Advocacy

Charity and direct service have been a part of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Georgia since our founding in 1903. In 2010, following a lead from the National Council, we formed a Voice of the Poor committee to advocate for systemic change on behalf of our clients.

Voice of the Poor: Mission Statement
The Atlanta Council Voice of the Poor Committee is the social justice advocacy and education arm of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.  Guided by Catholic Social Teaching (click to view Catholic Social Teaching), we collaborate with other organizations to address root causes of the social, political, and economic conditions of the people we serve.
Criteria for Choosing Issues

The Atlanta Council VOP will advocate to eliminate systemic causes that contribute to our client’s needs using the following criteria:

• Is it close to the Heart of Vincentians?
• Is there something positive we can do about it?
• Does the issue affect many/most clients?
• Is there a probability of success?
• Application and consistency with Catholic Social Teaching.

We are called from Vincentian Traditions
The Rule

• 7.1 “The Society gives immediate help but also seeks mid-term and long-term solution”
• 7.4 “The distinctive approach of Vincentians to issues of social justice is to see them from the perspective of those we visit who suffer from injustice”
• 7.5 “The Society helps the poor and disadvantaged speak for themselves. When they cannot, the Society must speak on behalf of those who are ignored”
• 7.6 “Where injustice, inequality, poverty or exclusion are due to unjust economic, political or social structure or to inadequate or unjust legislation, the Society should speak our clearly against the situation, always with charity, with the aim of contributing to and demanding improvements”
•  7.8 “The Society does not identify with any political party and always adopts a nonviolent approach”
  Blessed Frederic envisioned the establishment of a network of charity and social justice encircling the globe

Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching 

What Have We Accomplished

• Advocate
• Exempted religious groups from harboring provisions of immigration bill (2011)
• Board approved statement to Special Council on Tax Reform (2011)
• Subprime lending bill (2010)
• Good CAPWIZ responses from GA

Coordinate

• 70 percent of Conferences with a designated VOPCC
• Ongoing relationships with:
       -Georgia Catholic Conference
       -Catholic Charities
       -United Way
       -ACFB/Prosperity Campaign
       -Georgia Watch
       -AARP
       -Georgia EMC
       -Georgia Federal Credit Union
       -ABLE
       -GBPI

Educate

• Conducted Navigating the Benefit Maze for 75 Vincentians in five workshops
• First Voice of the Poor Month, Sept 2011
• Council Awareness Campaign included print, TV, radio & billboard ads
• Early 200 followers on Twitter received 31 SVdP tweets
• Numerous conference initiatives for bulletin announcements, pulpit talks, and VOP discussions
• Created Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act Brochure
• Workshops at two STL
• VOP Presentations to two Districts, six conferences, three National/Regional mtgs,
  2020 Georgia

How You Can Help

• Become part of our e-mail list contact: bfreel@svdpatl.org
• Volunteer to be a Voice of the Poor Conference Contact
• Read the National Voice of the Poor position papers
• Follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/VoiceofthePoor0
• Educate yourself and your friends and neighbors about the challenges faced by low and no income families (http://www.acfb.org/advocacy_and_education/facts_and_links/GeorgiaPovertyHungerData.pdf)

 

Action E-list

Join the SVdP Advocacy CAPWIZ Action Alert system and receive emailed updates on issues of concern to the poor and those in need. 

This automatic system will allow you to contact your Federal elected officials and express your support for pending legislation.  You CAN make a difference. 

SIGN UP TODAY