The Systemic ChangeThe Systemic ChangeApproachApproach

An approach to changing the An approach to changing the unjust structures which unjust structures which

oppress persons living in oppress persons living in poverty poverty

AA SystemSystem

A A systemsystem is a perceived whole is a perceived whole whose elements ‘hang together’ whose elements ‘hang together’ because they continually affect because they continually affect each other over time and each other over time and

operate operate toward a common purpose.toward a common purpose.

Systemic ThinkingSystemic Thinking

A A systemsystem is composed of parts, but you is composed of parts, but you cannot understand a system by looking cannot understand a system by looking only at its individual parts. You need to only at its individual parts. You need to work with the whole of a system, even as work with the whole of a system, even as you work with individual parts or isolated you work with individual parts or isolated problems. problems.

Social SystemsSocial Systems

Social and political institutions are :Social and political institutions are :

contextcontext

meant to provide the resources people need to meant to provide the resources people need to survive survive

meant to ensure that basic human needs are met.meant to ensure that basic human needs are met.

often exclusive, unequal and entrappingoften exclusive, unequal and entrapping

Systemic ThinkingSystemic Thinking

““If you want to change individual or local If you want to change individual or local behaviours, or if you want to resolve an behaviours, or if you want to resolve an

issue, issue, you have to tune into the system-wide you have to tune into the system-wide influences on the behaviour or the issue. influences on the behaviour or the issue.

You You have to use what is going on in the whole have to use what is going on in the whole system to understand individual behaviour, system to understand individual behaviour, and you have to inquire into individual and you have to inquire into individual behaviour to learn about the whole. “behaviour to learn about the whole. “

KeywordsKeywords

Root causesRoot causesTransformationTransformation

SystemsSystems

Act locallyAct locally….….Change is PossibleChange is Possible

Hope is kindledHope is kindled

Where to begin…Where to begin…

Your storiesYour stories Your experienceYour experience Our spiritualityOur spirituality

Act locally….Act locally….Change is PossibleChange is Possible

Hope is kindledHope is kindled

Each of us holds a piece of the jigsaw in ministryEach of us holds a piece of the jigsaw in ministry

Each of us sheds a little light through itEach of us sheds a little light through it

Each of us holds hope in our handsEach of us holds hope in our hands

Each of us can act for changeEach of us can act for change

Act Locally: Reflect

Start with your own experienceWho do you walk with?What to you see?What are you called to do?What is the challenge?What are systems that surround your people?What causes the poverty?What will transform it and the lives of the people?Who can help?

Our stories and experienceOur stories and experience

At the beginning of the process, each of At the beginning of the process, each of the members of the Commission the members of the Commission wrote a wrote a story, based on his or her own story, based on his or her own experience, about a work in which experience, about a work in which systemic change has taken place.systemic change has taken place.

In each one of the stories presented, we In each one of the stories presented, we identified identified effective strategieseffective strategies that might that might be used in working toward systemic be used in working toward systemic change in our projects among the poor. change in our projects among the poor.

Strategies according to their Strategies according to their orientation and main orientation and main

objectives:objectives: Mission oriented Strategies Mission oriented Strategies

Person Oriented StrategiesPerson Oriented Strategies Task oriented Strategies Task oriented Strategies

Strategies oriented towards solidarity Strategies oriented towards solidarity and networkingand networking

From our own tradition we know that St. Vincent intervened in political situations to alleviate the sufferings of the poor. We know that he became a very influential public figure. Vincent established strong, enduring relationships with kings, queens, ministers, public authorities, with the nobles, members of the church hierarchy and the poor themselves.

This set of strategies addresses the need to be a transforming force within society through networking and political action.

Our TraditionOur TraditionStrategies oriented towards solidarity and networking

Vincent raised the consciousness of the authorities of his time to their responsibility for charitable works. He sensitized politicians to their moral duty to assist the poor. Thus, he was able to found and operate hospitals with public monies. He used the expression “public good.” He was concerned with the good of social groups: prisoners, children, war refugees, etc).

Our TraditionOur Tradition

In 1849, Frederick Ozanam wrote: “Charity is not sufficient. It treats wounds, but it does not stop the blows that cause them ... There is an immense poor class which does not wants alms, but institutions.” He encouraged the members Society to join people living in poverty in their quest to change unjust social structures.

A prophetic attitude asks us to consider WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO (in the face of poverty, oppression and marginalization) so that ….the oppressed go free and the year of the Lord is realized.

Vincent, in his day, thought about a reversal of the status quo. Holding out an alternative world to us and asking us to enter it, he calls his followers “servants” and the poor the “masters.”

Pope Benedict - charity begins with justice: (“If we love others with genuine charity, then first of all we are just towards them”).

Vincent and Louise were skilled communicators of their vision; they kept their message simple and heartfelt in order to develop understanding, commitment and energy for attending to the vision (conversations, letters, conferences)

they empowered others to act; they understood that leaders do not achieve the vision on their own. Vincent excelled in the process of empowerment. He listened to others’ ideas, sought their advice, and provided the tools that were needed to achieve the mission. Vincent empowered his followers by stipulating core values, rules, and virtues such as respect and mutual support.

In today’s world they would be enduring models of systemic change leadership.

Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac were leaders of change:

Act locally….Act locally….Change is PossibleChange is Possible

Hope is kindledHope is kindled

Each of us holds a piece of the jigsaw in ministryEach of us holds a piece of the jigsaw in ministry

Each of us sheds a little light through itEach of us sheds a little light through it

Each of us holds hope in our handsEach of us holds hope in our hands

Each of us can act for changeEach of us can act for change

To work as Vincentian Family, To work as Vincentian Family,

having persons who live in poverty at the having persons who live in poverty at the center of our projects,center of our projects,

we seek to work first on ourselves,we seek to work first on ourselves,

with a renewed mentality and wider with a renewed mentality and wider perspectives,perspectives,

to be transformed ourselves,to be transformed ourselves,

in order to transform others.in order to transform others.Commission for promoting Systemic ChangeCommission for promoting Systemic Change