Stepping Out on Faith: Economic Justice Through Community Organizing

In her lecture, Professor O’Connell will be exploring methods of faith-based community organizing, work that she is closely involved with through several organizations both in Philadelphia and nationally. Professor O’Connell’s theological approach is practical and engages with faith based community organizing as a viable approach to building economic dignity and justice, particularly in urban communities in the U.S. Her talk will explore some specific ways that faith-based organizing deepens the traditional praxis of Catholic Social Teaching where economic justice is concerned, while refusing to dodge the reality of racism as a driver of social inequality. Professor O’Connell will also be sharing images and “real world” reports from the North American World Meeting of Popular Movements in Modesto, CA, which she participated in just prior to her visit to St. Norbert College