#BeBoldForChange: Women’s Voices from the Ignatian Network

BY KELLY SWAN | March 8, 2017

#BeBoldForChange, the 2017 theme for International Women’s Day, urges a universal commitment to “bold pragmatic action,” driving significant change for women throughout the world.

Women throughout the Ignatian network are lifting their voices and taking action in numerous ways: as advocates, writers and storytellers, and educators, and collaborating, as staff and volunteers, with organizations addressing issues contributing to gender inequality such as global migration, racial and gender inequality, and poverty.

Today, on International Women’s Day, ISN shares voices of six women from the Ignatian network who have shared their stories and voices in the last year. Share with us in the comments below how you are addressing injustice, and today, specifically, equality for women.

Mayra Martinez – Advocacy for Undocumented Students

In March of 2017, Mayra Martinez, a member of the class of 2018 at Loyola University Chicago, shared her experience as an undocumented student, and of her family at a Congressional briefing co-sponsored by the Jesuits of Canada and the United States and the Ignatian Solidarity Network.

Tashina Rama – Native and Environmental Concerns around Dakota Access Pipeline

At the March 2 Congressional briefing, Tashina Rama, executive director of advancement at Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, spoke about water rights and protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Eileen Markey – Author of A Radical Faith: The Assassination of Sister Maura

Eileen Markey, author of A Radical Faith: The Assassination of Sister Maura, spoke to ISN about writing the story of Sr. Maura Clarke’s life and horrific death on December 2, 1980. Also raped and killed were Sr. Dorothy Kazel, Sr. Ita Ford, and Jean Donovan. Two of three soldiers who committed the act received training at a U.S. military training school, then known as the U.S. Army School of the Americas.

Aitana Libreros – Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice Public Witness

Aitana Libreros, Class of 2018 at Saint Peter’s University, shared her immigration story during the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice public witness at Columbus Circle on November 14, 2016.

Lisa Sharon Harper – Keynote, Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice

Lisa Sharon Harper, author and chief church engagement officer at Sojourners, drew from Biblical historical context and language of the creation story to amplify a call to the church to rise up in the face of injustice with a call to action for Ignatian Family Advocacy Day on Monday, November 14: “Are you ready to go to the halls of Congress…on your day of educating them…and to tell Republican and Democratic Senators and House of Representative members–not on our watch.”

Sister Norma Pimentel, M.J. – Keynote, Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice

On Sunday morning, Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley and internationally-recognized advocate for immigrants, emphasized the imperative to welcome the stranger, sharing stories of Central American families and individuals who have sought asylum in the United States.

Kelly Swan

Kelly Swan has worked for the Ignatian Solidarity Network since 2016, first as communications director, and now as director of advancement. She grew up in West Virginia and is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University. Kelly has worked in parish social ministry, child and family advocacy, community education and organizing, and publishing. She lives in the Cleveland, Ohio area with her children.