Women's Justice Circles Take Action to Create Change
In Washington State and parts of Oregon, the Seattle-based Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (IPJC) is helping low-income women take action on poverty issues. In its third year, IPJC's Justice for Women project has held nearly 50 Women's Justice Circles, bringing together low-income and homeless women with "collaborators" from churches, hospitals, colleges, and community organizations.
Women from Adelante Mujeres Justice Circle organize presentation to community leaders to save programs that increase school readiness of preschool children.
TOPICS: The circles have addressed such disparate topics as inequities in the local housing authority application process, dispute mediation and landlord/tenant rights, and screening and treatment for depression in homeless people.
PROCESS: Women in the circles identify the issues to be addressed, talk about solutions, and develop action plans that are transforming their communities. The circles meet for two hours once a week for eight weeks and are held in low-income parishes, shelters, and transitional housing centers. Participants follow a guided process developed by IPJC.
"The beauty of this process is that anybody can do it. We have materials they can take and adapt for their needs and begin implementing a plan of action," says IPJC's Chris Hillman.
"If you stick with the process, change will come."
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Photos courtesy of the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center, Seattle, WA.