12/12/2021
News update about Interfaith Worker Justice (National non profit, originated in 1996 in Chicago, Closing 12-31-21) After 25 years of creative leadership initiatives for worker justice:
A message to some of my special IWJ friends: To those having served on the IWJ Board, former staffers who I love and appreciate seeing especially on facebook! I have always appreciated your leadership:
From Karen Hessel. Retiring as IWJ Finance Chair and long time Board member:
I conclude my 25 year relationship with IWJ sadly yet gratefully after a troubled several years of returning to the Board only to deal with unfortunate dysfunction and other issues that we have finally resolved. I ended up as Finance Chair (ironically after a career of ecumenical program work, as you know finance is not my forte). In light of my love for IWJ and respect for our legacy since 1996, I reluctantly found myself convening the only functioning committee dedicated to protecting the reserves and the IWJ legacy. Dedicated faith based partners worked hard to make sure we proceeded respectfully and carefully to conclude as described below. We are convinced that through IN4WS the Interfaith Network for Worker Solidarity at Georgetown (shepherded by Joe McCartin, former IWJ Board member) the legacy begun by Kim Bobo in 1996 will continue, faithfully.
To: Our friends and colleagues at IWJ affiliates
From: IWJ Board of Directors
In recent years, while Interfaith Worker Justice has experienced unusual and challenging times, your worker centers and faith-labor groups have provided significant ongoing leadership for worker justice across the country. We are most grateful.
As you know, Interfaith Worker Justice has experienced some difficult times over the last several years. After much thought and prayer, the IWJ Board unanimously passed a PLAN TO DISSOLVE at the IWJ Board Meeting on November 7, 2021. Interfaith Worker Justice will be dissolved effective December 31, 2021.
While the decision saddens us, we do believe that it was the right choice and we remain proud of IWJ’s 25-year legacy, which you and your staff and volunteers helped to create. Please do be sure to share our appreciation with them.
In developing a plan to disperse the remaining funds of IWJ, the board carefully considered the mission of IWJ. At the November 7, 2021 meeting, the board also passed the PLAN TO DISPERSE.
For the remaining IWJ (reserve) funds, which total approximately $300,000, the dispersals will be made as follows:
1. Before December 31, 2021, $100,000 to the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, which is filing for a new 501(c)3 to continue the faith-labor work through a group formed in April 2020, Interreligious Network for Worker Solidarity. Contact Ken Homan at [email protected] if you wish to attend the monthly meetings of IN4WS.
2. Before December 31, 2021, $100,000 to the Worker Justice Alliance at The International Center for Labor, Spiritual and Social Activism in Houston, Texas. This recipient was designated by the IWJ board members who lead worker centers.
3. On or about July 1, 2022, the remaining funds, approximately $100,000, will be divided equally among the eleven IWJ worker center affiliates who met the following criteria:
· Have held IWJ affiliate status for eleven years or more
· Have received IWJ pass-through money in the past six year
· Are currently active
They are:
· Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center
· Western North Carolina Workers’ Center
· South Florida IWJ
· Worker Justice Wisconsin
· Voices de la Frontera
· Pilipino Worker Center
· New Labor
· Fe y Justicia
· Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa
· Damayan Migrant Workers Association
· Workers’ Center of Central New York
In sum, 2/3 of the funds are going to Worker Centers and 1/3 of the funds to the Faith-Labor Solidarity work, all of which will continue the mission of IWJ.
Looking ahead, here are some key things for you to know:
· The name and logo of your affiliate can remain the same.
· If you have an email address that ends in "iwj.org," you will need to change it by December 23, 2021.
· The IWJ website will be taken down so if there are any materials on the website that you want, please retrieve them by December 23, 2021.
If you have any questions, you can contact Rev. C.J. Hawking at this email address. C.J. has been hired by the IWJ Finance Committee to help guide the decommissioning and dissolution process.
At the November 7th Board Meeting, the Board expressed deep gratitude for all of the amazing work that has emerged from the IWJ affiliates over the years. We hope that you will continue with your efforts for workers!
May the seeds of the 25 years of Interfaith Worker Justice continue to bloom so that all workers have a fuller measure of God's justice in the workplace.
In gratitude and solidarity,
~~ The Interfaith Worker Justice Board of Directors
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Rev. C.J. Hawking. Karen McLean Hessel, M. Div
Consultant Chair, IWJ Finance Committee
773.937.1824
