Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center
Annual Report & Appeal for Support
“NONE OF US, INCLUDING ME, EVER DO GREAT THINGS. BUT WE CAN ALL DO SMALL THINGS, WITH GREAT LOVE, AND TOGETHER WE CAN DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL.”
INTERCOMMUNITY PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER • 2021-22
—Mother Teresa
Dear IPJC Community,
As a result of our strategic planning process, the Spirit through the community led us to a set of core values: collaboration, spirituality, community, and equity. As I reflect on the year, collaboration emerges as a crucial value, both as I have learned more about the inception of IPJC and the vision we have for continuing our justice work. Channeling the collaborative spirit of religious congregations in the Northwest, we find ourselves in a new moment of radical partnership that is required to thrive, but more importantly, to create systemic change. Looking back on our year, as Mother Teresa puts it, our most “wonderful” work has been together:
• NWCRI had major wins against Sturm Ruger, ExxonMobil, and Johnson & Johnson
• Justice for Women Leadership Advisory Team was launched to guide and support the growth of our Circle network
• Justice Rising featured new voices, perspectives, and stories through two compelling and insightful seasons
• Youth Action Team Internship was piloted and is growing
• Powerful action took place in cooperation with our community partners – CCN, CORE, ICHRP, and RSN
Will Rutt, Executive Director “Walking with Holy Families,” at the border, Nogales, AZ
Cover photos:
Planting Seeds of Hope presentation ©Patrick Barredo
PHRA Vigil October 18, 2021 © IPJC
Justice Rising podcast guests
Earth photo ©The New York Public Library
As we move forward into this next year, we continue to ground all our work in relationship, the foundation of collaboration. We are excited about the growth of our Youth Action Team, of A Matter of Spirit and Justice Rising, network building between Circles, and the continued work of NWCRI. All this work is made possible through the generous support of our sponsoring and affiliate congregations, as well as each of you. This year we hope to reach our Fall Appeal fundraising goal of $80,000. Below are a few ways that your generosity impacts our center:
• Allowing for diverse authors to write for AMOS
• Stipends for community partners who generously share their gifts through programming, events, and publications.
• Training women to facilitate Circles across the Northwest.
Please consider helping us reach our fundraising goal, as well as finding other ways to collaborate with us in this shared mission:
• Make a contribution to the Fall Appeal with a one-time gift, a recurring pledge or a tax-free donation from your IRA.
• Participate in and promote our programs, events, and publications.
• Designate IPJC as your charity for employer matching.
• Name IPJC as a beneficiary of your estate.
Peace, Will Rutt, Executive Director
INTERCOMMUNITY PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER 2
Let us continue to do small things with great love in order to build something wonderful together.
JUSTICE FOR WOMAN WOMEN’S JUSTICE CIRCLES
Burien, WA
Southwest Youth & Family Services (SWYFS), in partnership with IPJC, organized a Women’s Justice Circle comprised of 18 immigrant residents of the SWYFS communities of the Alcove and Windsor Heights building complexes in Burien and SeaTac. The Circle decided they wanted a cleaner and healthier neighborhood and organized Por una Comunidad Limpia ¡Únete! (For a Clean Community Join Us!) a cleaning campaign that continues to take place the first Sunday of every month. The campaign successfully launched on Sunday, December 5th 2021 with almost 50 residents and their families participating.
Tukwila, WA
A Circle of Latina immigrant mothers, who are undocumented stay-at-home parents residing in Tukwila and Des Moines focused on access to preventative health services for the undocumented community. The Circle highlighted the need for immigrant and community health services such as health fairs, affordable health insurance, and increased opportunities for participation in federal and state programs. Circle participants held a feasibility discussion with Health Point, a trusted community-based network of non-profit health centers, to establish accurate health information in their language and a free preventative health screening service day.
Burien, WA
This Circle of mothers chose safety of their community and met with local detectives to discuss the possibility of hosting a gun violence prevention forum in Spanish. The participants discovered that the police currently host several afterschool workshops at various schools to help young people stay away from gangs and drugs. The mothers worked with the authorities to inform the communities and promote the program.
Tacoma, WA
Parishioners from Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Tacoma formed a Circle with the hopes of creating a safe space for youth. They launched Inspiring Youth for these teens to be in community and talk about issues that concern them. Participants surveyed the community youth and identified their priority topics: mental and physical health, bullying, substance abuse prevention, and financial advice. These issues were addressed through presentations by trusted community members.
Por una Comunidad Limpia ¡Únete! (For a Clean Community Join Us!) a cleaning campaign that takes place the first Sunday of every month in Burien.
ANNUAL REPORT | APPEAL FOR SUPPORT 3
Sacred Heart Justice Circle planning Inspiring Youth sessions.
PROGRAMS
Bound Brook, NJ
Immigration status can be used as a weapon of power and control. Fear of deportation when reporting any crime to law enforcement makes undocumented victims of domestic violence more vulnerable to staying in abusive relationships. Thus, the Circle from St. Joseph’s Church created a panel discussion, “Mujer, Regalo de Dios (Women: Gift of God),” to bring education and awareness to immigrant women in their community. The panel was held at St Joseph’s and included two staff members from Safe + Sound Somerset and a family law attorney from LANBI Center for Humanities and Civics.
New Brunswick, NJ
Many undocumented/immigrant Latinos do not know their rights as tenants and face barriers that prevent them from accessing rental assistance. This Circle of immigrant mothers focused on tenants’ rights. The participants recounted stories of neighbors being evicted, unjust rent increases, and uninhabitable living conditions they were forced to endure. The Circle then organized a public forum and invited a lawyer specializing in housing to raise awareness about tenant’s rights in Spanish.
Tigard, OR
Participants from the St. Anthony Catholic Church Justice Circle continue to organize monthly mental health workshops for adults and bi-monthly mental health workshops for youth. The Circle works in partnership with two doctors from Kaiser: Dr. Dan Slowey, who specializes in family health, and Dr. Patricia Rivera, a neuropsychologist. St. Anthony’s has received funds from its county to support mental health initiatives and provide scholarships to train Spanish-fluent mental health counselors. The Circle organized a mental health conference on July 16, 2022 where our Justice for Women Coordinator, Giselle Cárcamo, gave the closing workshop.
Fiscal Sponsorship –Aberdeen Women’s Justice Circle
IPJC is excited to serve as the fiscal sponsor to oversee the administration of grant funds awarded to the Justice Circle in Aberdeen. In June of 2022 the Circle applied for and received a grant of $30,000 for training, equipment, and wages for Circle members to serve as community guides. The Circle members will assist immigrants to apply for relief money earmarked for immigrant communities by Washington state and dispersed through Washington Immigrant Relief Fund (WIRF). We are honored and humbled to be able to support the Circle as they continue their powerful work.
JUSTICE FOR WOMEN LEADERSHIP ADVISORY TEAM
On September 15th, 2021, we launched our Justice for Women Leadership Advisory Team, comprised of five Latina leaders who have been involved in “Fortaleciendo mi mundo interior,” that have facilitated Justice Circles in the past, and are currently working with immigrant communities across the state.
The team is supporting the developmental and organizational aspects of the Justice for Women program, and the creative vision for future community organizing. The team meets 4 to 6 times a year and helped organize “Semillas de Cambio (Seeds of Change),” our first annual gathering for former facilitators and active Circle members that took place in September.
Our team: Isabel Cisneros (Aberdeen); Mariana García Medina (Tigard); Yelitza Medina (Beaverton); Jessica Molina (Aberdeen) and Norma Ortiz (Auburn) in addition to Will Rutt, Karina Blancas, IPJC MSW intern, and Giselle Cárcamo.
Monsignor Kerrigan opening the panel discussion at St. Joseph’s Church, Bound Brook , NJ
Yelitza Medina
Isabel Cisneros
Jessica Molina
Mariana García
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Norma Ortiz
PROGRAMS
YOUTH ACTION TEAM INTERNSHIP
Last fall, IPJC invited two high school juniors to join the Youth Action Team Internship. The internship teaches youth the principles of community organizing through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching. The year-long internship empowered Erin and Mallika to discern their identities, develop leadership skills, journey through the organizing cycle, and begin building a social justice movement. In winter, the interns determined healing the tensions they experienced in mixed race groups as their justice issue focus. Erin and Mallika chose to collaborate with the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP), helping the group with outreach for the Adam Smith Town Hall. As the internship concluded, we interviewed for the next group of interns. We have ten interns joining the Youth Action Team this fall!
IPJC PRESENTATIONS
• After Buffalo, After Uvalde, After Tulsa: Broken Hearts, Broken Nation, Faithful Action National Panel
• AGAPE Service Project Workshop: Service Work and Mutuality - Bellingham, WA
• The Basin and Towel: Closing Panel
Seattle, WA
• The Beloved Community: Getting Free from Racism - Kirkland, WA
• Discerning Deacons Panel on Women’s Leadership in the Church - Seattle, WA
• Empoderadas Frenamos la Violencia (Empowered We Stop Violence) - Bolivia
• Ignatian Spirituality Center Novena Reflector Seattle, WA
• Leadership Development Training Aberdeen, WA
• Leveraging Power for Justice - Jesuit High school Portland Justice Summit, Portland, OR
• Nuestra Salud, Nuestro Futuro - Creation and Implementation of Fortaleciendo mi mundo interior Seattle, WA
• Restorative Justice Advocacy Workshop
Seattle Prep Justice Summit, Seattle, WA
• St. Joseph Parish Pentecost Homily
Seattle, WA
• Youth Voices on Environmental Justice - Planting Seeds of Hope Summit - Seattle, WA
JUST VIDEO CONTEST
Nineteen insightful short documentaries were submitted from high school students from around the country. Topics covered include: mental health and social media, environmental justice and orca preservation, homelessness, global poverty, and many more. We are inspired by their commitment to justice!
Our three winners provided creative and thought-provoking short films:
• 1st Place - Unfiltered by Caedan from Xavier College Preparatory High School, Palm Desert, CA
• 2nd Place - What If by Emilie from Valley Catholic High School, Beaverton, OR
• 3rd Place - The World Off the Screen by Bella, Lauren, Cora and Chloe from Xavier College Preparatory High School, Palm Desert, CA
ANNUAL REPORT | APPEAL FOR SUPPORT 5
Youth Action Team Interns, Erin and Malika
Just Video Contest winning videos
ADVENT REFLECTION SERIES
IPJC carried out an Advent Reflection Series across its social media platforms. Will Rutt, Sarah Pericich-Lopez, Adan Isai Hernandez, and Samantha Yanity gave a weekly reflection on the themes of Advent in relationship to the Sunday Lectionary readings. Will kicked off the series reflecting on Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 and the theme of hope. Sarah encouraged us to consider how we create a just world through the example of John the Baptist in Luke 3:1-6. IPJC was privileged to have guest Isai, a high school college admissions guidance counselor, bless us with his reflection on acts of love as necessary for justice rooted in Luke 3:1018. Lastly, Samantha called the community to consider how Luke 1:39-45 depicts how sacred yeses birth new joy into the world. On Instagram alone an average of 430 folks tuned in each week to reflect with us on the season of expectant hope!
+1400 PEOPLE ATTENDED EVENTS
MIGRANT JUSTICE
• Restore Protections for Holy Families: Prophetic Action to #SaveAsylum
THE BASIN AND TOWEL: A Summit on Synod, Women and the Future of Leadership
In partnership with Seattle University’s Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture, over 110 community members gathered to discern the experience of women in the Church. We began by celebrating moments of consolation, then wrestled with moments of desolation, and discerned how the Spirit is calling us forward. A report was written and submitted to various receiving bodies for inclusion in the synodal process.
SOWING HOPE! IPJC Spring Benefit 2022
Our Spring Benefit was a beautiful celebration of women’s empowerment and strength as IPJC honored the Aberdeen Women’s Justice Circle with our annual Thea Bowman Award. Jessica Molina, Aberdeen’s Circle Facilitator and Justice for Women Leadership Advisory Team member, gave an impactful and inspiring keynote speech. Through your generosity, we were able to raise over $110,000 to continue our work. Thank you for making all our work possible. We hope to be back in person for the 2023 Spring Benefit!
Last September, IPJC’s Executive Director traveled to Nogales, Sonora to accompany 24 families seeking asylum in the United States. Each family was denied access to the asylum process through the misuse of the public health policy, Title 42. This one moment highlighted the dark and harmful reality of the U.S. immigration system and reinforced IPJC’s advocacy to end Title 42 and Migration Protection Protocols.
• Walking With Holy Families
In January, over 70 people gathered on the steps of St. James Cathedral to walk to the federal courthouse in downtown Seattle. We gathered to sing, listen to stories, learn about the harmful impact of Title 42 and Migration Protection Protocols, and to act for migrant justice.
• Advocacy Highlight | Ending Title 42 and Migration Protection Protocol
Members of our community completed over 60 electronic advocacy actions and made over 30 phone calls to their federal legislators to restore asylum!
EVENTS
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Save Asylum/Immigration walk to Federal building, January 2022 ©IPJC
COLLABORATIONS
COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZING FOR RACIAL EQUITY (CORE)
• Restorative Justice - This was the third year of organizing for restorative justice by the seven Jesuit apostolates in the Seattle region. We deepened partnerships with organizations serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated communities, especially with Underground Ministries, Community Passageways, Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative, Seattle Clemency Project, and Choose 180. We also co-hosted events to share the stories of directly impacted people and called on our community to act on a slate of six Washington state legislative bills.
• Since I Been Down - As part of IPJC’s continued work focused on restorative justice through Seattle CORE, we were able to share the story of the Black Prisoner’s Caucus and Kimonti Carter with over 800 individuals through the showing of the documentary Since I Been Down. Over 200 people gathered online to hear directly from Kimonti and the film’s director, Dr. Gilda Shepard. Connected to this effort, folks were able to advocate for Washington state bills aimed at reforming the regressive carceral system.
• Advocacy Highlight | Washington State Justice System - Through our events the community took over 450 actions for carceral reform in the state of Washington. As a result of this work, House Bill 1412 was passed to expand judicial discretion on legal financial obligations, allowing judges to not impose or wave restitution payments if it is deemed that a defendant does not have a current or future ability to make payments. This was a step forward in decriminalizing poverty.
SOLIDARITY WITH THE PHILIPPINES
Members of the Seattle Filipino community approached us for support and partnership in working for human rights in the Philippines. IPJC then joined ICHRP. This movement is led largely by young adult, Filipino Americans, both locally and nationally. This year we co-hosted numerous events focused on ending U.S. financing of the Filipino military and national police by advocating to pass the Philippines Human Rights Act (PHRA).
• Candlelight Vigil for Human Rights in the Philippines - Our first public event through our membership in ICHRP provided an opportunity for over 60 community members to hear testimonies about the impact of political violence and repression in the Philippines at the hands of the government and our own government’s condonement and support of those actions. The time of prayer was powerful, solemn, and inspiring.
• Isang Bagsak: Prayer and Action for the Philippines - IPJC co-hosted its first international gathering in December of 2021 to learn about the reality of human rights violations in the Philippines and to consider how as people of faith we are called to respond.
• Philippine Elections 2022: A Vigil for Solidarity and Just Peace - In collaboration with the other members of the ICHRP faith working group, IPJC cosponsored a prayer vigil during the 2022 election in the Philippines. Over 100 people from across the world, gathered to be in solidarity with the Filipino people. Legal observers and ICHRP delegations shared their witness of election tampering, intimidation, and violence. Ministers and locals discussed the importance of their prophetic work and their experience of being red tagged and intimidated for walking with the Filipino people.
• Advocacy Highlight | Philippine Human Rights Act (PHRA) - Significant progress was made to push the Philippine Human Rights Act forward. Representative Susan Wild re-introduced the bill in the House of Representatives with 39 co-sponsors.
• Public Action | Adam Smith Town Hall
In June, 130 constituents of WA Congressional District 9 and community members attended a town hall at Beacon United Methodist Church with Congressman Adam Smith to discuss the human rights violation in the Philippines and garner support for the PHRA. Representatives from ICHRP Seattle, Malay Movement Seattle, Kabataan Alliance Washington and IPJC asked Congressman Smith about U.S.’ culpability, his understanding of faith, responsibility, and democracy, and what steps can be taken to realize peace in the Philippines. Congressman Smith continues not to endorse the PHRA.
E-ADVOCACY
Over 99 letters were sent to members of congress through our action alert platform to support the PHRA along with more actions made available through our partners.
ANNUAL REPORT | APPEAL FOR SUPPORT 7
Philippine Human Rights march © Reuters
CREATION CARE NETWORK (CCN)
This collaborative work across Western Washington continues to animate and inspire communities to work for environmental justice. The coalition has grown to 15 parishes, faith-based organizations, and congregations. The group has developed a mission, vision, and values statement as well as formal leadership structure to guide the strategic vison of the network. IPJC supports the network especially through event development and has built a landing page on our website for the events and resources of the network to share with the community.
PLANTING SEEDS OF HOPE
In March, through our continued work with the CCN, IPJC helped convene over 100 people at Seattle University to learn about the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, and how we can care for creation together. Highlights of the event were a youth panel featuring young women committed to environmental justice, an address by Archbishop Etienne, a tutorial on the Laudato Si’ Action Platform framework, and workshops on how to create and sustain creation care ministries.
SYNODAL LISTENING SESSION
CCN hosted a synodal listening session in which over 50 folks participated. Community members reflected on their anxiety and worry about climate change, the power and hope they experience through communal work towards sustainability, and shared desire for a Spirit filled response in our local communities and churches to care for our common home. This session was one of over 500 listening sessions completed in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Each community, including ours, submitted a report to the Archdiocese of Seattle which was then compiled into a 10-page report sent to the Vatican. CCN is using the information gathered during the session to guide its strategic vision.
RACIAL SOLIDARITY NETWORK
IPJC is the convener of a grassroots network of North Seattle Deanery Catholic parishes who are collaborating to promote awareness, education, and action to end racism in our church and community. The group is working to build engagement from the member parishes as well as providing formational events for the community.
Creation Care Network
RACIAL JUSTICE WITH FR. DAN HORAN
Over 400 people from across the U.S. joined IPJC and the Racial Solidarity Network on February 12th for Fr. Dan Horan’s presentation on racial justice. Subsequent book study groups convened to enter deeper dialogue on the impact of racism in American society. A participant reflected, “Father Horan’s book helped me shift my view from ‘unconscious racial supremacy to intentional racial solidarity’ by illuminating for me what it means to be an American Catholic.”
WHITE SUPREMACY & AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY DISCUSSION GROUPS
The Racial Solidarity Network shared a Fr. Bryan Massingale and Dr. Robert P. Jones presentation—“White Supremacy & American Christianity”—with the North Seattle Deanery parishes and hosted a discussion groups. Folks gathered to consider how the church has been impacted by and fostered a culture of white supremacy and what our responsibility as Christians is to work to deconstruct this reality. The presentation was hosted by NETWORK.
COLLABORATIONS
INTERCOMMUNITY PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER 8
Planting Seeds of Hope Planning Group; Participants wrote their commitments for seeding hope © Patrick Barredo
“A MATTER OF SPIRIT”
Fall 2021: Sacred Pathways
Invites us to read the beautiful, painful, and inspiring stories and experiences of women ministering and leading in the Church.
Winter 2022: Dismantling
Racist Systems - Explores the historical reality of racism, shared personal experience of racism, and the ways they have resisted and continue to deconstruct structures that oppress.
Spring 2022: Seasons of Justice
Reflected on the seasons in one’s life and how learning from our Creator can help us sustainably work for justice.
—Susan Kenney
12,404 ISSUES OF AMOS DOWNLOADED
Summer 2022: Rest - Examined our culture’s obsession with work and productivity and offered creative and sacred ways to find rest as well as its inherent act of resistance against white supremacy and capitalism.
70,115 TOTAL RESOURCES DOWNLOADED
134 + COUNTRIES ACCESSED OUR SITE
JUSTICE RISING
IPJC rolled out the new program, Justice Rising Podcast. This podcast illuminates emerging justice work through asking: How can we bring about healing, liberation, and transformation in our church, our world, ourselves, and our communities? We welcome a new host and producer, Cecilia Flores, in the fall of 2022!
900 PODCAST DOWNLOADS!
Season 1
• Education Equity with Marcos Gonzales
• Finding Our Purpose with Dr. Patrick Reyes
• The Spirituality of Organizing with Michael Alcantara
• Charity vs Justice with Crystal Cardona
• Love on the Border with Sr. Tracey Horan, SP
• Mercy from the Cells w/ Jennifer Kelly
Season 2
3 Part Lenten Series: Religious Iconography
• Part 1: Modern Day Saints with Gracie Morbitzer
• Part 2: Communal Prayer with Kelly Latimore
• Part 3: The Universality of God with Rev. Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones
• Transformative Justice with Dr. Gilda Sheppard
• Protecting Sacred Water with Luke Henkel
• Catholic Climate Advocacy with Anna Robertson, Anna Johnson, Emily Burke & Teresa Tsosie
TOTAL REVENUE $519,84 0
TOTAL EXPENSE $531,426
PUBLICATIONS Sponsoring Communities $227,975 (44%) General Donations $85,321 (16%) Program Revenue $30,155 (6%) Fall Appeal $65,894 (13%) Spring Benefit $110,495 (21%) Programs $407,067 (77%) Administration $57,282 (11%) Development $54,295 (10%) Capitol & Technology $12,782 (2%) ANNUAL REPORT | APPEAL FOR SUPPORT 9
“A Matter of Spirit is always prayerful and challenging, THANKS!”
EXPENSE REVENUE INVESTMENTS & ENDOWMENT ACTIVITY Endowment Gift $100,000 Investments Income $104,337 Unrealized Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -$276,410 Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -$72,073 Investments and Endowment Balance . . . . . $1,167,564
STEWARDSHIP OF RESOURCES
JULY 2021–JUNE 2022 WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR EACH OF YOU WHO HAS SUPPORTED IPJC IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR WITH YOUR FINANCIAL AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS!*
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Victoria Kill
Kathleen Kirschner
INTERCOMMUNITY PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER 10
IPJC DONORS
Mary Ann Knowles
Cheri Knueven
Mary Catherine Kolb
Jane Kortz
Kim Kovalik
Kathy Krueger
Diane Kunkel
Dawna & Jim Lahti
Katherine Lake
JP Lambert
Natividad Lamug
Andrea Langeland
Louise Lansberry
Barb & Leif Lantz
Ned & Pam Laskowski
Bill & Laurita Lehtinen
Patty & Dave Leinweber
Cassie Lentz
Pat Leonard, OP
Kathy & Max Lewis
Marilyn Lewis
Molly Linden
Pam & Frank McKulka
Rosalie Locati, SP
Frances Lombaer, OP
Sherri Lopez
Sharon & Lloyd Lowe
Betty Lucas
Theresa Lukasik
Shelagh Lustig
Barb Luxenberg
Cecille Lynch
Rev. John C. Madigan
Mary Madison
Maria R Madrigal
Gabriella Maertens
Anne Marie Maguire
Erin Maguire
Tom Mailhot & Betty Ngan
Mickey Main
Mike Mains
Mary Mallon-Behrens
Pamela Maloney
Maureen Maloney, SNJM
Nancy Mariano
Paula Marter
Martin Family Foundation
Ardine Martinelli
Joan Mary, OP
Libby Mascardini
Linda Maser, CSJ
Beth & Art Maslow
Kate & Ralph Maughan
Judy & James McAteer
Joan McBride
Joanne McCauley, OP
Brother Michael McCarthy, CFX
Joseph J McCarthy, O. Carm.
Philomena McCarthy, OP
Joanne McClarty
Marie McCormick & Adam Niblick
Lorna McCormick, SNJM
Pat McCrann, SNJM
Mary McEachern
Barb McGrath
Loretta McIver
Pam & Frank McKulka
Judy & Tim McNamara
Anne McNamara, OSF
Nancy McNulty
Philip Meany
Nick & Mary Mele
Marcia Milani
Pat Millen, OSF
Jean Miller
Mary Lew Miller
Robin Miranda
Carla Montante, SP
Sheila & Stan Moon
Tess Morales
Suzanne Moreau
John & Kathy Morefield
Beatriz Munoz
Ann Murphy
Marilee Murphy, CSJP
Mary Pat Murphy, OP
Nora Murphy, OP
Cathy Murray & Vince Herberholt
Pamela Myles
Margie Mylet
Mary Alice Naour, OP
Toni Napoli, MA
Jane Nelson
Marilyn Newton
Mary Pat Neylon, OP
Janet Nickolaus
Sue Nies
Kathy Nolan, OP
Cleo Nollette
Eileen Norris
Cathy Nugent
Marilyn Nunemaker, SNJM
Jim & Young O’Hanlon
Maureen O'Brien, OP
Kathleen O'Connor & Heidi Erdmann
Deanna O'Donnell
Carole Oesterhaus
Natch Ohno, SJ
Dr. Kevin & Mary Ellen O'Keeffe
Rev. Frodo Okulam
Cathy Olds, OP
Erin Oliver
Pamela Olson
Keith Orchard
Mary O'Reilly
Nancy Orlowski
Juan Carlos Orozco Arroyo
David & Debra O'Sullivan
Marnie O'Sullivan
Tereasa & Keith Palmer
Melissa Parisi & Mike Onzay
Sharon Park, OP
Katie Parker
Rosemary Parker, SNJM
Pat & Jim Pattenaude
Frances Pavlas Bose
Barbara Pavlic, SNJM
JoAnne Paxton
Cathy Pearson
Eleanor Peck, OSF
Lucinda Peightal, SNJM
Gary & Georgia Pericich
Brian & Anna Peterson
Rita Phillips
Judy Pigott
Terry Podany
Joseph Podorsek
Karen Pollard, BVM
Carole Pool
Nettie Post
Richard Rahmun
Anisa Ralls
Rochelle Ramirez
Cecilia A Ranger, SNJM, PhD
Katherine Ransel
Fr. Mike Raschko
Helen Read
Stephanie Read
Ken & Linda Reid
Patricia Repikoff
Jane Rickenbaugh
Robert Riedl
Victoria Ries
Carol L. Ries, SNJM
Linda Riggers, SNJM
Mina Riggs, OP
Kathy Riley
Val Ritchie
Nicholas Roach
Shirley Roberg, SNJM
Carmen Rodriguez, RSM
Jeannie & Jeff Roe Gruber
Maria Odelia Romero, OP
Diane Ronson
Vickie Ropp
*If we have inadvertently left off your name, please let us know.
Ella Rosana
Karen Rossman, OP
Conchita S. Ruess
Bill Rumpf & Eve Rumpf-Sternberg
Paula & Joe Rutt
Judy Ryan, SNJM
Thomasina C. Sacrison
Nancy Salvadalena
Paul Sampson
Betty Sanders
Grace Sbrissa, CSJ
Greg & Jo Anne Schell
David Schilling
Kitty & Roger Schiltz
Rose Ann Schlitt, OP
Mary & Jim Schmidt
Ellen Schmitz, OP
Mark Schoen
Janice Scholl, OP
Demetra & Tim Schwieger
Annette Seubert, SP
Kathleen Shannon Dorcy
Judy Sharnes
Maureen Sheridan
Teresa Shields, SNJM
Dolores Shortal, OP
Frank Siderius
Pat & Joe Siemens
Pat Siggs
Mark & Lara Simmons
Mary Ann Simmons
Barb Simms
Susan Simpson
Floricita Siong
Ben & Olivia Skwiercz
Mary Slater, SNJM
Laura & Tom Slavin
Ann Smith Ward
Paul Snow
Jane Snyder
Gary Southerton & David Isla
Gerald Spatz
Dave & Marti Spicer
Gerald Stanley
Lynn Stapp
Sara & Kyle Stewart
Candace Stickney
Derek Stirewalt
Anne & Daniel Stoner
Brenda Stratton
Dr. Carol Sullivan
Jim Sullivan
Charlotte & Earl Sutherland
Janice Sutter
Sylvia Swanke, RSM
Judy & Dennis Sweeney
Melvin Tate
Mark & Tami Teaford
Laura Tenisci
Jim & Jan Thomas
Mary Thorne, CSJP
Tina Thurman
Helen Ting
Jean Tobin, OP
Michael & Holli Tollan
Tricia & Steve Trainer
Claudia Trujillo
Doreen Twohy
Mary Jo Tyler
Helen Umphrey
Peter & Frieda Valuckas
Monda Van Hollebeke
Ida Van Hoomissen, SNJM
Mary Vandergeest, OSF
Marie & Philip Vartanian
Susan & Richard Vignos
Lucy Villanova, SP
Mary Volk
Deanna Rose Von Bargen, RSCJ
Sandy Vroman
Julie Wagner
Mary Wainwright
George & Rita Waldref
James Wallrabenstein
Mary Kay Walsh
Theresa Ward
Mary Ellen & James Weber
Rebecca Weber
Pat Weidinger
Anna Weisner, SNJM
Annie Welch
Arnadene Welton Bean, SNJM
Joseph Wenzl & Jennifer Buksh
Anne & Joe Wermus
Diane S. & Bill Whalen
Mary Wheeler
Allison White
Marge & Bob White
Teresa White, SP
Toni Whitfield
Pat Whitney
Peter & Karen Wickstrand
Kathy Wickward
Mary Lou Wickwire
Mary Lou Williams
Maureen Williams
Kathy Wilmering
Carol Wilson
Kathy Wilson
Mary Wilson, SP
Storey Winder
Mary Winter
Jean Withrow & James Haggerty
Nancy & Pete Wright
Shirley Wright
Joyce & Randy Yates
Pat Yearian
Georgia Yianakulis, SNJM
Roger & Marilyn Yockey, SFO
Gail Young
James & Patricia Young
Nancy Young
Polly Young & Dr. Heidi Gemperle
Linda Zaugg
IN HONOR OF
Adrian Dominicans
2022 Jubilarians
Kristin W. Byrnes
Judy Byron, OP
Claudette Conrad, SNJM
Jeannie & Erv DeSmet
Linda Haydock, SNJM
Anne Herkenrath, SNJM
Janice Holkup, OP
Maggie Kilbourne-Brook
Katie Kilbourne
Marilyn Lewis
Jessica Molina & Grays Harbor
Women's Justice Circle
Mary Pat Murphy, OP
Sisters of Providence
2020 & 2021 Jubilarians
Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary
70th Jubilarians
Sisters of Providence, Seattle Local Community
Charlotte & Earl Sutherland
Tacoma Dominicans
Mary Lou Williams
A Matter of Spirit on Dismantling
Racist Systems
IN MEMORY OF
George Burrows
Elaine Combs-Schilling
Agnes Conlon, OP
Marjorie Kowalski Cole
Anne Marie Lustig, OP
Jan Parker
Margaret & Dave Read
Susan Snow
Peg Sullivan
Tim Sullivan
Mary Timothy, OP
Joan Trunk
Mary Bridget Ward, SNJM
ANNUAL REPORT | APPEAL FOR SUPPORT 11
Intercommunity
Peace & Justice Center
Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center
1216 NE 65th St
Seattle, WA 98115-6724
INTERCOMMUNITY PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER
ESTABLISHED IN 1991
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maureen Augusciak, Vice Chair
Charlotte Davenport, CSJP*
Betty Devereux
Brenda Fincher
Annie Fox*
Margarita Hernandez, SP*
John Hickman, Chair
WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Max Lewis, A-CSJP
Pat Millen, OSF,* SecretaryTreasurer
Mary Pat Murphy, OP*
Kathleen Nolan, OP*
Mary Slater, SNJM
* Also on the Board of Members
BOARD OF MEMBERS
Linda Riggers
EDITORIAL BOARD
Gretchen Gundrum
Vince Herberholt
Kelly Hickman
Tricia Hoyt
Nick Mele
Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos
Will Rutt
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
Society of the Holy Child Jesus
Sisters of the Holy Family
Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco
Society of Helpers
Society of the Sacred Heart
Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union
Next year we welcome three new members of the Board of Directors. Kim Williams, who currently serves as the Vice President of Human Resources at Catholic Community Services Western Washington. Marcos Gonzales, who lives in Chicago, IL and serves as the Program Manager for the Corporate Coalition of Chicago; a coalition committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Max Lewis, A-CSJP represents the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, is a peace/non-violence activist, and a retired social worker. We are excited to have your spirit and gifts guiding our work.
Thank you to Charlotte Davenport, CSJP who is stepping off the Board of Directors, and joining the Board of Members. She will continue to serve on our finance committee!
—Pope Francis, Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future
NON-PROFIT ORG. US Postage PAID
WA
No.
Seattle,
Permit
4711
206.223.1138 • IPJC@IPJC.ORG • IPJC.ORG
“Now, more than ever, what is revealed is the fallacy of making individualism the organizing principle of society. What will be our new principle? We need a movement of people who know we need each other, who have a sense of responsibility to others and to the world.”
Kim Williams Marcos Gonzales Max Lewis
Charlotte Davenport, CSJP
NWCRI CREATING A WORLD WHERE ALL CAN THRIVE
Mary, who passed on her 92nd birthday, was a hero in the best sense of the word. Her obituary tells the story of a mother of 9 children, who was a registered nurse, a curious and life-long learner, and very active in local politics and social justice movements.
Shortly after she moved to Seattle in 2010, Mary participated in a Justice workshop where she connected with the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center (IPJC). When she attended a Justice Movie Night of “The Dark Side of Chocolate,” she learned about the reality of human trafficking and forced child labor on the cocoa plantations in West Africa and discovered that corporations like Nestle, where her husband Joe had worked for years, profited from the labor of children. Mary found hope in the work of corporate change and responsibility that quietly yet persistently emanated from IPJC’s Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment Program (NWCRI).
After reflecting on her family’s long-standing connection with Nestle and considering what she had learned about child labor, she decided to write a letter to Nestle and donate her small monthly widow’s pension from Nestle to IPJC to support its work of creating corporate change.
Mary’s efforts to end child labor continued this year as we dialogued and filed a shareholder proposal with Hershey requesting the Company to eradicate child labor from its West African cocoa supply chain by 2025.
In the 28th year NWCRI engagements included:
▶
▶
▶
44 corporations
50+ dialogues
37 shareholder resolutions
We were inspired and motivated by Mary and all of you, who like us, are working to create a world where all can thrive.
“HEROES ARE NOT GIANT STATUES FRAMED AGAINST A RED SKY. THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY: THIS IS MY COMMUNITY, AND IT’S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE IT BETTER.”
—TOM MCCALL
▲ Cocoa beans drying in a village in Ghana © Francesco Veronisi, flickr
ANNUAL REPORT 2O22 - NWCRI - A PROGRAM OF THE INTERCOMMUNITY PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER
ICCR 2022 Proxy Season
NWCRI is a member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, which pioneered the use of shareholder advocacy over 50 years ago. Our coalition of faith- and values-based investors is “inspired by faith, committed to action” to build a more just and sustainable world.
Highlights
f Record number of proposals filed in 2022— 504, compared to 307 in 2021
f Agreements with companies— 174 proposals; majority on climate issues (57) and racial justice/DEI (50)
f Shareholders won a majority of Security Exchange Commission challenges
f 37 resolutions won majority support compared to 20 in 2021
f Sturm Ruger resolution received the highest-ever vote for a Human Rights Impact Assessment—68.5%
NWCRI 2022 Proxy Season
▶ This new ICCR publication explains an important investor tool—a shareholder resolution or proposal—which is used when a dialogue with a corporation is unproductive. Resolutions typically ask corporations to disclose information, to measure and report on the potential impacts of their operations, or to adopt or change policies and practices to mitigate potential impacts.
https://tinyurl.com/2p86x4dn
Human & Worker Justice Health Climate Change Governance Environment 5
Inclusiveness
Human & Worker Justice Human & Worker
Health Climate Change Climate Change Governance Governance Environment Environment Inclusiveness Inclusiveness
Health 21 26 Human Rights & Worker Governance Human Rights & Health Health Governance Climate & Environment Climate & Environment 21 5
Governance Human Health Health Governan Climate Climate & Environment Human & Worker NUMB E R O F S TA TEM E N T S & LETTERS 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 ood ealth nvironment y ng/ uman & Worker Rights orporate overnance nclusiveness Climate hange NUMB E R O F RES O LU T ION S 120 109 73
23
8 8 13 1
5 8 8 13 1
Justice
NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS
6 26
68 58
22 21
&
NWCRI Members Supported 58 Investor Statements
Letters
NORTHWEST COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT II
Fossil Fuel Financing
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2022 report, released on April 4, gives an updated global assessment of climate change mitigation progress, and examines the sources of global emissions. The Report states that solutions to a warming planet are possible if we act immediately, and that new clean energy industries and the jobs they provide have the potential for strong economic growth. The report also points out that “Public and private finance flows for fossil fuels are still greater than those for climate adaptation and mitigation.” 1
Earlier, in October 2021, the IPCC had issued High-Level Recommendations for Credible Net-Zero Commitments from Financial Institutions which stated that financial sector alignment with a 1.5 degrees Celsius pathway requires “the immediate cessation of any new fossil fuel investments, and rapid decommissioning of remaining fossil fuel production.” 2
The climate work of NWCRI members this year focused on financial institutions, specifically Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. Banking on Climate Chaos 2022 reports that these three banks and Citi, have accounted for one quarter of all fossil fuel financing over the last six years.3
The shareholder proposal filed by NWCRI members requested the banks to build upon their net zero commitments by adopting policies by the end of 2022 that help ensure that their financing does not contribute to new
Fossil Fuel Funding
$382 BILLION $272 BILLION $232 BIL LION
fossil fuel supplies inconsistent with the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
In 2023 shareholders will advocate with the banks to adopt policies and plans to credibly achieve their net zero goals that align with science-based 1.5 degrees Celsius pathways, including a clear policy to phase down financing for new fossil fuel development.
Majority Vote at for Robust Financial Reporting
NWCRI members were among the two dozen faith-based and socially responsible investors who co-filed a resolution requesting Exxon to provide quantitative disclosure of the potential impacts of net zero emissions on their revenues, assets, and liabilities. Frank Sherman of Seventh Generation Interfaith Inc., said about the rationale behind the proposal: “Companies must adequately reflect the impacts of the climate crisis and the clean energy transition in their financial reporting if shareholders are to have confidence that their capital is being effectively allocated and assets do not become stranded. This reporting is especially crucial for a company like Exxon, whose business strategy appears to be built on continuing growth in demand for hydrocarbons for the next several decades.”
1 https://tinyurl.com/yc56y472 - pg. 17
2 https://tinyurl.com/mr3k6mzj - pg.15
3 https://www.bankingonclimatechaos.org/
IN U.S DOLLAR 2016–2021 0 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 $300 $350 $400
JP MORGAN CHASE
Wells Fargo WELLS FARGO
Bank of America BANK OF AMERICA
JP Morgan Chase
III ANNUAL REPORT
▲ Solar array on the Motherhouse campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters adjacent to the Cosmic Walk—13.7 billion year history of our Universe.
Guns Leading Cause of Death for U.S. Children & Teens
In the spring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the 2020 (most recent year available) data for firearm-related deaths in the US. Alarmingly, guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens. For more than 60 years, motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death for children. We changed that statistic with safety features including seat belts, air bags, car seats, technology, and driver education.
The CDC data shows that there were a record 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the U.S. in 2020. About 10% of those deaths—4,357 in total—were children. Can we change that statistic? YES, we can! But do we—legislators, firearm manufactures, gun owners, and communities—have the will to do it?
Investors to Assess Your Human Rights Risks
NWCRI members and a majority of Sturm Ruger investors—over 68%—said YES! we will change that statistic when they supported a proposal urging the Company’s board of directors to oversee a third-party Human Rights Impact Assessment which assesses and produces recommendations
for improving the human rights impacts of its policies, practices and products. Recognizing that shareholder votes are advisory, we remain hopeful that Sturm Ruger will honor the request of the majority of its shareholders and say, YES! we will conduct a meaningful human rights risk assessment of our business and products.
Shareholders Hold Accountable
For a third year NWCRI led 15 faith-based co-filers in urging Smith & Wesson to develop a human rights policy, which we believe would enable the company to take a more proactive stance in addressing potential human rights risks.
The proposal garnered 42% support, strong evidence that the Company’s shareholders agreed with us that a human rights policy would demonstrate to stakeholders that Smith & Wesson is not callous to harms resulting from the misuse of its products, and to legislators that it is willing to collaborate in the development of solutions to end gun violence.
Practices & Profits of Gun Manufacturers Beyond Irresponsible
On July 27, 2022, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform invited the CEOs of Daniel Defense, Smith & Wesson, and Sturm Ruger to a hearing examining the responsibility that the firearm industry bears in contributing to the gun violence epidemic in the U.S. and the steps that Congress can take to hold manufacturers accountable.
Ahead of the hearing, the Committee released findings from its investigation into the sales and marketing of AR-15-style assault rifles.
f revenue from the sale of AR-15-style semiautomatic weapons in the last decade was more than $1 billion
f dangerous marketing tactics are used to sell assault weapons
f companies do not take even basic steps to monitor the deaths and injuries caused by their products
Following the hearing Congresswoman Maloney concluded that the gun manufacturers were “beyond irresponsible.”
Mark Smith, the CEO of Smith & Wesson, did not appear at the hearing so the Committee issued a subpoena for documents related to the Company’s manufacture and sale of AR-15-style assault weapons and the Company’s internal communications around recent mass shootings.4
4 https://oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases/at-committeehearing-gun-manufacturers-refuse-to-take-responsibility-for-fueling
“STATISTICS ARE HUMAN BEINGS WITH THE TEARS WIPED AWAY.”
—PAUL BRODEUR
NORTHWEST COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT IV
▲ March for Our Lives © Erik Drost, 2018, Flickr
Cotton: A Breakthrough Years in the Making
For over a decade, NWCRI collaborated with the Cotton Campaign to end forced labor in Uzbekistan. Each year the government would shut down schools and public offices for months at a time to enlist students, teachers, nurses, and civil servants to harvest cotton.
In 2010 investors raised the issue of forced labor in the cotton industry with companies and requested that they sign the Company Pledge Against Forced Labor in the Cotton Sector of Uzbekistan, publicly committing not use Uzbek cotton. Over 331 brands and retailers signed the Pledge.
During the 2021 cotton harvest, the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights found no government-imposed child and forced labor. The Uzbek Cotton Pledge was lifted.
Cotton: A Breakthrough Needed
On August 31, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued its Assessment of human rights concerns in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China. In the introduction, the OHCHR states that it began receiving increasing allegations
5 https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/ countries/2022-08-31/22-08-31-final-assesment.pdf
related to the Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minority communities in late 2017. The Assessment concludes that serious human rights violations have been committed in the Uyghur region. 5
In June, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act took effect. This U.S. legislation presumes that all goods mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in Xinjiang involve the use of Uyghur forced labor. It bans the import of anything produced in Xinjiang unless companies can provide “clear and compelling evidence” it wasn’t made with forced labor.
Xinjiang grows 80% of China’s cotton and China is the source of 40% of all clothing sold in the US. Because it is a violation of U.S. law to import apparel made with forced labor, investors are pressuring companies to map their supply chains down to the raw material to ensure that they are not linked to the Uyghur region and complicit in forced labor.
Impossible Choice Stay Home or Go to Work
More than 26 million people working in the private sector have no access to paid sick days, and millions more have no paid sick time to care for a sick child or family member, leaving working people in the US facing an impossible choice when they are sick: stay home and risk their economic stability or go to work and risk their/the public’s health.
NWCRI and ICCR members are engaging companies around the growing reputational, financial, and regulatory impacts associated with the lack of a comprehensive paid sick leave (PSL) benefit for all employees. Members sent letters to over 40 companies making the business case for a permanent PSL benefit for all workers.
NWCRI co-filed a proposal at Kroger asking the company “to adopt and publicly disclose a policy that all employees, part- and full-time, accrue some amount of PSL that can be used after a reasonable probationary period.” The resolution was withdrawn after we learned that the Company had a PSL policy and that it was publicly available.
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V ANNUAL REPORT
“To end forced labor and promote decent work for cotton workers in central Asia”. © Cotton Campaign with
permission
Co-founder Dr. Paul Farmer mentors clinicians and medical students on a visit to PIH-supported Koidu Government Hospital in Kono, Sierra Leone.
The health equity work of faith-based investors is grounded in a commitment to the common good. We advocate for systemic and corporate reforms that promote access to affordable and quality health care for all, especially for those in marginalized communities. The disproportional impacts of the pandemic, in terms of who was affected and who had access to therapies, led us to release our Pharmaceutical Equity Expectations in 2022. In dialogues we call on companies to adopt principles, policies, and practices rooted in equity and justice and affirm the human right to health.6
Value: Equity
We believe that every person deserves to be seen, heard and cared for. This happens when we are inclusive, act with integrity and reduce health care disparities.
Shareholders withdrew a second-year resolution with Pfizer asking how the Company accounted for public financial support in the development of Covid products when setting prices after Pfizer published the following: “Pfizer did not receive any public funding for the development of the Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine or for PAXLOVID™, Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 treatment. Any government funding received by our partner, BioNTech, was not a factor in setting Pfizer’s access strategies for the vaccine.” 7
A proposal asking Pfizer to transfer its technology to facilitate the production of Covid vaccines to qualified manufacturers in low- and middle-income countries was supported by 27% of shareholders.
In addition, members sent a letter to Pfizer regarding its refusal to share its license for PAXLOVID™ with several countries including the Dominican Republic.
Credo
Our Credo challenges us to put the needs and well-being of the people we serve first.
This year a majority of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) shareholders—63%—called on the Company to live up to this Credo by conducting a third-party audit which would assess and produce recommendations for improving the racial impacts of its policies, practices, and products. The Company plans to engage in the audit which will be made public.
Johnson’s Baby Powder was introduced in 1893. The first records of the harmful effects of talc on human tissue date back to the 1930s. J&J issued a recall of Baby Powder in October 2019 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found trace amounts of asbestos in a sample. Then on May 20, 2020 J&J announced that the talc-based Baby Powder would no longer be sold in the U.S. and Canada. Finally, on August 11, 2022, the Company announced it would no longer sell the talc-based product globally and will transition to a corn starch-based formula for all customers by 2023.
This victory is a long time coming and is the result of a global-wide movement of investors, health and justice organizations, government agencies, investigative journalists and concerned people who took action to hold J&J accountable to its Credo.
6 https://www.iccr.org/iccr-pharmaceutical-equity-expectations
7 https://www.pfizer.com/science/coronavirus/vaccine/working-toreach-everyone-everywhere
“THE IDEA THAT SOME LIVES MATTER LESS IS THE ROOT OF ALL THAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD.”
—PAUL FARMER 1959-1922, PARTNERS IN HEALTH
In Health NORTHWEST COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT VI
©John Ra/Partners
2021-2022 NWCRI Shareholder Activities
NWCRI members brought 13 justice issues to the boardrooms of 44 corporations, filed 37 shareholder resolutions and participated in over 50 dialogues.
*Resolutions filed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
COMPANY ISSUE ACTION AbbVie Anticompetitive Practices Resolution 33% AbbVie Global Health Dialogue Alphabet Child Sexual Exploitation Online Dialogue Alphabet Racial Equity Audit Resolution 22% Altria Group* Civil Rights Audit Resolution 62% Amazon Customer Due Diligence Resolution 40% Amazon* Racial Equity Audit Agreement Bank of America Net Zero Emission by 2050 Resolution 11% Bristol-Myers Squibb Independent Board Chair Resolution 45% Bristol-Myers Squibb Global Health Dialogue Campbell Soup Food Equity & Racial Justice/Water Dialogue Caterpillar Business in Conflict & High Risk Areas Resolution 10% Chevron Racial Equity Audit Resolution 47% Citigroup* Respect for Rights of Indigenous Peoples Resolution 34% Coca-Cola Food Equity & Racial Justice/Water Dialogue CoreCivic Human Rights Due Diligence Dialogue Dollar General* Chemical Footprint Agreement Dollar General Racial Equity Audit Agreement Dow* Racial Equity Audit Agreement Eli Lilly Anticompetitive Practices Resolution 23% Eli Lilly Global Health Dialogue ExxonMobil Financial Statement Assumptions & Climate Change Resolution 51% Facebook Child Sexual Exploitation Online Resolution 17% Facebook Independent Board Chair Resolution 17% FedEx Shipping Ghost Guns Dialogue Freeport McMoRan Human Rights Dialogue GEO Group Human Rights Due Diligence Dialogue Gilead Sciences Anticompetitive Practices Resolution 40% Hershey Child Labor Resolution 8% Johnson & Johnson Racial Equity Audit Resolution 63% Johnson & Johnson Access to Covid Vaccine Resolution 34% Johnson & Johnson Global Health Dialogue JP Morgan Chase Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Resolution 11% Kraft Heinz Human Rights Impact Assessment Dialogue Kroger Human Rights in Supply Chain - Farmworkers Resolution 20% Kroger Paid Sick Leave Agreement Lockheed Martin* Human Rights Impact Assessment Resolution 20% Mastercard Processing payments for Ghost Guns Resolution 11% McDonald’s Responsible Antibiotic Use in Beef & Pork Dialogue Merck Access to Covid Products Dialogue Merck Global Health Dialogue Moderna Access to Covid Vaccine Dialogue Newmont Mining Human Rights Supplier Standards Dialogue Northrop Grumman* Human Rights Impact Assessment Agreement PepsiCo Food Equity & Racial Justice/Pesticides Dialogue Pfizer Access to Covid Products Agreement Pfizer Global Health Dialogue Pfizer Covid Vaccine Technology Transfer Resolution 27% Philip Morris International Phase Out Hazardous & Addictive Products Resolution 1.4% Sanofi US & Global Health Dialogue Smith & Wesson Adopt a Human Rights Policy Resolution 42% Sturm Ruger Human Rights Impact Assessment Resolution 69% Tyson Foods Racial Equity Audit Agreement UPS Adopt Science-Based GHG Reduction Goals Resolution 28% Walgreens Boots Alliance* Public Health Costs of Tobacco Sales Resolution 11% Walmart Starting Pay & Racial Equity Resolution 13% Walmart Equitable Supply Chains Dialogue Wells Fargo Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Resolution 11% VII ANNUAL REPORT
Since its founding after Sandy Hook, RAWtools has partnered on gun buybacks, or receiving confiscated weapons from law enforcement, to transform over 1000 firearms into garden tools. Mike Martin and his father Fred are living out Isaiah 2:4: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”
Investors are embarking on a campaign to engage with companies on valuing water. The vision is that companies will recognize fresh water as the world’s most precious natural resource, essential to whole industries and all communities and ecosystems.
NWCRI’s advocacy on a living wage for workers saw progress when Bank of America raised its minimum wage to $22 an hour on June 30. This is part of the Bank’s longstanding plan to get its starting rate to $25 by 2025.
Investor concern about Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks was indicated by the companies receiving the highest number of shareholder proposals in 2022: Amazon (20), Alphabet (12) and Meta (Facebook 12).
NWCRI continues to advocate for children living with HIV. In June the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority approved a treatment contained in strawberry-flavored granules which can be sprinkled on breast milk, formula, or other ageappropriate foods, for infants and children living with HIV.
Amazon will conduct a racial-equity audit of its nearly one million hourly workers after shareholders urged the company to provide more transparency into how its policies affect diversity, equity, and workplace inclusion. The audit will be led by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
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
Tacoma Dominicans
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.
Judy Byron, OP Director, NWCRI
1216 NE 65th St, Seattle, WA 98115 206.223.1138 | ipjc@ipjc.org | ipjc.org Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center
“WE NEVER KNOW HOW OUR SMALL ACTIVITIES WILL AFFECT OTHERS THROUGH THE INVISIBLE FABRIC OF OUR CONNECTEDNESS.
IN THIS EXQUISITELY CONNECTED WORLD, IT’S NEVER A QUESTION OF “CRITICAL MASS.” IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT CRITICAL CONNECTIONS.”
—GRACE LEE BOGGS