Anti-Oppressions Steering Committee Deepens Sisters Commitment to Social Justice

By Heather Dorfman
Early this year, Sisters Of The Road created an Anti-Oppression Steering Committee (AOSC) and took an important step toward creating a culture of inclusion, respect, and opportunity for all people. This committee grew out of a recognition that to truly embody our values of nonviolence and gentle personalism, we must also work to end the oppressions that negatively impact so many in our community, even within Sisters itself. Becoming more anti-oppressive means dedicating ourselves to examining every aspect of the organization, and to actively changing those policies and practices (written and unwritten) that maintain unequal relationships of power. Change begins at home, and Sisters has pledged to create a home that is truly welcoming and empowering for all.

Members of the committee include staff members Monica Beemer, Steve Johnson, Genny Nelson, Art Rios, Sr., Julio Vazquez, and Heather Dorfman. Julio shared his reason for participating: “I’m on the committee because I’ve suffered from oppression and racism throughout my life. I want to help work against that in this organization, and in the larger community.”

The goal of the AOSC is to “institutionalize our commitment to actively and continuously challenge our organization and our community to transform to one where all people are welcomed and valued – with access to the support and resources they need to thrive while being a part of safe and respectful services, community space and community transformation (systemic change).” AOSC members meet at least once per month to coordinate all-staff trainings (including trainings on racism, classism, sexism, ableism, and so on) and develop policies and practices that will ensure Sisters progresses on its path toward anti-oppression and social justice. Art Rios Sr. states he is a member of the committee because, “Oppression is everywhere; oppression of people experiencing homelessness, oppression of people of color….As a person of color, I advocate for everyone because I believe all people should be equal; I believe in respecting the dignity of all people.”

The AOSC is charged with supporting the organization’s work to build systems of support and transformation within Sisters, and support the work to create an inclusive and equitable community. While the group is currently in an assessment and visioning phase, members are also working hard at creating a strong foundation and clear procedures for consistently working against all forms of oppression. Some goals for the Steering Committee will likely include:

• Ensuring a plan for recruitment and support of people with diverse backgrounds for our Board of Directors and leadership positions at Sisters
• Improving our hiring and operating processes to recruit and retain staff with diverse backgrounds
• Providing training to help our staff and volunteers understand the impacts of institutional oppressions and to ensure that we are committed to the work of dismantling oppression and discrimination
• Conducting forums for our community on issues that impact communities targeted by oppressions
• Being active and effective members of community groups that are working to end oppressions and groups supporting and/or led by people targeted by oppression

According to Monica Beemer, “Sisters uses the philosophies of Gandhian nonviolence as one of our primary guides in all decisions that we make, and Gandhi considered any form of humiliation to be violence. Oppression is more than just humiliating, it keeps most members of our community struggling for survival, dignity, safety and a sense of well-being that everyone deserves. For that reason, the AOSC is some of the most important work we are doing at Sisters. It is helping ensure our organization as a whole is continuing to unlearn oppressions and liberate our organization and our own hearts from the structures of those oppressions. This is a path and not an end. Sisters is only one small group, but we can work hard, and stay on the path, creating a better organization and a better community that provides the same opportunities to each and every person. This is not easy work and it certainly makes people uncomfortable - but the goal is safety, not comfort.”

This is an exciting time at Sisters as we deepen our 30 year-long dedication to creating a more just and fair world. If you would like more information about the Anti-Oppression Steering Committee, please email the committee at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).