The Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice is very pleased to welcome two new, full-time staff members: Mark Hathaway as Associate Director and Victoria Blanco as Office and Program Manager. Mark has already been working with Anne-Marie Jackson on the Forum’s new dialogue guide on justice and right relationships with Indigenous peoples.
For the first time in its 12 years, we will be three full-time staff people.
This means new energy, new ideas and the possibility of connecting with our network across Canada and reaching new audiences more often than was feasible in the past.
Victoria and Mark arrive at a time when a new "Trail Map” (our name for a strategic plan) has been developed to guide the work of the Forum for the next few years. A trail map doesn’t eliminate the possibility of getting lost, but does reduce the chances of that!
Mark Hathaway is an author, educator, and researcher with experience in both Canada and Latin America. He is the principal author (along with Leonardo Boff) of The Tao of Liberation: Exploring the Ecology of Transformation (Orbis, 2009) which integrates perspectives from economics, ecology, social justice, spirituality, and post-modern cosmology. Mark has worked with a variety of organizations on issues related to social justice and ecological sustainability including Scarboro Missions, ecumenical coalitions, and The United Church of Canada.
Mark hold a PhD from the University of Toronto where his doctoral research explored the cultivation of ecological wisdom – along with the intersections between transformative learning, worldviews, ecopsychology, and engagement for sustainability Mark teaches as a sessional lecturer at the School of the Environment at the University of Toronto, as a visiting professor at several Latin American universities, and as a facilitator and research fellow in the Earth Charter’s education programs.
Victoria Blanco is a dedicated educator and researcher with a Master's degree in Theology and Religious Studies from the Catholic University of Leuven and a BA in International Relations from American University of Rome. She has worked as a teacher for groups of various ages, having taught Religious Studies, Philosophy, Social Studies and English as a Second Language. Most recently, Victoria worked as an employment consultant assisting newcomers transitioning to a life in Canada.
At the same time, the Jesuit Forum is delighted to welcome new Board Members: Wendy Gichuru (St. Catharines), who works as Program Coordinator for Partnerships in Africa and the Middle East at the United Church of Canada;
Trevor Herriot (Regina), a prairie naturalist and author of award-winning books, including Grass, Sky, Song and the national best-seller River in a Dry Land.
Luke Stocking (Toronto), long-time Animator for Development and Peace and now Deputy Director of Public Engagement; and Sue Wilson (London), Sister of St. Joseph and Co-Director of the Office for Systemic Justice for the Canadian Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
The Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice wants to make a difference. We engage people in deeper thinking and sharing on what’s going on in our globalized world, starting with their own experience. The Forum also publishes Open Space.
Photos: Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice (courtesy)
