memorable evening at the lovely JW Marriott (Mall of America) – an all new venue! We welcome first time patrons at a reduced rate, so bring others from your community who also want to support health care while enjoying a fine night of delectable dining and entertainment. For more information, visit csjministriesfoundation.org/gala

Province Council Highlights

Council members reviewed the Innovation timeline for discussing the governance models in relationship to the Pathfinder Project. The Council recognized there is energy for both processes and supported both moving forward. Discussion included sharing information from participation in conversations about the models and a reminder that the survey to give the committee feedback on the models is to be completed by March 8. Project Pathfinder begins February 24, with circle conversations to continue into June. The second set of governance models is projected to be sent to the community for discussion by May.

Council members discussed the possible gift to Holy Angels, reviewed province major gifts made in the last ten years, and the process to use for presentation, discussion and leaning by the Sister Assembly in March. Council discussed chapters 10 – 12 of O’Murchu’s Religious Life in the 21st Century, the Prospect of Refounding.


Social Justice

Anti Human Trafficking Efforts During Super Bowl

Visit www.csjstpaul.org/justice/ for the latest justice statements, stories and action items

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet & Consociates, laywomen, St. Kate’s students & alumnae, and Sisters from several religious communities: Dominicans, Benedictines, Congregation of St. Joseph, Franciscans, and School Sisters of Notre Dame formed a community of giving by collecting items to stock an emergency shelter in the Twin Cities for victims of sex trafficking.

The cash donations, gift cards, clothing, bedding, air mattresses, ear warmers, etc. were used during the Super Bowl and will continue to be used to support the needs of the victims of sex trafficking.

Special thanks to St. Catherine University, St. Thomas University, and Beta Epsilon students for organizing a hygiene item drive and filling 120 quart-sized Ziploc bags for Breaking Free’s street outreach.

Breaking Free reported 31 women came through their drop-in shelter during the duration of the Super Bowl. They were able to provide overnight shelter for 14 women (not including five children ages four to six months). All clients ranged in age from 17-45. All clients received advocacy and a safety plan for moving them forward in their fight to exit the life.

Thanks to all who offered their prayers and support for all the Minnesota agencies, police officers and survivors. We celebrate the hard work of all those who work tirelessly against sex trafficking and we especially continue to honor survivors for their courage and resiliency to break free.

Seeing the Stark Reality of Our Immigration System

What is the difference between justice and the law? I’d known for some time that many people went to immigration court without legal representation. But knowing a fact and seeing the reality are two very different things. On February 6, 2018, I visited the immigration court for the first time with several members of the Immigration

Task Group. Within 45 minutes five different young men came in wearing handcuffs, orange jumpsuits and shackles on their feet. One man struggled to retrieve documents from a large envelope with his handcuff restraints.

A large Department of Justice seal hung on the wall behind

by Barbara McIlquam, CSJ Immigration Task Group

continued on page 13


the judge. It was disconcerting to look at a symbol of justice – and witness procedures that belie that promise. To all appearances, the judge and bailiff, the clerk and the Spanish interpreter – and even the ICE attorney – appeared thoughtful and professional. The judge detailed legal documents that might give recourse to the defendants – and an online voice translated the explanations into their native languages. Not one defendant had a question.

It was all done with decorum. Yet Lady Justice would weep at this system that sends young people to stand alone – in a foreign land – with no advocate – and no understanding of how our laws will determine their fate. And yet . . . this is what immigrant rights look like in our country at this time – our tax dollars at work.

But this is not what I want these young men to think about as they spend weeks or months in the jails and detention centers we pay for. This is not what I want immigrant families to think of as American justice. But this is our system. We built it and pay for it.

Now it is time to change it!

• Let’s call our senators and representatives frequently. Ask them to support a clean Dream Act – and legislation that welcomes immigrants and refugees. • Let’s contribute to organizations like the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) or the Advocates for Human Rights who work directly with immigrants in our courts and detention centers. • Let’s speak up against laws and policies that negatively impact immigrants and refugees. • Let’s seize every opportunity to have intentional conversations about just and humane immigration laws within our personal circles of family, friends and co-workers. • Let’s write letters to those in detention. • Let’s join with others in supporting immigrant rights (ISAIAH, ICOM, the Immigration Task Group of the Justice Commission). • Let’s create new ways of welcoming immigrants into our communities and institutions.

Perhaps through actions like these we will succeed in erasing the difference between justice and the law.

Join us in prayer for Parkland, Florida and read the Congregation’s Reaffirmation of Our Commitment to Nonviolence. Both are available in “Latest News” at www.csjstpaul.org.


Social Justice

A Call to Action from a Woman of Justice and Joy: A Conversation with Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Anne McKeig

More photos of the NAAWG Journey for Justice event can be found on the back page.

Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Anne McKeig joined nearly 200 community members for a rich evening of conversation, ritual, music, justice and indigenous food on February 8. This event was hosted by the Native American Awareness Working Group of the CSJ Justice Commission, the church of Gichitwaa Kateri and Wisdom Ways. The room was filled with Larry and Claire Martin’s gifted flute music and singing, along with the smell of sage carried by Native youth for smudging to purify and cleanse the space. As Shawn Phillips from Gichitwaa Kateri said, “Let the sage wash over us and cleanse us.” Maureen Headbird, a member of Leech Lake Nation, pipe carrier and Kateri trustee, blessed the group and opened our evening with a Pipe Ceremony.

The evening conversation began on stage with Anne McKeig, Ann Redmond, CSJ and Jessica Lopez Lyman, a St. Kate’s alum and current post-doctoral student. Anne shared her life’s path from growing up at Federal Dam, MN (current population, 106) to stories of her spirited days at St. Kate’s in classrooms and residence halls with various CSJ Sisters to becoming a Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court. Anne shared her passion for protecting abused and neglected children in the child protection system which she stated was “the most important job I ever had” for 16 years in the County Attorney’s Office. “Every person in this room has a responsibility to these children,” Anne shared. The current system is overburdened and in crisis; “This is Emergency-Room justice right now.” These kids need to be seen and cared about.

Anne was an artful and masterful storyteller weaving together passionate advocacy and positive energy so that the gathered crowd felt inspired and energized rather than

hopeless by the scope of work to be done. McKeig shared how being with the CSJ Sisters gave her a sense of being a part of something, and a secure home among other strong women with goals. Life at St. Kate’s “was the foundation for everything moving forward,” because she gained a sense of confidence, worthiness and her own value. Anne also found inspiration and encouragement in the role model of strength in her own mother, Cecila, a much-loved St. Kate’s graduate, who was with us for the evening. She also shared how her mentors were crucial throughout in her life including when she applied to become a MN Supreme Court Justice. Robert Blaeser, a judge from White Earth Nation, challenged her, “This isn’t about you; it’s about our community. Our community needs someone to speak for us. The Indian community needs a voice!” She emphasized this point repeatedly throughout the evening that the tribe

continued on page 15


Media,Technology, & Gender EqualityInternational Women’s Day

Sunday, March 41:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Hamline UniversityAnderson Center 774 Snelling Ave NSt Paul, MN 55104

International Women’s Day is designed to catalyze activism and highlight advancements and challenges in women’s rights and equality. The theme “Media, Technology, & Gender Equality” will be explored in workshops, a keynote presentation, and networking opportunities. For more information and registration visit: http://bit.ly/2CJXsOA Keynote Presentation:Nekessa Julia Opoti is a multi-media storyteller. Her work in media promotes the articulation by grassroots voices of often unheard perspectives on minority and immigrant life in Minnesota, particularly the Twin Cities. Her work explores such subjects as class, migration, education, gender, sexuality, identity, and belonging from the immigrant and diaspora perspectives. Artistic Performance:Andrea Jenkins is a poet and an artist who now serves on the Minneapolis City Council representing the 8th Ward. Jenkins is the first African American trans-gender woman in the nation to be elected to the city council of a major city. She is the author of The T is Not Silent: New and Selected Poems (2015) and the recipient of many awards and fellowships.

Women’s Resource Center at

2018

depends on her and those like her to do this important work.

Anne McKeig was honored with a hand-made, inscribed quilt honoring her bear clan by Susan Swartling. The evening concluded with flute music and singing of Psalm 118, desserts served by the Dream of Wild Health Garden Warriors, and Shawn Phillips reminding us all, “Migwetch, Migwetch, Migwetch. We are forever connected. May we walk together in Justice.”

More photos of the event can be found on the back page.

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