Looking back on this year and reflecting on our theme, Rise Together, I continue to return to the idea of co-responsibility. Just over a year ago we joined an indigenous led coalition to support the long fight to protect tribal treaty rights and remove the Lower Snake River dams. The journey featured seven events across the Northwest region with IPJC hosting the event in Spokane. The evening featured drumming, faith statements, storytelling, and a powerful ceremony gathered around All Our Relations — a stunning steel piece of art depicting the interdependent relationships of creation crafted by Cyaltsa Finkbonner a member of the Lummi tribe. This event and the broader campaign were a beautiful collaborative effort between the indigenous, conservation, and faith communities. That initial partnership has led IPJC to form the Sacred Salmon campaign as we welcome more and more people to the movement knowing we can only achieve the change we desire together.
As we have stepped into co-responsibility on the issue of salmon recovery and tribal treaty protections, we have also been discerning what the future looks like amidst the changing reality of women’s religious life. Over the last year or so I have had the chance to meet with several of the leadership teams of IPJC’s founding congregations. As I shared about our community’s work, and they shared about their charism and the massive transition that they are in the midst of, there always came a beautiful moment acknowledging that no matter what the future holds IPJC will continue living the charism of justice and peace as co-responsible partners.
Below and in the pages that proceed are some ways we are Rising Together in co-responsibility:
Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment (NWCRI), brought the priorities of directly impacted communities to the boardrooms of 37 corporations, through 41 shareholder resolutions, and participation in over 40 dialogues.
The Youth Action Team Interns and Fellows acted for peace in Israel and Palestine and invited school leadership to consider how to increase support for mental health in schools.
The Justice for Women community challenged cultures of bullying, racism, and violence in schools and gathered entrepreneurial women to form a co-op!
All of these acts of collective action, and so many more, are made possible through the generous support of this community. We invite you to Rise Together with us to reach our fall fundraising goal of $65,000 by:
Contributing to the Fall Appeal with a one-time gift, a recurring pledge, or a tax-free donation from your IRA.
Participating in and promoting our programs, events, and publications.
Designating IPJC as your charity for employer matching.
Naming IPJC as a beneficiary of your estate in your estate plan.
Praying for our ministry and the building of a more just world.
In solidarity and gratitude, Will Rutt Executive Director
Cover photo: YATI Fellows and coalition members, Good Friday Way of Sorrow, Station XIII-IV at Cal Anderson Park, Seattle, WA (See pg. 5).
Dear Friends, your recent issue on Right Relations was one of the best ever. And they are all good. The articles helped stimulate some discussion in our Pathways for Justice group. I was grateful. And the prayer on the back cover is one that begs to be said — with meaning and OFTEN.”
Sue Kenny, subscriber
This year’s four issues of A Matter of Spirit told stories of struggle, hope, and possibility ultimately illustrating the values of community and how together we can rise to meet the challenge of injustice. A diverse community of writers authentically and boldly shared their experiences and wisdom with our community.
On the Road to Sainthood – Fall 2023
In the Fall, we lifted up the stories and impact of six Black Catholics who are On the Road to Sainthood. The Church has yet to canonize a single Black North American saint, despite the powerful witnesses of holiness that the Venerable Pierre Toussant, Venerable Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, Venerable Henriette DeLille, Servant of God Julia Greeley, Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, and Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman have offered to us. The authors in the issue shared about their own encounters with these holy people and the example it has set for our community. Saintly Six, pray for us!
Gun Violence – Winter 2024
In our Winter issue we dug into the epidemic of Gun Violence. Angela Howard-McParland sums up the challenge we face “the reality of shootings and the threat of violence impede our ability as a society to strive for the common good and to fully achieve peace”. Women religious have been fierce advocates against gun violence and IPJC was honored to highlight their work through the Nuns Against Gun Violence movement that began a few years ago. The Spring issue featured stories of painful loss and the reality of living in fear of violence while offering stories of hope and healing.
AMOS BY THE NUMBERS:
Number of issues distributed: 19,650
Number of times accessed online: 19,298
Countries: 143
Synodality – Spring 2024
Following up on Sacred Pathways our Fall 2021 issue, IPJC’s Spring issue Synodality invited each writer to answer the same question: What does a synodal Church look like to you? Mollie Clark shared her experience of synodality offering “sharing what was in my heart and receiving the stories that pour out of others, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, served as “being church” in a spirit of radical inclusivity and love”. Along with Mollie’s experience we shared possibilities of belonging, justice, and creativity, illuminating a hopeful pathway forward for the Church.
Right Relations – Summer 2024
This Summer, through a continuation of the work kicked off by last year’s Sacred Salmon issue and enacted through the All Our Relations Campaign (see page 10) in the Fall, we considered what Right Relations look like as we work towards healing and reciprocity with our indigenous brothers and sisters. JoDe Goudy offered a powerful and challenging invitation to all our readers: “…seek out and learn about the Doctrine of Christian Discovery from other Original Free Nations people: our uniqueness is that our viewpoint is from the shore. I am standing next to my ancestors in 1491, looking towards the ships coming toward us, as I understand that totality of the impact this way of thought has had. Others who try to identify Doctrine of Discovery are on the ships.” Other writers shared pathways for action and change as well as their own stories and wisdom!
IPJC welcomed Vera Schöpe Llamas as our Women’s Justice Circle Organizer in November! She quickly has built deep and meaningful connections with IPJC’s network of community leaders. We are grateful for her leadership and excited about all the ways the community is rising together to create a more just and equitable world for women.
Círculo de Federal Way, WA
Leaders Manuela Romero and Griselda Orozco (pictured above, back right) gathered eleven women who decided to focus on self-cultivation and economic development. The Circle seeks to empower Latina women to be leaders and foster their resilience and healing after facing domestic violence, racism, and other social inequities.
After the initial two-month circle process, the women launched an ongoing community action campaign and participated in a training with Natural Helpers. They plan to create a cooperative to showcase each member’s talents and use them to serve the community, while also building a support system for personal, professional, social, and cultural development. Two circle leaders are in the process of obtaining licenses for their own businesses!
This project is a continuation of a previous Circle led by Yuliana Chaparro, newly elected board of directors' member, whose poem is shared here. The initiative continues to grow thanks to the leadership of Manuela, Griselda, and Yuliana.
This leadership opportunity helped us to grow as human beings.”
— Griselda Orozco, Federal Way, WA
Griselda starts her business of wearable art. Follow her work @arte_griselda
¡YO SOY!
— Poema de Yuliana Chaparro
Yo soy de la tierra… Soy de la tierra del hambre. ¡Soy de la tierra de la abundancia!
Yo soy del olor a tierra mopjada al despertar…
Soy del sonido del viento al atardecer gritando desesperado por avanzar.
Yo soy de la gente que sale a sembrar lo que quiere cosechar,
Yo soy la tierra que da de comer al que la sabe sembrar.
Yo soy de la raza campesina que sabe que lo que se cuida se preserva.
Yo soy de la raíz, donde brotan semillas que florecen con la lluvia.
Yo soy del campo, donde llueven tempestades y amanecen esperanzas.
Yo soy del rancho, donde las vacas pastan y las cabras corren contentas libres por el llano.
Yo soy de mi madre, quien luchó por sus sueños, para que yo pudiera soñar también.
¡YO SOY LA ESPERANZA!
¡YO SOY LA LIBERTAD!
¡YO SOY TEMPLANZA!
¡YO SOY PAZ!
I am from the earth...
I am from the land of hunger.
I am from the land of abundance!
I am from the smell of wet earth at dawn...
I am from the sound of the wind at dusk, desperately crying to move forward.
I am from the people who go out to plant what they desire to harvest,
I am the land that feeds those who know how to sow it.
I am from the farming people who know that what is cared for is preserved.
I am from the root, where seeds sprout and bloom with the rain.
I am from the countryside, where storms rain down and hopes rise with the morning.
I am from the ranch, where cows graze and goats run free and happy across the plains.
I am from my mother, who fought for her dreams, so I could -dream as well.
I AM HOPE!
I AM FREEDOM!
I AM FORTITUDE!
I AM PEACE!
Círculo de Mattawa, WA
The Mattawa Women’s Justice Circle began in June 2024 under the leadership of Sofia Hernandez, a Latina farmworker and mother of two, and Michelle Meza, Resident Services Coordinator at Catholic Charities Housing Services. Nine women gathered for the first Circle meeting, in large part due to the support of Marisol Ávila, SP who is based in Yakima and reached out to over 25 women!
The Mattawa Circle utilized the Circle process to address the ongoing challenges of youth gang violence and lack of safety and wellbeing in the community over the past 20 years. Throughout their training and ongoing meetings and events the two leaders have reiterated their deep desire to collaborate with key power holders in the community. They have invited the Mayor, the City Council, the Wahluke School District, and local police officials to attend their meetings to discuss this shared community justice issue in the hope of developing concrete solutions together. The women spoke about the Circle’s concerns and priorities at a City Council meeting.
On September 6th, the Circle organized an interfaith vigil for youth safety and wellbeing in collaboration with Padre Lalo Barragán who hosted the vigil at Our Lady of the Desert Parish. Interfaith leaders, Francisco Jiménez from Wenatchee CAFE, and other community members, participated in an interactive presentation focused on specific community challenges for families in connection with systemic inequity and ongoing violence. A distinguished Wanapum elder, Kenny Mathias, wrapped up the ceremony by sharing prayers for the Earth to protect the Mattawa community and offered a piercingly beautiful prayer for youth safety. This was especially heartfelt and healing due to a gang shooting that occurred in the community the week prior to the vigil. In addition to adult programming, partner organizations, Wenatchee CAFE and the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs (CHA), helped provide a thriving space for youth connections featuring an intergenerational soccer game, pizza, and art workshops.
The Circle continues to seek local and regional support to co-create a series of parent-led events for all Mattawa residents to gather and discuss community challenges connected to recurrent gang violence and drug use, with a special focus on the ongoing impact it is having on Latino farm working families. Currently, they are organizing a Spanish-speaking family service fair sponsored by CHA and a community assembly. The Mattawa organizers hope these events will build bridges of mutual support, collaboration, and community outreach and that their effort includes everyone in Mattawa interested in a safer
community. IPJC has been able to offer leadership training, on-going support, the creation of thriving local and regional partnerships, and the design of a bilingual Youth Art Call with the title “My Mattawa.”
Círculo de Port Townsend, WA
In the Fall of 2023, in collaboration with Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates, a Circle focused on their children’s experience in schools associated with bullying and the lack of language accessibility. The women met with the school board to present their concerns and to share their stories and IPJC sent a letter to the school district in support of their initiative. The school board responded by assigning a community liaison to the Spanish speaking community, began exploring antibullying programming, and immediately modified school communications to be bi-lingually accessible!
An Emerging Network
Former and current facilitators of Women’s Justice Circles gather monthly via Zoom to connect, share best practices, provide program feedback, and develop pathways for partnership across Circles. The group has leaders from Mattawa, Port Townsend, Tigard, and Federal Way regularly attending!
(Top) Soccer game during gang violence prevention event. (Above) Sofia and Michelle lead parent-led change in Mattawa (second and third from the right, back row)
Rising with Youth Youth Action Team Program
1st Year Interns
In our third year of the Youth Action Team Internship (YATI), we welcomed 11 first-year students drawing from Holy Names Academy, Seattle Preparatory School, and Bishop Blanchet!
The interns eagerly joined co-facilitators Sarah Pericich-Lopez and Kameron Powell for a day-long orientation retreat in early September. An exciting portion of the retreat is when the interns build norms together allowing them to learn the unique gifts that each member of the group brings to the table and how they are best able to live into those gifts through community standards, expectations, and accountability.
After the orientation retreat, interns engaged in weekly community organizing workshops led primarily by Kam, Sarah and Will Rutt. In their end-of-year review the students identified two workshops that stood out! The first, led by Emmanuel (Nuelo) Lopéz, focused on identity, masking authenticity for conformity, and code switching. Emmanuel invited the interns to practice spoken word by sharing a poem from behind a curtain about who the broader culture stereotypes them to be based on their
YATI BY THE NUMBERS: 11 interns and 3 fellows trained
Over 75 peers gathered for listening 190+ gathered for education and Good Friday action 185 e-advocacy letters sent to congress
visible identities. The curtain was then dropped, and the interns were encouraged to share a poem that illuminates the truths of their identities. One intern expressed, “the workshop with Manny was so powerful! I never thought about integrating art and social justice.”
The most empowering workshop of the year is our annual One-to-One Speed Organizing workshop, which continues to be a favorite amongst the interns. Interns learn the skill of one-to-one relational meetings and practice them with community organizers, non-profit leaders, and beloved community partners during which they are given feedback about their gifts and areas for growth. The evening is a powerful display of community and relationship building.
In the second half of the year, after the completion of a broad listening campaign, the interns collectively discerned to focus their movement on mental health resources for Catholic high school youth. They hosted house meetings of their peers to more deeply understand
YATI Fellows and coalition members, Good Friday Way of Sorrow, Station XIII-IV at Cal Anderson Park, Seattle WA
We have the power to do something as big as making a lasting change with what we’re learning about here.”
— Sonja Lindstrom, Senior at Holy Names Academy
the needs of the community in relation to mental health. After reviewing their research, the interns determined the need for near-to-peer support programs within their schools, parental support programs, and the implementation of social-emotional learning curriculum. Together, they performed extensive research and created a mental health campaign proposal that they presented to the Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Nicholas Ford.
In May, Nicholas joined the students for an evening of fellowship and to hear their proposal. The meeting was inspiring as the students welcomed Nicholas into their community practice and shared stories with him. Nicholas was gracious and supportive, offering helpful information for the students to continue building their mental health campaign into the 2024-25 YATI year!
2nd Year Fellows – Actions for Peace in Israel and Palestine
During Fall 2023, we embarked on our first year of the Youth Action Team Fellows program. Fellows are second year interns who have successfully completed the firstyear internship cycle and are given more freedom to co-create movements with the IPJC community more broadly. IPJC’s first three fellows were all seniors at Holy Names Academy: Gabby Hipolito, Saskia Visser Carillo and Cleia Yuniardi.
Heartbroken by the devastating violence in Israel and Palestine after October 7, 2023, Saskia began asking questions about how the fellows could utilize their training, unique positionality as students, and the Catholic community to stop the injustices. Collaborating with Sarah, Saskia created a seven-month organizing strategy that centered relationship, faith, education, and movement building, to encourage the Catholic community to call for a permanent ceasefire.
In November, the fellows initiated their organizing plan by creating a coalition of Catholic high school students. After two weeks of hosting one-to-ones, the interns formed a 13-person coalition of Holy Names Academy students! Determining that many folks were unaware of the history of Israel and Palestine, the coalition identified the first
step would be to host an educational event. Reimagining a vision for an inclusive and de-colonized educational program led them to create an event that centered multigenerational wisdom and gifts, offered space for curiosity and dialogue, celebrated community, and was action oriented. Realizing that they needed assistance to share the history of Israel and Palestine, the fellows invited trusted leaders Dn. Denny Duffell and Jim Thomas, from Pax Christi, to collaborate.
In early March, the fellows and coalition members co-hosted From Conflict to Ceasefire at Our Lady of the Lake. Over 100 people attended the event, nearly half of whom were parishioners and members of Pax Christi while the other half were high school students. Jim offered a brief history of Israel and Palestine, followed by Denny evaluating how Catholic Social Thought invites Catholics to be non-violent and organize for ceasefire. A panel of four students moderated by Fr. Tim Clark illuminated young peoples’ vision of justice and nonviolence in relationship to Israel and Palestine. Participants engaged in small group discussions facilitated by the coalition. The evening concluded with the fellows inviting participants to sign the Washington Solidarity Statement for Israel and Palestine.
The fellows mobilized the participants of the educational event for a public action creatively integrating the Catholic liturgical practice of the Stations of the Cross by hosting a Good Friday public action. The Way of Sorrow gathered over 90 community members at St. Joseph Parish and processed to Cal Anderson Park. Along the journey, the community stopped at various points for Catholic leaders to share a vignette of Jesus’ Passion followed by a student coalition member sharing a testimony of those that experienced violence and oppression in Israel and Palestine, mirroring the themes from Jesus' life. When the group made it to the park a massive cross was installed on a hillside where faith leaders shared a call to action and unveiled a massive banner with the faith community’s demands. This was a powerful action that demonstrated how Catholic ritual can be re-claimed for social justice!
Pax Christi and IPJC Youth Action Team interns co-hosted at Our Lady of the Lake, Seattle, WA
St. Thérèse of Lisieux Young Activist Award
IPJC was humbled to name Holy Names Academy graduate and YATI alumni, Saskia Visser Carillo as the recipient of the 2024 Thérèse of Lisieux Young Activist Award. Saskia became an intern at IPJC during her junior year of high school and participated in the internship for two years. Saskia embodies kindness and modeled relationship beautifully with her peers. Over two years, we had the joy of witnessing Saskia grow into a strategic and persistent leader who could clearly describe a vision for justice to others and welcome them into that collective vision. She courageously vocalized her concerns for violence in Israel and Palestine and collaborated with her peers to form two events centered on relationship, education, and movement building to support ceasefire.
Northwest Ignatian Advocacy Summit 2024
In late February, the Jesuit sponsored works of the Northwest gathered for the second annual Northwest Ignatian Advocacy Summit. This year we moved to Seattle University and partnered with St. Joseph Parish to host over 80 high school and college students for a 3-day gathering focused on taking action to honor tribal treaty rights, restore and rehabilitate salmon populations, and remove the Lower Snake River Dams. Thursday and Friday were full of workshops focusing on identity development, storytelling, power analysis, environmental policy, advocacy visits, and a field trip to Bellarmine College Preparatory in Tacoma to witness their environmental justice campus initiatives. In the evenings, we experienced intergenerational community as adults joined for a screening of the Nez Perce documentary Covenant of the Salmon People followed by Q and A with friend of the center and Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment program coordinator Julian Matthews and Will Rutt. On Friday evening, folks engaged in story tables sharing about our calls into environmental justice work.
The experience culminated in a student led Sacred Salmon Townhall featuring voices from coalition partners, student narratives, faith statements, and policy education. We raised collective voice for a free-flowing Snake River and the honoring of treaty rights! Staff members from Representative Kim Schrier and Pramila Jayapal's offices were present. In the proceeding months after the summit
The Summit was such an influential experience as it developed my public speaking and advocacy skills and introduced me to an under-shared environmental issue.”
— Agamya Guttal
JHS class of '26
students from Jesuit Portland met with their Oregon congressional representatives and Gonzaga Prep students hosted a town hall of their own with the representatives currently running for the open congressional district seat!
ADVOCACY SUMMIT BY THE NUMBERS:
Over 80 students in attendance +150 folks at the town hall
Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) Northwest staff, FJVs (former) and 2023-24 JVs.
Rising with Youth Ignite 2024
We welcomed 29 high school students and 11 teachers and community leaders from five states to Whatcom County for IPJC’s annual collaborative summer program with Agape Service Project! Not only did the program double in participants, but our team was joined by two alumni of our YATI program as summer interns, Pavithra Harsha and Sydney Leardi.
Ignite focuses on accompaniment with the farmworking community of Whatcom County paired with developing foundational leadership skills for social justice. Throughout the week students supported the Agape food bank and distribution ministry providing food to over 400 families, they visited organic and eco-friendly farms, and spent time with the children of the communities offering fun enrichment activities.
During the in between moments of encountering the community, each respective delegation worked on a justice issue that was impacting their community ranging from houselessness to lack of access to healthcare. With those issues at the center, IPJC facilitated seven workshops focused on the practices and tools of faith-based community organizing developing the skills of: listening and communication, identity development, team building, 1-1 meetings, social analysis, and action planning.
Witnessing students create real moments of relationship with the farmworker community and making the connections between their struggle and the systemic reality of injustice was energizing and hopeful. Each of the communities grew as a team and built action plans to return to their respective communities to begin working for social change.
We were especially grateful to offer 17 student/adult scholarships for this experience due to the generosity of our partner Agape!
* Important note: although Ignite 2024 took place at the very beginning of the 2024-25 fiscal year most of the of planning took place during the year this report covers. We were so excited about it that we couldn’t wait a whole year to share this work!
IGNITE BY THE NUMBERS:
29 students, 11 adult chaperones
5 schools (Jesuit High School Portland-OR, Holy Names Academy-WA, Academy of the Holy Names-FL, Verbum Dei-CA, Brophy College Preparatory-AZ)
SACRED SALMON CAMPAIGN BY THE NUMBERS: +1000 people engaged +400 actions 2 legislator town halls and +4 legislative meetings +10 events
Rising with Creation
All Our Relations
From September 23rd – October 1st the Pacific Northwest community gathered to learn from the evocative art piece All Our Relations crafted by Cyaltsa Finkbonner. In total, the campaign made seven stops in three states, each taking on their own energy and focus.
Olympia kicked off the journey grounded in the spiritual practice of a drum circle, led by the indigenous community, as well as prayers and reflections from the Christian tradition. Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle Eusebio Elizondo read a statement released by the Washington State bishops in November of 2022, and published in our Sacred Salmon edition of AMOS, and reiterated our call as Catholics and people of faith to partner with indigenous communities as we develop solutions to address the climate crisis.
IPJC was honored to host the Spokane stop which featured sharing from Jay Julius and Warren Seyler, indigenous leaders from the Lummi and Spokane Tribes, respectively. Both offered the gift of their people’s history, and their understanding of All Our Relations as centered on our inherent connection, interdependence, and kinship with all of Creation. Faith leaders from the community including the Episcopal Bishop of Spokane, Gretchen Rehberg, Sr. Pat Millen, OSF, an IPJC board member and Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and Reagan Jones, a freshman at Gonzaga University, spoke prophetically about the responsibility the faith community has to be in right relationship with Creation, as well as pursuing environmental justice as a way of reconciling our harmful history with tribal communities. The evening concluded outside, under the stars, crowded around All Our Relations, with a powerful sharing of story, song, and communal smudging led by Doug and Jewel James.
Memorial Gathering of the Snake River Palouse
IPJC staff traveled to the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers to participate in and support a gathering to memorialize the land grab connected to the building of the Ice Harbor Dam. Khimstonik, a partner organization that advocates for land rematriation, land return, native-led ecosystem restoration, and active cultural revitalization, hosted the event. Ione Ironhorse Jones, the director of Khimstonik organized a traditional welcome ceremony that gathered members of the Palouse, Nimíipuu (Nez Perce), Yakima, and Wanapum tribes. Her family offered a traditionally prepared meal with fruits of the seasonal harvest, a sacred storytelling ceremony, time for fellowship, and seed planting sponsored by IPJC.
Thousands of native seeds were gifted and planted deep in the grounds of Sacajawea State Park, a place of ancient and tribal gatherings since time immemorial. Present elders approved that the planting which took place close to the site where Ione’s uncle was taken by authorities for exercising his ancestral right to fish the Lower Snake River. Participants planted medicinal plants such as Yarrow, Purple Sage, Indian tobacco, and Dogbane Hemp. Additionally, two kinds of native wild rose (Nootka and Clustered) were planted by Ione and her brother. All native seeds were selected following an archival document in possession of Ione Jones’ family, which contained a comprehensive list of plants pre-dating the dams in the area.
Healing Canoe Journey
Sacred Salmon Campaign
Khimstonik organized a healing canoe journey hosting many regional tribes including the Palouse, Cayuse, Puyallup, Kalispel, Spokane, and Wanapum. Community supporters and various organizations joined the journey, and IPJC staff member Vera Schöpe joined as a witness, paddler, and collaborator on the trip. She helped tend native seeds and shrubs, and supported planting under the leadership of Ione Ironhorse Jones and Bobby Fossek of Caretakers of the Land.
The trip started with a blessing at Perry/Lyons Ferry on Sunday May 5th. Traditional paddles through the ancestral home and waterways of the Palouse ensued, including Ayer Boat Basin and Walker Camps ending at Fishhook Park on Saturday, May 10th. Ione and her family/team sought to honor and revitalize the stories published by her grandmother in her people’s compiled history of the area and utilized the resource Cáw Pawá Láakni /They Are Not Forgotten: Sahaptian Place Names Atlas of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla by Eugene S. Hunn to guide the experience. Elder and youth plantings of shrubs and seeds took place every day by campsites, along river shores, and in places of Palouse historical significance in the presence of elders. Camping and paddle participants planted medicinal plants and two special ceremonial plantings of medicinal seeds took place in front of Lower Monumental Dam and close to ancestral grounds by the Snake River Junction Camp.
IPJC kicked off a formal campaign to continue the work that began with the All Our Relations Campaign, which we are calling the Sacred Salmon Campaign! We aim to gather the faith community to stand alongside Indigenous communities of the Northwest to protect treaty rights, amplify tribal-led land return and ecosystem restoration, Native cultural revitalization, and active decolonization of land, water, and air resources, in the hope to restore and honor Indigenous wisdoms and environmental expertise. Our vision is to create a network of faith-based leaders that support Indigenous tribal leaders as co-managers of natural resources, and supports parishioners and youth in being in right relationship with all of Creation. All of this is inspired and modeled according to the concrete expertise regarding salmon, ecosystem recovery, and dam removal that Indigenous communities hold, as well as a rightful sharing of the historical environmental legacy in our region. We hope you can join us in this effort over the coming years!
Let Justice & Peace Flow
Over 70 people committed to environmental justice gathered at Seattle University for the Creation Care Network’s annual summit. The day featured a fireside chat with high school students reflecting on Laudate Deum, an update on IPJC’s Sacred Salmon campaign, mass with Archbishop Etienne, and four workshops focused on: a deep dive into Laudate Deum, building Creation Care teams, responding to climate anxiety, and art as a tool for justice. This gathering continues to be an anchor for Catholics across Western Washington to deepen our commitment towards being in right relationship with all of Creation.
Above: Palouse-led planting for healing and ecosystem restoration, Fishhook Park, Lower Snake River.
Rising in Collaboration CCO
CCO
BY
THE NUMBERS:
Over 300 person mailing list
Average quarterly gathering~40 participants
In fall of 2023 the Collaborative for Catholic Organizing was born! IPJC, Jesuits West and NETWORK formed a community of organizers, theologians, and social ministry leaders to build relationships, strategically grow justice infrastructure, and continue fostering spirituality and community organizing practice. Among other projects, members of the collaborative authored a forthcoming edition of the Journal for Catholic Social Thought published by Villanova University and taught a Catholic Social Teaching for Organizers course in the late summer of 2024.
Each quarter the collaborative gathers virtually to foster relationships, engage in professional development, and strategize together. Quarterly meetings have featured best practices for faith based electoral organizing, partnering with ministerial formation institutions to engage community organizing, and deepening approaches to working in more culturally responsive ways.
St. Phoebe Day Celebration
In September 2023, 42 folks gathered for prayer, spiritual reflection, and a synodal conversation at South Park Hall in honor of St. Phoebe. The evening began with an intercessory prayer to St. Phoebe inviting openness to dialogue and discernment of women’s roles and leadership in the Church during the Synod. After which, a reflection was offered that explored the history of the diaconate in the Catholic Church and then guests witnessed a synodal conversation about women’s participation, ministry, and leadership in the Church. The evening concluded with a commissioning prayer for the delegation headed to Rome for the Synod.
Becoming A Synodal Church
The Synod on Synodality officially opened in October 2021 grounded in Pope Francis’ vision of a Church that listens deeply, journeys together, and works to co-create a community for everyone. In October 2023, 368 voting delegates gathered in Rome for the first meeting of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops. 272 bishops and 96 Catholics, including lay and religious women, went on retreat before spending a month in prayer, discussion, and discernment on issues impacting the People of God.
IPJC’s director of community organizing, Sarah Pericich-Lopez, traveled to Rome in October 2023 to witness the Synod as a member of the Discerning Deacons’ Seattle delegation and to represent IPJC at the International Union Superiors General (UISG) Advocacy Forum. Sarah witnessed synod gatherings, facilitated a synodal listening session for Fordham University students, led a community organizing and synodality workshop for those same students, and opened a synodal education forum on women’s ordination to the permanent diaconate for voting delegates. Along her journey, Sarah participated in Pope Francis’ Angelus, which included prayers for peace and ceasefire in Arabic, and attended a progressive rosary for peace held at St. Peter’s Square where Catholics from across the globe pray the rosary together in their native languages. At the UISG Advocacy Forum, Sarah met religious women from across the globe, learned about their charisms, and was inspired by the sisters’ work on climate change, prevention of human trafficking, and education of young girls across the world.
Sarah brough back a spirit of hope and vision for integrating synodality into our local community, increasing Catholic participation in movement building, and reclaiming Catholic traditions and rituals for social justice. Sarah collaborated with local leaders, Vince Herberholt and Rose and Tom Hesselbrock, who also journeyed to Rome, to design a pastoral council retreat to aid in community building amidst Partners in the Gospel. The experience centered on encounter, listening, and storytelling. Pastoral council members acknowledged the power of building community and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to delight in one another’s love of faith.
U.S. delegation of Discerning Deacons members visits The World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations in Rome to discuss the experiences of oppression for women across the world.
Integrating this experience into the Center’s work, Sarah began building an organizing model that combined the principles of faith-based organizing and synodality. The South Seattle Parish Family and St. Leo Catholic Church in Tacoma communities eagerly agreed to pilot the model! Both communities were interested in rebuilding leadership teams to develop justice priorities for the community. Each of the teams received relational organizing training hosted by IPJC and went about meeting with community members. This work will continue into the 2024-25 fiscal year with the teams working towards community building, forming new ministries, and advocacy work.
“I Will Live Until I Die”
Over 650 community members attended two musical performances featuring local Seattle choirs and actors, all led by the creative vision, direction, and acting of ValLimar Jansen. Both evenings were a cultural celebration highlighting the gifts and struggles of Black Catholics told through the prophetic life and ministry of Sr. Thea Bowman. IPJC provided each attendee with a copy of our Fall 2023 edition of AMOS On the Road to Sainthood sharing about the life and legacy of six Black Catholics, including Sr. Thea Bowman, that are on the pathway to canonization.
Rise Together
This year’s Spring Benefit was a beautiful celebration of the community’s work and impact! Highlights include a performance by members of the Thea Bowman Community Choir, program sharing, and the presentation of two awards. Together we raised over $119,000, thank you to all who attended and supported us from afar!
2024 Thea Bowman Award Recipient Sisters and Associates of the Tacoma Dominicans
We were humbled to honor one of IPJC’s founding congregations during the Spring Benefit. The sisters and associates (below) blessed the entire community by offering the Dominican Blessing to everyone in attendance. We are honored to live the charism of the congregation through our work!
July 2023–June 2024
ORGANIZATIONS
Adrian Dominican Sisters
Archdiocese of Seattle
Bishop Blanchet High School
Catholic Community Services of Western Washington
CHI Franciscan Health
Holy Spirit Parish, Kent Congrégation des Soeurs des Saints, Noms de Jésus et de Marie
Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
Faber Jesuit Community
Ignatius Ohno Foundation
Jesuits West
Monastery of St. Gertrude
Providence St. Vincent, Spiritual Care Department
Save Our wild Salmon
Seattle University Campus Ministry
Seattle University Institue for Thought and Culture
Sisters of the Holy Family
Sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, U.S.-Ontario Province
Sisters of Providence
Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph Province
Sisters of Providence Peace Community
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Sisters of St. Francis, Marion House
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace,St. Michaels Villa
Sisters of the Presentation
Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque
St. James Cathedral, Seattle
St. Joseph Parish, Seattle
St. Joseph Residence
St. Luke Parish
Tacoma Dominican Associates
Tacoma Dominicans
The Tacoma Dominican Community
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Washington State Catholic Conference
INDIVIDUALS
Diane & Joe Ahern
Kathleen Allard
Kathy & Guy Alloway
Karen Allvin
Madeline Ancelard
We are grateful to everyone who has supported IPJC during this past fiscal year through your generous financial contributions!*
Anonymous
Trudie Atkinson
Maureen Augusciak
Lynne & Tony Balk
Mary Fran & Art Barkshire
Patrick Barredo
David Batchelder
Steve & Marikay Bates
Cellie Baven
Marianne & Jenni Bayardi
Mary Lee Becker
Betsey Beckman & Charles
Bommarito
Mary Kay Beeby
Joan & Sam Bell
Joyce Bell, IHM
Judith Benkert, OP
Molly & Andy Beresford
Rita Bergamini, SP
Joan Bergman
Laura Berry
Jeanne Berwick & James A. Degel
Diane Bixler
Gerry Blakeman
Brigette Blair
Terri Bobzien Herinckx
Barbara & Gordon Bollinger
Sister Sharon Bongiorno, FSPA
Patricia Boroughs
Margaret Botch, SP
Janyce Bouta, SNJM
Jonathon Bowman
William Boyd
Monica Bradley
Larry & Jeanette Brixius
Roberta Brown
Christina Brugman
Kerry Burrows
Delphine Busch
Judy Butler
Marite Butners
Mary Buttimer, OP
Judy Byron, OP
Ann Cacciari
Nellie Calacat
Mary & Richard Calderon
Pat & Julie Callahan
Sharon Callahan
Theresa Caluori, BVM
Michael & Michele Carleton
Valerie & Gordon Carlton
Bruce Carter & Betty Sanders
Kate Carter
Anastasia Cates-Carney
Joanne Cecchini
Kate & Bob Chambers
Paula Christiansen
James & Jan Clancy
Elaine Clark
Stephen & Maureen Cline
Ernestine Coombs
Deacon Joseph & Barbara Connor
Virginia & Larry Cooper
Joseph A. Cospito & Dorian
McGlannan
Gerry & Jerry Coupe
Blanche Crandall
Laura Cryan
Barbara Custer Swails
Sheila & Dennis Dahl
Raymond Daoust
Maureen D'Auria, CSJP
Charlotte Davenport, CSJP
Allan Deck, SJ
Georgie Marie & Dick Decker
Yvonne de Turenne, SNJM
Joan & Denny Duffell
Mary & Larry DeForrest
Paul Dehmer
Mary Delateur
Jo'Ann De Quattro, SNJM & Jennie
Lechtenberg
Norma Dell, OP
Lisa Dennison
Maria & Ed DeSouza
Betty Devereux & Diane Dilley
Judy Dirks
Mary Ann Dixon, OP
Carol Donahue
Mary Ellen & Tom Donnelly
Kathleen Shannon Dorcy &
Michael Dorcy
Virginia Dorgan, RSHM
Mary Dostal, OSU
Catherine A. Dummer
James Eblen
Bev Eckstrom
Sheila & John Edwards
Daniel Eiben
Sister William Marie Eleniki
Catherine & Michael Elia
Kathleen Emry
Sr. Mary Pius Fahlstrom, OSF
Laurie Farmer
Christine & Anthony Farrell
Gwen Farry, BVM
Nancy Faulkner
Kathy & Tom Fawthrop
Pat Feltin
Margie Ferstl
Sharon L Filipcic Trust
Brenda Fincher
Maggie Finley
Michael Fitzpatrick, SJ
JoAnn Fleischaker, OP
Ann Forbes
Claire Foster
Bernice Fox
Susan Francois, CSJP
Sr. Ruth Frank, SSMO
Tom & Patty Freeburg
Dan Frei
Carolyn Freitas
Terri & Joe Gaffney
Trish & Ken Gaine
Willa & Robert Gaines
Olivia Gallegos
Bette Gambonini, BVM
Mary Lila Gary & John Amack
Carol & David Gavareski
Tom & Anne Gehrig
Susan Gilles
Kathleen Glover
Anthony & Josephine Gnanarajah
Kathy Goodman
Shaughn Gorman & Kathryn Kurtz
Kathleen Grover
Anne Guadagno
Carol Guenther
Gretchen Gundrum, PhD
Elizabeth & Stephen Guss
Bertha Haas
Barbara Harrington
Kelsey Harrington
Dennis & Lorraine Hartmann
Joseph Harvey
Arlene Hatch
Linda Haydock, SNJM
Lorene Heck, OP
Marie & Dale Hedden
Mary Fay Helmon
Kelly Hickman
Carolyn & John Hickman
Chris Hillman
Nancy & Dick Holmes
Judith Holter & David Gerardot
Teak & Del Hoover
Marijane Hresko, OSF
Tom Hulscher
Allison Hutchinson
Jennifer Ibach
Jessica Imanaka
Pat Iwata
Jacqueline Jackson
Jude Jackson & Pat Hogan
Loretta & Gerard Jancoski
Phyllis Jaszkowiak, SNJM
Anne Jenkins
Virginia Jimenez Gonzalez
Margaret Johnson
Phyllis Johnson
Marguerite Johnson
Robert Jones
Chris Jowell
Mary Kahle
Ed & Linda Kaiel
Kathleen Kanet, RSHM
Jennifer Kelly & Gerry Scully
Patricia & John Kennish
Jim Keogh & Jane Nibler-Keogh
Kathleen Kirschner
Stacy & Alan Klibanoff
Mary Catherine Kolb
Diana & Richard Koob
Kim Kovalik
Kathy Krueger
Dawna & Jim Lahti
JP Lambert
Gerlinde Lamer
Andrea Langeland
Louise Lansberry
Ned & Pam Laskowski
Jennifer Lee Smith
Daniel Lefebvre
Michael & Tecla Legge
Jean Marie Lehtinen, OP
Mary Lemon
Linda Lepeirs & Douglas Slawson
Kathy & Max Lewis
Rosalie Locati, SP
Frances Lombaer, OP
Sherri Lopez
Betty Lucas
Barb Luxenberg
Cecille Lynch
Lynn Macdonald
Gabriella Maertens
Rev. Paul Magnano
Anne Marie Maguire
Erin Maguire
Brian Maguire
Tom Mailhot & Betty Ngan
Mike Mains
Mary Mallon-Behrens
Janet Marcisz, SNJM
Nancy Mariano
Paula Marter
Martin Family Foundation
Ardine Martinelli
Judy & James McAteer
Joseph J McCarthy, O. Carm.
Brother Michael McCarthy, CFX
Philomena McCarthy, OP
Joanne McCauley, OP
Marie McCormick & Adam Niblick
Rev. Pat McDermott
Margaret Mcgonigle
Barb McGrath
Judy & Tim McNamara
Diane McQuiston
Philip Meany
Nick & Mary Mele
Marcia Milani
Lyn Miletich
Sarah Miller
Robin Miranda
Daniel R Monda
Sheila & Stan Moon
Carla Montante, SP
Tess Morales
John & Kathy Morefield
Sue Moreland
Jean Morningstar, SNJM
Ann Murphy
Nora Murphy
Cathy Murray & Vince Herberholt
Toni Napoli, MA
Mary Nelson
Jane Nelson
Andrea Nenzel, CSJP & Pauline Dibb, CSJP
Marilyn Newton
Sue Nies
Dianne Nixon, SNJM
Margaret & Thomas Nolan
Eileen Norris
Diane Nova
Kack Nugent
Donna Lee & William O'Connell
Kathleen O'Connor & Heidi Erdmann
Carole Oesterhaus
Cathy Olds, OP
Pamela Olson
Patty Olson
Nancy Orlowski
Jessica Palmer
Melissa Parisi & Mike Onzay
Vera Patterson
Frances Pavlas Bose
JoAnne Paxton
Eleanor Peck, OSF
Gary & Georgia Pericich
Florence Peterschmidt & Eve McClure
Brian & Anna Peterson
Rita Phillips
Susan Picht
Karen Pollard, BVM
Thomas Price
Sheila Prusa
Barbara Puigh
Lauren Pusich
Kathy Quinn
Fr. Mike Raschko
Ken & Linda Reid
Kathleen Reilly, OP
Mary Reitz, SFCC
Patricia Repikoff
Jane Rickenbaugh
Victoria Ries
Mina Riggs, OP
Linda Riggers, SNJM
Kathy Riley
Val Ritchie
Senaida Rivera, OP
Anna Roberston
Andrew Rodriguez
Carmen Rodriguez, RSM
Jeannie & Jeff Roe Gruber
Jackie Rossini
Karen Rossman, OP
Bill Rumpf & Eve RumpfSternberg
Kathryn Rutan, SP
Will Rutt & Elizabeth Bayardi
Rev. Michael Ryan
Mary & Manford Ryan-Hotchkiss
Thomasina C. Sacrison
Nancy Salvadalena
Paul Sampson
Joellen Sbrissa, CSJ
Paul & Julia Schaefer
Greg & Jo Anne Schell
David Schilling
Kitty & Roger Schiltz
Rose Ann Schlitt, OP
Mary & Jim Schmidt
Mark Schoen
Saima Scott
Demetra & Tim Schwieger
Annette Seubert, SP
Terry Sheli
Maureen Sheridan
Dianne Shiner
Dolores Shortal, OP
Jo Ann Showalter, SP
Pat & Joe Siemens
Phyllis Silva-Keith, PA
Mark & Lara Simmons
Susan Simpson
Floricita Siong
Pam & Dennis Sipos
Ben & Olivia Skwiercz
Mary Slater, SNJM
Laura & Tom Slavin
Paul Snow
Jane Snyder
Gary Southerton & David Isla
Gerald Spatz
Sam & Winnie Sperry
Dave & Marti Spicer
Mary Stanco
Gerald Stanley
Candace Stickney
Dr. Carol Sullivan
Jim Sullivan
Charlotte & Earl Sutherland
Sylvia Swanke, RSM
Evelyn Tangalin
Mark & Tami Teaford
Laura Tenisci
Suzanne Thiel
Dorothy Thielk, OP
Jim & Jan Thomas
Jay Thompson
Claudia Trujillo
Mary Vandergeest, OSF
Lucy Villanova, SP
Mary Anne Vincent
Mary Volk
Deanna Rose Von Bargen, RSCJ
Joy Wallace
Mary Kay Walsh
Theresa Ward
Peggy Warren, OP
Rebecca Weber
Mary Ellen & James Weber
Anna Weisner, SNJM
Annie Welch
Arnadene Welton Bean, SNJM
Joseph Wenzl & Jennifer Buksh
Diane S. & Bill Whalen
Toni Whitfield
Peter & Karen Wickstrand
Mary Winter
Jean Withrow & James Haggerty
Deacon Steve Wodzanowski & Cindy Ferrell
Shirley Wright
Nancy & Pete Wright
Shirley Wright
Joyce & Randy Yates
Georgia Yianakulis, SNJM
Roger & Marilyn Yockey, SFO
Gail Young
James & Patricia Young
Sandy Young
Polly Young & Dr. Heidi Gemperle
Linda Zaugg
Marie Zgraggen
IN HONOR OF 2023 Jubilarians
All Who Work for Justice
Marikay Bates
BVM Juilarians celebrating 60, 65 and 70 years
Judy Byron, OP
Joseph & Stacy Cates-Carney
Mother Francis Clare, CSJP Founder
Hugh Dalton
Kathy Fathrop
Jack Harvey
Linda Haydock, SNJM
The Young People of Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest
IPJC staff and leadership of IPJC, past, present and future
IPJC’s 40th Anniversary
Jubilarians of the Sisters of St. Francis of Phildelphia
Alexandra Kovats, CSJP
Gloria Martini
Mary Pat Murphy, OP
Peg Murphy, OP
Lucinda Peighthal, SNJM
Judy Ryan, SNJM
Will Rutt
Sisters of Providence-Seattle
Local Community
SNJM friends
Tacoma Dominican Associates
Marilyn Yockey
Your Father and all your family
IN MEMORY OF
Helen Brennan, OP
Jude Connelly, OSF
Rev. John J. Dorgan
Fr. Kenneth Haydock
Sharmon Herber
Louise Macdonald, CSJ
Patricia M. Maney
Gloria Martini
Lousie McDonald, CSJ
Mary Pat Murphy, OP
Peg Murphy, OP
Bill Tobin
Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center
1216 NE 65th St
Seattle, WA 98115-6724
Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center
INTERCOMMUNITY PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER
ESTABLISHED IN 1991
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maureen Augusciak, Vice Chair
Betty Devereux, A-OP*
Brenda Fincher
Annie Fox*
Marcos Gonzales
Margarita Hernandez, SP*
John Hickman, Chair
Kathleen Nolan, OP*
Mary Slater, SNJM- Treasurer
Jessica Valdez
Kim Williams
* Also on the Board of Members
BOARD OF MEMBERS
Charlotte Davenport, CSJP, Linda Riggers, SNJM
EDITORIAL BOARD
Don Clemmer
Kelly Hickman
Nick Mele
Andrea Mendoza
Will Rutt
Emily Sanna
SPONSORING COMMUNITIES
Adrian Dominican Sisters
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Jesuits West
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, US-Ontario Province
Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph Province
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Tacoma Dominicans
AFFILIATE COMMUNITIES
Benedictine Sisters of Cottonwood, Idaho
Benedictine Sisters of Lacey
Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel
Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose
Dominican Sisters of Racine
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
Sinsinawa Dominicans
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sisters of St. Francis of Redwood City
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon
Sisters of the Holy Family
Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco
Society of Helpers
Society of the Holy Child Jesus
Society of the Sacred Heart
Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union
206.223.1138 • IPJC@IPJC.ORG • IPJC.ORG
We are excited to welcome Yuliana Chapparo and Dcn. Denny Duffel to the Board of Directors. Yuliana is a community organizer, entrepreneur, and prominent community leader bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge. Denny is an associate of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph Peace serving as the congregational representative and brings his long-time experience as a peace activist and pastoral minister in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Welcome, and thank you for offering your gifts!
Thank you for your service!
Thank you, Pat Millen, OSF and Max Lewis for your service to IPJC! Max, your deep commitment to non-violence was a grounding presence for the Center. Sr. Pat, your passion, energy, and work that you gave to IPJC through your leadership over the last seven years strengthened our foundation and direction. Both of you will be greatly missed!
Thank You All for Your Time and Support.
Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment Rising Together for 30 Years
Annual Report 2024 | NWCRI - A program of the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center
Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investments (NWCRI) celebrates its 30th anniversary of faith-based shareholder advocacy calling for corporations to align their practices with the values of justice, the inherent dignity of all people, a just economic transition, a sustainable environmental future, and responsible governance. Shareholder advocacy is a tool for social change grounded in the belief that the economy must work for the common good and the planet must be preserved for future generations. We rise together to bring the voices of marginalized and impacted communities to curtail and hold accountable harmful corporate behavior.
Another tool for social change is regulation and policy changes. In this year, an unprecedented year of national elections, when 60 nations with almost 50% of the world’s population are holding elections, voters will play a crucial role in effecting policies. As we face the worsening existential threats of climate change, widening inequalities, and rising authoritarianism, our vote is more consequential than ever. This November shareholders and impacted communities will have their chance to affect Environmental Social Governance (ESG) policies with national and global implications through their vote.
that have no generic competitors. According to the Biden administration, the first ten negotiated drugs whose prices range from $517 to $14,934 for a 30-day supply account for more than 20% of Medicare’s Part D total annual expenditure. Pharmaceutical Companies along with the US Chamber of Commerce of Ohio have sued in federal courts, challenging the constitutionality of the law giving Medicare the ability to negotiate prices. Thirty institutional investors sent letters challenging these Pharma companies for opposing the government's attempt to negotiate prices on behalf of Medicare recipients. So far, they have lost seven such challenges. The negotiated reduction of list price ranging from 38% -79% will go in effect in 2025.
Since its inception NWCRI along with ICCR colleagues, motivated by moral, ethical, and faith values, have engaged companies to bring the voices of impacted communities and people on the margins to the corporate table.
Over the last 30 years the coalition has brought over 1260 resolutions to more than 110 Corporations!
NWCRI and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) have engaged pharmaceutical companies for years on increasing access to their products to reduce harm, improve outcomes, diminish the regulatory and reputational risk posed by increasing high drug prices that limit equitable access and affordable medicines. According to a 2023 poll 30% of Americans do not take their medications as prescribed due to cost.1 In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) enabled the US government to negotiate on commonly used expensive Medicare drugs 1. https://bit.ly/public-opinion-prescription-drugs-and-prices
This year, NWCRI brought 15 justice issues to the boardrooms of 37 Corporations, filed 41 shareholder resolutions, and participated in over 40 dialogues. We engaged corporations on issues ranging from the right to healthcare and affordability of medicine, living wages, workers and children rights throughout the supply chain, online child safety, externalization of the cost of gun violence, indigenous rights, and environmental justice. In the subsequent pages are a few highlights!
NWCRI is a member of ICCR, a coalition of 300 faith-based and value-based investors challenging companies to mitigate the risks of any adverse social and environmental impacts. Shareholders continue to engage corporations in a number of focus areas including climate change, gender and racial equity, human/worker rights, environment, lobbying/political spending, and health equity and governance. The overall number of resolutions filed decreased except for lobbying/political spending, human/worker rights, and environmental related proposals. Climate change continues to be the highest priority followed by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and human/work rights.
The filing of a shareholder resolution at a company will prompt them to reach out to negotiate for a withdrawal.
ICCR 2024 Filings Across Issues
THE YEAR BY THE NUMBERS:
399 Resolution filed
84 proposals withdrawn for an agreement
56% of agreements were related to climate change, racial equity, and human/worker rights
44% Health equity - issue with highest share of agreement
57% of all proposals went to a vote
109 proposals garnered a notable shareholder support (>20%)
9% proposals successfully challenged by companies
<2% of investors support anti-ESG proposals
2024 NWCRI Proposals filed FILINGS ACROSS ISSUES
Health Equity
For a long time, NWCRI and ICCR have been engaging Pharmaceutical Companies to make their life saving innovations more equitable, accessible, and affordable to people who need them. Companies say they believe access to health is a human right. Investors argue that the current business model of the pharmaceutical sector in many instances prioritizes profitability above patient health, including the practice of filing numerous subsequent patents to block cheaper generic versions from entering the market. Moreover, these practices make companies more likely to be singled out for reputational and regulatory risk. Case in point, when the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), for the first time, allowed the government to negotiate on commonly used Medicare drugs with no generic competitor, of the first ten drugs singled out for negotiations for the first round, three were made by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and one by Merck. This year, NWCRI co-filed resolutions with five drug manufacturing companies asking for more transparency regarding their patenting process. The four proposls filed at Gilead, J&J, Merck & Pfizer were withdrawn after agreeing to increased disclosure of their patenting strategy. The shareholder proposal at AbbVie, identified as one of the worst perpetrators of this practice, received a solid vote of 25%, ~5% less than last year.
J&J generic version of TB drug Bedaquiline in 134 countries
Shareholders have engaged J&J on lowering the cost of HIV/AIS & MDR-TB drugs in the global south for decades. Although Tuberculosis (TB) occurs throughout the world over 80% of new cases and deaths, from this curable disease, occur in 30 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, an estimated 10.6 million people developed TB, and 1.3 million people succumbed to the ailment. J&J’s drug, Sirturo, is a shorter course and better tolerated treatment for TB. As the primary patent was ending, J&J sought to block generics from entering the market internationally by filing secondary patents. However, the rising pressure from TB patient advocates and civil society like Doctors Without Borders along with the rejection of secondary patents by state governments (India) resulted in J&J announcing they would not enforce patents on Bedaquiline (Sirturo) for 134 LMICs. Companies competing to make generics resulted in a ~50% decrease in price of Bedaquiline.
Non-sugar sweeteners
A new investor proposal was filed at Coca Cola and PepsiCo focused on the adverse health effects linked to their non-sugar sweetened beverages. Non-sugar sweeteners, like Aspartame have been shown to be ineffective at maintaining weight loss and may be associated with increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and death. Moreover, last year the WHO listed Aspartame as “possibly a carcinogenic”. A crosscutting concern is that these products are disproportionately advertised in Black and Hispanic communities that already have a higher burden of the aforementioned diseases. These proposals garnered 10.7% and 11.5% of the votes, respectively.
Equitable Global Supply Chain
The use of illegal child labor in US Companies’ local and global supply chains persists. In fact, since 2021, at least 30 states have introduced or passed bills to weaken child labor protections due to the tightening labor market. At the same time, a record number of unaccompanied minors crossed the southern border (~400,000 between 2021–2023), the majority arriving to non-parent sponsors with the expectation to send money back home. These factors made these children vulnerable to abusive labor practices.
In 2023, The New York Times reported that a Department of Labor investigation revealed that Tyson Foods’ subcontractor, Packer Sanitation Services Inc., illegally hired 100 undocumented teens to clean meat plants using hazardous chemicals and heavy equipment during overnight shifts. A shareholder resolution filed at Tyson Foods to evaluate the effectiveness of their policies and practices in preventing child labor though their supply chain received over 12% of the shareholder votes, a majority of the non-insider vote.
One of the best ways for companies to manage their human rights risks is to conduct an independent assessment to uncover any unforeseen risk. These evaluations can help the company mitigate systemic risks by preemptively addressing, preventing, or remediating risk. Last year, media reports of Walmart suppliers using illegal child migrant and trafficked labor on fishing ships and processing plants was the impetus for shareholders filing a resolution to ask Walmart to conduct a human rights impact assessment throughout their supply chain. The resolution was supported by 11.7% of voters.
Human Rights & Worker Rights
Respect Indigenous Rights
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and International Labour Organization Convention 169, are internationally recognized standards for Indigenous Peoples’ rights. These protected rights include the right to health, education, self-determination to maintain and strengthen their culture, religion, and economy, including free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) on the use of any project that impacts their land and natural resources. Both Wells Fargo and Citigroup were leading financiers of Enbridge’s Dakota Access and tar sands pipeline projects over the last decade. These projects did not respect indigenous rights including FPIC, culture, health, and religion. These violations negatively affect shareholders' value and increase litigation exposure, potential damage to the Companies’ reputation, as well as risking civil and criminal liability. Wells Fargo’s violation resulted in two cities withdrawing $3 billion in assets from the bank. Investors filed proposals asking for the banks to report on the policies and practices of the companies or projects that they finance regarding
respecting internationally recognized human rights standards for Indigenous Peoples. The resolutions garnered 24% and 26% of the investor support at Wells Fargo and Citigroup, respectively.
Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD)
An independent evaluation of human rights due diligence introduces more accountability beyond written policies and laws. The process enables companies to preemptively identify, prevent, and/or remedy human rights violations thereby reducing reputational, financial, and/or legal risk. This year we filed due diligence resolutions at Chevron, Eli Lily, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Amazon.
Chevron is the second largest US oil company and operates in 180 countries. An independent 2021 report examining 70 lawsuits against Chevron found that 65% of the cases involved documented claims of severe human rights abuses including: torture, forced labor, rape, murder, and genocide. Impacted communities in the US and globally assert Chevron operations have failed to remediate oil spills, violated environmental protection laws, and fueled local conflict.2 Shareholders asked for the public disclosure of an independent report on HRDD which received 22% of the vote.
Eli Lilly’s code of conduct and supply chain principles policies only apply to its suppliers and do not reference any internationally recognized human rights standards. Moreover, these policies do not apply to Lilly’s own business and operations. An Investor proposal was filed to urge the company to adopt a more comprehensive human rights policy that includes the right to health and outlines a process to address human rights impacts. The proposal received 10% of the vote. A similar resolution filed at Bristol Myers Squibb was withdrawn for an agreement to produce a HRDD process.
Amazon products like Ring and Rekognition utilize a face comparison feature, while they are not supposed to be used for criminal investigations they are still used by police in undisclosed ways. In addition, Amazon is known to serve governmental customers with histories of human rights abuses and its product Ring continues to infringe on citizens’ privacy. Investors’ proposal asking the company to asses if customers’ use of its products and services contribute to human rights violations garnered almost 17% investor support.
At the start of the Ukraine-Russia war in 2022 420 Companies suspended operations in or exited from Russia. Mondelez, one of the largest snack companies in the world, not only continued its operations but aided Russia by increasing its business, generating $173 million in taxes and participating in the mandatory draft of its workers for the war effort. Investors want the company to assess the effective implementation of its Human Rights Policy during the Russia/Ukraine war. The shareholder resolution had strong investor support at 31.4%.
Gun Violence
The lethal nature of gun manufacturer's products expose Strum Ruger and Smith & Wesson to increased human rights risk. Over several years shareholders have engaged Sturm Ruger to reconsider the negative effect of advertising, manufacturing, and selling of products that contribute to a violent world. Despite shareholders’ deep concern demonstrated by a supermajority vote on the Human Right Impact Assessment (HRIA) proposal two years ago, Sturm Ruger refuses to evaluate the societal cost of its products. This year’s investor proposal, to assess the public health cost of their business model, was challenged at the SEC forcing the withdrawal of the resolution for continued dialogue. At Smith & Wesson, shareholders refiled the HRIA proposals which fared better in 2024 receiving 30% of the investor vote.
Living Wage Disclosure
According to The Investment Integration Project, high levels of income inequality are a systemic risk for investors because “income inequality slows economic growth, limits upward mobility, and exacerbates political polarization—threatening investments in all asset classes.” The buying power of low-wage earners has been decreasing in the last 50 years. For instance, when adjusted for inflation, the 2024 federal minimum wage in the United States is over 40% lower than the minimum wage in 1970. The federal minimum wage 54 years ago was $1.60 which would be worth $13.05 in 2024 dollars, significantly more than the current federal minimum wage of $7.25. Shareholders are engaging companies to narrow the income inequality gap. As part of the living wage initiative, shareholders filed disclosure requests regarding Amazon warehouse employees and Kohl’s workers. Challenges to these resolutions by the companies at the SEC were successful on grounds of ordinary business.
Climate & Environment
Pesticide use in farms has been associated with a significant decline in pollinators and pesticide toxicity on crucial soil invertebrates has doubled in the last 20 years. Also concerning are the significant adverse health effects that pesticide exposure has on humans including increased risk of cancer and developmental defects. Unlike companies like Walmart, Costco, and Giant Eagle who have taken steps to innumerate and reduce/eliminate toxic pesticides, Target has not disclosed any metrics on pesticides used in its operations and supply chain. Investors requested this disclosure and that the Company provide plans to eliminate toxic pesticides from their value chain. The proposal was withdrawn upon an agreement in which Target will undergo an independent evaluation of its current practices and will consult with the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Institute on best practices to reduce pesticide use and track, measure, and report on progress.
A safe, healthy, and just environment is a prerequisite for enjoying all human rights. St. James Parish located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is home to an impoverished and predominantly Black community. The area is known as “Cancer Alley” due to high levels of cancer prevalence linked to a concentration of environmental pollutants from existing fossil fuel plants. Formosa Plastics Group –who has a history of repeated environmental and safety violations – is planning to build a plant in this over polluted and overburdened community. In support of faith-based grassroots opposition (Rise St. James) to another chemical plant, investors signed onto a letter to Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) requesting they cease financing of Formosa Plastics Group and its subsidiaries.
Artificial intelligence (AI) use is becoming quite ubiquitous ranging from plain text correction to facial recognition algorithms, to breast cancer detections, to insurance claim denials. To its credit, Alphabet had AI Principles instituted across the Company as early as 2018 to provide ethical guidelines for AI development. However, after the launch of ChatGPT and the ensuing race for generative AI supremacy Alphabet’s AI policy commitments to be socially beneficial, avoid creating or enforcing bias, and to not give professional advice, have not been enforced. A shareholder proposal asked for clear board oversight over the Company's AI activities and implementation of its AI Principles. This resolution was supported by 7.4% of the vote.
Online Child Safety
Our coalition of investors have been engaging tech companies like Alphabet and Meta on online child safety, how they are reducing harm, and measuring the effectiveness of their solutions. In the same year when Alphabet and Meta, respectively, reported over 800,000 and over 22 million Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) incidents, respectively, Apple only reported 160. In fact, Forbes reported that Apples’ prioritization of consumer privacy and lack of proactive attempts to detect CSAM makes Apple’s devices, streaming, and storage services “the greatest platform for distribution of child porn,” according to a former Apple executive. Investors’ resolution requesting Apple to assess how its products and services are being used to facilitate online sexual exploitation of children was withdrawn for an agreement to produce a public report.
After years of advocacy to limit dangerous firearm related content from reaching underage users, Alphabet’s video platform YouTube implemented a policy to prohibit minors from accessing firearm videos involving homemade guns, automatic weapons, and firearm accessories. Shareholders welcome the new policy and will continue to engage the Company in effective enforcement of this change. Late last year, Meta launched end-to-end encryption making detection of CSAM more difficult. We continue to engage Meta in improving the safety of children across its platforms.
Anti – ESG Pushback
From 2021-2023, the were significant anti-ESG and antiDiversity Equity and Inclusion pushes on state legislatures, the larger society, and asset managers who have outsized influence on proxy voting. Consequently the support for pro-ESG proposals by big asset managers has significantly
decreased. In 2024, despite the introduction of over 161 anti-ESG bills, only 6 passed. Moreover, over 3000 of the largest U.S. companies across 10 sectors increased their pro-ESG policies and initiatives.3 And although anti-ESG shareholder resolutions increased by two thirds, they remain unpopular with investors, garnering only 2% of the vote. This year shareholders engaged asset managers to voice strong pro-ESG advocacy.
Historically, greenhouse gas emissions proposals at ExxonMobil have garnered strong and sometimes majority shareholder support. This year Exxon filed a lawsuit against shareholders for a proposal that requested an increased pace of emissions reduction. Even after the proposal was withdrawn, Exxon continued the suit to cover litigation cost intending to intimidate investors and silence their voice. The judge dismissed the case on grounds that Exxon was no longer an injured party since the proposal was withdrawn. On the positive side, this year Exxon joined the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 – a UN program which is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas industry that improves the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting.
In June, the Supreme Court overturned the decades-old doctrine of Chevron Deference which gave deference to federal agencies to write rules and regulations. Without a new congressional law this decision will likely weaken regulations and shift decision-making on safeguarding the public concerns from subject matter experts to unelected federal judges.
Health Impacts of Social Media on Youth
Recently General Surgeon Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a public warning regarding the negative mental health impact of social media on youth.
ADOLESCENTS AGES 13-17 SELF REPORT: 95% use social media platform
THE GOOD
58% reported feeling more accepted
80% reported feelingmore connected to their friends’ lives
THE BAD
46% reported feeling worse about their body image
Only 14% reported feeling better 64% reported being exposed to hate-based content
≥3 hours/day on social media is associated with poor mental health outcomes
Source: Social Media and Youth Mental Health, The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory, 2023
3. Diligent Market Intelligence
2023-2024 NWCRI Shareholder Activities
NWCRI members brought 15 justice issues to the boardrooms of 37 corporations, filed 41 shareholder resolutions, and participated in over 40 dialogues.
COMPANY ISSUE ACTION
Pfizer
*Resolutions filed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Highlights — 30 years of Investing for Communities and the Planet.
2002 - General Electric - Shareholder dialogues and resolutions on climate change propelled the company to make energy efficiency a core business mission and plantted the seed for the creation of the Ecomagination initiative.
2005 - Dow Argo Sciences - Commits to not engineering food crops to produce pharmaceuticals.
2006 - For four years, shareholders campaigned to win healthcare reform engaging over 70 companies and winning a Security & Exchange Commission ruling that healthcare reform is a significant social policy issue. In 2010 the Affordable Care Act was signed into law.
2011 - - In the five years of shareholder engagements, the Company became a leader in access to HIV medicines in low income countries increasing its reach from 30,000 patients to 5 million. Today 16.5M people in LMIC access Gilead HIV therapy.
2013 - - Commits to source 100% certified cocoa for its products to be child labor free by 2020.
2014 - - After years of engagement, these banks end predatory payday loans to new customers and phase out loans to existing borrowers.
2016 - - One of the world’s largest agricultural processors and food ingredient providers, serving 170 Companies, adopts a human rights policy and no deforestation policy.
2018 - - Stops selling assault-style weapons, lobbied for common sense gun reform, and raised the gun purchasing age to 21.
2019 - - Stopped selling ammo for handguns and assault style weapons and called on congress to adopt common sense gun safety measures.
2017 – 2023 - Over a five-year period, Investor for Opioid & Pharmaceutical Accountability (IOPA), comprised of 67 member investors, engaged 32 opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retail pharmacies through dialogues and over 100 resolution filings regarding board governance oversight and executive compensation. Board level changes adopted by companies through these engagements include: adoption of compensation claw back policies by 17 companies, 14 published risk reports, two companies established board level oversight committees, and three companies reinforced executive accountability through pay cuts after significant shareholder support for IOPA's “vote no on executive compensation” campaigns.
NWCRI
A program of the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center, NWCRI is a member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a national coalition of over 300 faith-based investors who are Inspired by Faith, Committed to Action.
These highlights summarize the work that NWCRI has done in collaboration with ICCR during the past year.
Timnit Ghermay Director, NWCRI
Members
Adrian Dominican Sisters
Benedictine Sisters
Cottonwood, Idaho
Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel Congrégation des Soeurs des Saints, Noms de Jésus et de Marie Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
Jesuits West
Northwest Women Religious Investment Trust
PeaceHealth
Providence St. Joseph Health Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph Province
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary, U.S.-Ontario Province
