Resilience: Planting Seeds and Growing Movements

Annual Gathering 2019

Thank you to everyone who attended!

This October IJPC hosted Winona LaDuke, an internationally acclaimed author, orator and activist at our annual gathering, Resilience: Planting Seeds and Growing Movements. LaDuke is founder and co-director of Honor the Earth, a national advocacy group encouraging public support and funding for native environmental groups. In 1997, LaDuke was named Ms. Magazine’s Woman of the Year, and in 2007 she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Through her intersectional work for indigenous communities and environmental responsibility, LaDuke helped us highlight the need for resilient social justice movements that challenge violence in its most nuanced forms and promote a sustainable and equitable world for all people.

Watch the full event below.

Check out some photos from the evening.

Meet our 2019 Peace Award Recipients

Mary Anne Bressler

Margaret Fuller Peace Award

“I was born and raised in Cincinnati, the product of Catholic schools from 2nd grade through college at Xavier University. The seeds of my passion for social justice were planted during my childhood in the 1960’s, but really began to bloom later in life. I began to recognize the grave disparities between my privileged life and those who have been systemically disadvantaged. I began to deliberately explore ways to get outside of my bubble, which led me to become involved with the Social Action Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Franciscan Network’s Muslim-Christian Dialogue program, and various programs and initiatives at IJPC. The more I have expanded my worldview, the more I have realized how much injustice exists and how necessary it is for individuals to try to make a difference, to at least be one more voice in the wilderness.”

Mary Anne is a dedicated member of the NonViolence Alliance of Greater Cincinnati and Rethinking Racism committee of IJPC.

Sr. Monica McGloin

Bob Maxwell Peace Builder Award

“As a child of an immigrant father from Ireland who was involved with the IRA before coming to New York at age 20, I felt genetically coded for justice. Both my mother and father nurtured us to see societal wrongs and to address them. I completed a 3-year nursing program before joining the Dominicans 55 years ago and then served as a nurse in OTR where injustices were all too common. As a result, I organized and joined others in the fight for issues such as economic justice for laborers, racial justice, universal health care and women’s rights. I’ve encouraged others to get to the root of a problem and to think in new ways in order to advance social advocacy in Cincinnati, my home for 35 years. I’ve been privileged to work with many socially engaged organizations to help build a beloved community. When you bring people together, your life always feels bigger than itself.”

Sr. Monica was involved in the work of IJPC for decades and served as interim co-director in 2014.

Sr. Monica passed away on October 2nd. Her spirit and advocacy on behalf of so many justice issues will be deeply missed.

Thank you to our Annual Gathering sponsors!