The Power of Your Change: Global Solidarity in Ohio
Recently the CRS Fair Trade program had the honor of being part of the 3rd annual Global Solidarity Conference in Dayton, Ohio. Pam Long, Diocesan Director for Catholic Relief Services in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, shares her reflections,
“You can talk about change and hear something jingle in your pocket and you can hear about change and know that you are going to be transformed by the words.
And that transformation is what happened Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Power of Your Change Conference at the University of Dayton. It just seemed like “Aha” moments were occurring in sessions throughout the day as participants learned about changes that can be made globally, nationally, across the state, in our communities and in our own homes.
The Catholic Relief Services Committee of the Social Action Commission of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati had its own epiphany when the conference we had been planning since last summer on socially responsible spending took on added importance with the financial downturn we are now experiencing.
With this change in financial stability, we are now challenged even more to advocate for an economy that helps all people. Jacqueline De Carlo, the senior program advisor for Fair Trade for Catholic Relief Services, told us that in her keynote.
Attending to the global/national issues were Ms. De Carlo; Dr. Barbara John, Professor of Economics at UD; Sister Ruth Kuhn, a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati and Coordinator for the Region VI Coalition for Responsible Investment, and Joe Weber, who worked in Zambia for a year as a Catholic Relief Services Volunteer.
Helping us understand the negative effects of PayDay Lending on Ohioans was Tom Allio, the Social Action Director for the Diocese of Cleveland. Mr. Allio was one of the leaders in the state who helped to reform Ohio’s PayDay lending practices.
Bringing messages closer to home were Mary Niebler and Kelly Bohrer, both of the University of Dayton’s Center for Social Concern; Jill Gracia, Just Faith graduate and business owner who works to integrate Catholic Social Teaching principles in her operation; Brian Raison of 4-H Youth and Community Development from the Ohio State University’s Department of Extension, and Susan Vogt, an author and speaker on family and marriage issues.
All the speakers emphasized the Gospel values of being in right relationship with one another, with neighbors close by and those unseen and as good stewards of God’s creation.
We count as great fortune a good working relationship with Catholic Relief Services staff who helped to make a connection between our topic and Jackie. Katy Ryan of the Midwest CRS Office also offered great advice and great connections to other CRS associates. We also count the richness of a good relationship with the University of Dayton and the people who live the Marianist charism.
We now know the power of our change and have heard more clearly how we have the power – and the responsibility – to change our spending habits for the good of all.”
CRS workshop. Photo credit: P. Long
Tags: fair trade, ohio, solidarity
