IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AND DURHAM CAN
“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
NEW TO JPIC’S “COMMUNITY ORGANIZING”?
If you are new to Durham or Immaculate Conception, or just to our JPIC’s social justice and charity work, you may not be familiar with our parish’s relationships with numerous “community organizing” nonprofits. Although our parishioners and staff promote the Gospel’s call for solidarity and social justice through a number of local community action organizations, Immaculate Conception has a particularly long history of supporting Durham CAN. Our church was a “founding member” of the organization. In addition to providing financial support over the years, our parishioners have continued to work for justice and the common good on countless issues alongside other Durham CAN member institutions.
WHAT IS DURHAM CAN?
Durham CAN (Congregation, Associations, Neighborhoods) is based in institutions: congregations, associations, schools (both private and public), nonprofits, community health centers, and neighborhood organizations that share a concern for families and a tradition of faith and democracy. Durham CAN strengthens these institutions by developing the skills and capacity of their leaders to be change agents in the public process. Durham CAN creates a vehicle for ordinary people to have a powerful voice in community decisions that affect their lives, instead of leaving decision-making in the hands of a select few. Durham CAN builds relationships of trust among people and institutions across Durham County, intentionally crossing boundaries that divide our communities. It supports member churches, synagogues, even dioceses, synods, and conferences as they seek to address problems that impact families and communities. Issue-driven and politically non-partisan, CAN puts forth an “issues agenda” as a platform for constructive change.
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
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Most parishioners are very familiar with or have already participated in supporting larger Durham CAN events, particularly around elections or specific social justice issues in Durham. Every CAN campaign begins with listening. People come together to share stories about the issues that affect their lives, families, and communities, then choose issues all can support. Durham CAN acts strategically, holding government and corporate power players accountable to create change for the common good. Durham CAN only moves forward on projects you have the energy and commitment to address. They remain driven by the testimony of concrete experience, not pre-conceived ideology. Once potential issues are identified, community leaders like you do research to develop practical, achievable solutions on concrete issues we can do something about in our community. I have listed below several ways IC parishioners can get involved.
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“ACTION TEAMS” – DURHAM CAN
The most direct way to help others and have your voice heard is through working on a Durham CAN “Action Team.” Durham CAN’s agenda emerges from small-group gatherings. People like you share your stories about issues you would like to see changed.
Last December, our JPIC invited all parishioners to participate in the process of setting Durham CAN’s agenda for the upcoming year. Recently, our JPIC invited IC parishioners again to attend an “Action Team Training” meeting to prepare to be a part of these teams. If you missed this training session, please review the helpful resources below.
Last December, our JPIC invited all parishioners to participate in the process of setting Durham CAN’s agenda for the upcoming year. Recently, our JPIC invited IC parishioners again to attend an “Action Team Training” meeting to prepare to be a part of these teams. If you missed this training session, please review the helpful resources below.
You still have a chance to be a part of a Durham CAN action team. Just be sure to attend the next upcoming meeting listed below. Please contact Ken Chiha, so I know which team you decided to join!
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“POVERTY” ACTION TEAM
“AFFORDABLE HOUSING” ACTION TEAM
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“GUN VIOLENCE” ACTION TEAM
“PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION” ACTION TEAM
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JPIC “CORE TEAM” – DURHAM CAN
The JPIC Durham CAN "Core Team" is a small group of parishioners trained in the art of grassroots community organizing. They are charged with organizing parishioners to address community issues as part of Durham CAN. While our JPIC parishioners working on “Action Teams” work together with members from various Durham CAN institutions on very specific social justice issues, our parishioners who volunteer to be a part of our JPIC “Core Team” are the main representatives of Immaculate Conception in Durham CAN. The Core Team presents our parish’s concerns and questions, while maintaining a constant flow of communication, action, and evaluation about all Durham CAN-related issues. They build a core team of leaders responsible for organizing our parish’s involvement with Durham CAN. They develop leadership and strengthen community within IC and between institutions, building bridges across longstanding divisions that isolate communities from each other. They help identify leaders in our parish to participate in training, initiate local action, and take part in major CAN actions and campaigns. They keep the parish aware of all Durham CAN activities and keep our parishioners actively involved in helping to address the root causes of inequality and injustice. The JPIC also encourages the Core Team to periodically gather together all parishioners involved with Durham CAN for coffee/dinner or other social events that may include faith sharing, synodal listening, and community building.
“INTERNAL ACTION” MEETINGS DURHAM CANOur JPIC "Core Team" members serve as Immaculate Conception's parish representatives at Durham CAN's "Internal Action" meetings. In addition to sharing the perspectives of our parishioners (noted above), the Core Team makes important decisions on behalf our church community at these Durham CAN "Internal Action" meetings. They also serve as liaisons, communicating/receiving important updates and new CAN resource materials, ensuring our parish commitments to Durham CAN are fulfilled in our efforts to make our city a better place for all!
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DURHAM CAN "INTERNAL ACTION" MEETING
Thursday, 03/16 (6-7:30 PM) Monument of Faith's Sojourner Truth Building (900 Simmons Street) *Please RSVP: https://www.durhamcan.org/internal_actionmar2 |
ATTEND GENERAL MEETINGS – DURHAM CAN
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One final way ALL PARISHIONERS can support Durham CAN is to attend general meetings and larger events they sponsor. Many of these events are designed to bring our community together and allow the people to express shared needs or concerns. Often, public or political leaders are invited to respond to Durham CAN's broad-based, achievable requests for action on behalf of the common good.
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DURHAM CAN REFOUNDING MEETING*
Sunday, 04/30 (6-7:30 PM) Duke Memorial UMC (504 West Chapel Hill Street) *The purpose of the gathering is to publicly reclaim Durham CAN's position and power in Durham. Both member and discerning institutions are invited to join us for this action.
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ADDITIONAL TEAMS - DURHAM CAN
STRATEGY TEAM – DURHAM CANThe Strategy Team is responsible for setting the direction of Durham CAN, based on issues raised and ratified by the membership. The Strategy Team authorizes new issue campaigns, reviews the progress of current campaigns, attends to financial and structural aspects of the organization, and oversees the hiring of a Lead Organizer. It is my understanding that the members of this team are appointed/invited. Our pastor, Father Jacek Orzechowski O.F.M., is currently a member of the Durham CAN Strategy Team.
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CLERGY CAUCUS – DURHAM CANDurham CAN's Clergy Caucus is composed of clergy leaders of member institutions who work with Durham CAN organizers to act on proposed strategy and guide Durham CAN's campaigns. The Clergy Caucus provides a regular space for philosophical, theological, and practical reflection. Our Parochial Vicar, Father Hugh Macsherry, OFM, is a member of the Durham CAN Clergy Caucus.
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