Systemic Change: Seeds of Change

From Vincentian Family News Blog's introduction to the Systemic Change: Seeds of Change series: Pope John Paul II encouraged people to analyze the situation of the poor carefully, to identify the structural roots of poverty, and to formulate concrete solutions.This 20-week series, offered by the members of the Commission for Promoting Systemic Change, describes strategies that are useful, often even essential, for bringing about such change.

Adopting as its starting point a group of projects in which systemic change has actually taken place, the Commission analyzed stories of leaders of successful projects. From these stories, the Commission sought to identify the strategies that helped produce lasting change. It soon became clear that many of the strategies that led to structural changes and transformed the circumstances of individuals and communities flowed from the Gospels and from our Vincentian tradition.

Seeds of Change Chapter 1: Introduction - Robert P. Maloney, CM

Seeds of Change Chapter 2: From Handout to Hand up - Joseph P. Foley, CM

Seeds of Change Chapter 3: Servant's Attitude - Gene Smith, past president of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in the United States

Seeds of Change Chapter 4: Finding a Community Voice - Patricia Nava, past president of the AIC

Seeds of Change Chapter 5: a Holistic Vision - Norberto L. Carcellar, CM

Seeds of Change Chapter 6: Start Modestly - Ellen Flynn, DC

Seeds of Change Chapter 7: Systematize, Institutionalize, Evaluate - Robert P. Maloney, CM

Seeds of Change Chapter 8: Project Sustainability - Joseph P. Foley, CM

Seeds of Change Chapter 9: Be Transparent - Gene Smith

Seeds of Change Chapter 10: Focus on the Poor as the Persons Who Are Most Capable of Changing Their Own Situation - Patricia Nava

Seeds of Change Chapter 11: Involve the Poor at All Stages - Norberto L. Carcellar, CM

Seeds of Change Chapter 12: Educate, train, and offer spiritual formation to all participants in the project - Ellen Flynn, DC