All Are Welcome But…
by Melody Maravillas, Congregation Chief Financial Officer
In 2017, Hidden Figures hit theatres nationwide. The film is based on the true story of three African-American women who were crucial to NASA’s efforts during the 1960s space race. In the movie, Katherine G. Johnson’s mathematical prowess lands her a spot as the first Black woman in an all-white, male-dominated Space Task Group. When she walks into the room for the very first time, she is hesitant, nervous, and feeling very out-of-place. Katherine’s new boss sees her. Without taking any issue over her gender or race, he directs her to start working with the rest of the group.
I remember watching that scene and thinking, “Finally, progress!” But it is very short-lived. When Katherine wants to get coffee, she sees the sign “Whites Only.” Subsequent scenes show her running half a mile to a different building multiple times just to use the “colored” bathroom. It isn’t until later in the film that her boss wakes up to Katherine’s reality and decides to do something about her troubles.
Sixty years later, despite the great strides society has made, our progress still feels half-baked. Just look at the news. Refugees are welcome, but they are bused to other states. Minorities are encouraged to start businesses, but they are considered too risky to invest in. Companies build diverse workforces but withhold key positions from women. Society is inclusive BUT… If there is something I learned about the word “but,” it is that everything you say before it does not matter.
When we want to be who we say we are, we want to live fully into our commitment without excuses, which entails removing the “but” that stops us from fully realizing the Congregation’s charism of peace through justice. We try to do that in several areas.
At home, we recognize that historically marginalized communities are still catching up from an educational or professional standpoint. As such, we review our job requirements so that we do not inadvertently screen out qualified people with limited backgrounds. Periodically, we analyze employee pay to ensure that they are free from gender or racial biases.
Beyond our walls, we continue to use our financial resources to build a society that listens to all voices and makes room for everyone at the table. Our charism gives us the courage to engage in difficult discussions with corporations, like the one we had with Citigroup, one of the world’s largest banks. We filed a shareholder resolution to advocate for indigenous people’s rights especially when it comes to projects that might encroach upon their lands. The Congregation also supported the International Rescue Committee’s Center for Economic Opportunity and Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, who help newcomers settle into our communities. Through our financial support, these organizations provide low-cost loans to refugees and much-needed legal assistance to asylum seekers. Going beyond our borders, we recently provided a grant to Catholic Relief Services for women religious in Mexico and Guatemala, who are providing vulnerable children with safe and nurturing families.
Being who we say we are also evokes a restlessness, a challenge if you will, to constantly assess ourselves for areas where we fall short. Recently, I participated in the Global Impact Investing Network’s (GIIN) program on Advancing Racial Equity. It was deep work that opened my eyes to business hurdles that minorities still have to overcome. For example, how “objective” criteria, such as longevity and performance track records, make it difficult for minority fund managers to gain access to investors. It’s like handing them the Monopoly card “Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200.” You can play with us on the same board BUT you don’t get the money. GIIN’s program brought CSJP together with other faith-based asset owners to see how we can break down these obstacles and work towards a more equitable distribution of wealth.
Building an inclusive society requires continuous action to look around us and see who else is not at the table. Otherwise, we run the risk of progress that is still half-baked. Had I been content with the work that we were already doing, I would not have known that there are more “buts” to eliminate.
This article appeared in the Autumn 2023 issue of Living Peace.