Volunteers joining the Refugee Women鈥檚 Protection Corps are trained and coached by Jackie Loo, Head of ICMC鈥檚 Office in Malaysia. The group is learning about ICMC Children鈥檚 Safety Program. The Refugee Women鈥檚 Protection Corps was one of 64 projects featured in the report. Photo courtesy of ICMC and the Boston College School of Social Work.
The concept of 鈥渟ocial innovation鈥� 鈥� harnessing new strategies, ideas or organizations to address urgent social needs 鈥� is a relatively recent one that has gathered force in the 21st century. But Tiziana Dearing, co-director of the Center for Social Innovation at Boston College, says there is an enduring yet widely overlooked driver of social innovation: Catholic thought.
鈥淚 would argue that, at some level, all social innovation is inherently 鈥� although not always intentionally 鈥� Catholic,鈥� says Dearing, a professor of macro practice at the 51茶馆 School of Social Work and former director of Catholic Charities Boston. 鈥淥ur 20th-century definition of 鈥榮ocial justice鈥� was shaped by and arguably rooted in听 Catholic values, and so much of the language in social innovation resembles that found in Catholic doctrine about care for the marginalized and vulnerable.鈥�
Dearing鈥檚 view on social innovation鈥檚 links with Catholicism was crystalized after participating in a groundbreaking study of how Catholic-affiliated organizations have responded to the global refugee and migrant crisis.听
The study was commissioned by FADICA, Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities, as part of a project on defining Catholic social innovation. The CSI collaborated with FADICA to examine the scope and scale of Catholic outreach in 32 countries with a greater-than-average flow of migrants and refugees.
Dearing, along with three graduate students 鈥� two from 51茶馆 School of Social Work, the other in the joint 51茶馆SSW-School of Theology and Ministry program 鈥� studied more than 140 Catholic ministries aiding refugees and migrants and profiled 64: Half of the interventions are identified as Catholic-led or Catholic-based, the remainder affiliated with Catholic nuns.
Among the examples of Catholic social innovation cited in the report 鈥� titled 鈥淐atholic Social Innovation in the Global Refugee Crisis鈥� 鈥� were a transitional home for refugees outside Pittsburgh, converted by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth from a house they owned, and a program in a Chicago neighborhood where refugee women gather to work on textile projects.
I think this study makes it clear that an existing institution can be innovative, and at the same time offer a wealth of experience and insight. That鈥檚 always been our belief at the Center for Social Innovation.鈥�
These and other Catholic initiatives, the report found, are marked by a commitment to a range of values represented in Catholic social teaching, including human dignity, a commitment to the common good, care for the earth and promoting the dignity of work. In addition, according to Dearing, socially innovative Catholic approaches are often involved in 鈥渞adical repurposing of existing resources to put them at work for vulnerable populations.鈥�
Such characteristics are a hallmark of most social innovation ventures, whether secular or faith-based, says Dearing.听
鈥淥ne reason why social innovation鈥檚 connection to Catholic social thought is generally unexplored is there is a disproportionate emphasis on 鈥榳hat鈥檚 new鈥� 鈥� start-ups and the like,鈥� she says. 鈥淐atholic institutions are often disregarded or downplayed simply because they are older. I think this study makes it clear that an existing institution can be innovative, and at the same time offer a wealth of experience and insight.听 That鈥檚 always been our belief at the Center for Social Innovation.鈥�
Dearing hopes to use the lessons of 鈥淐atholic Social Innovation in the Global Refugee Crisis鈥� as a starting point for conversations in the larger social innovation sector.
鈥淪hared values tend to be helpful. My feeling is, this is a great opportunity: Let鈥檚 look at how the values and goals we share can inform a discussion, and a movement, to social justice. What is there in the Catholic language that can translate to a secular environment?鈥�
Dearing notes that Pope Francis has included secular as well as Catholic institutions in his call to assist the 鈥渆xcluded and marginalized.鈥澨�
鈥淧ope Francis has talked about the importance of 鈥榚veryday鈥� holiness 鈥� that you don鈥檛 have to be a member of the clergy or a religious order to strive for holiness, but that you do good for the benefit of others,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 an innovative pope.听 It鈥檚 a wonderful idea.鈥�
Sean Smith | University Communications
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