The SJW Program strives to go beyond the usual volunteer experience. There are several transformative components that allow women to reflect on their work and explore new possibilities for their lives. The program is centered on a strong commitment to the development of the Workers. Each SJW commits to a thirty-six hour work week at their placement, and the additional 4 hours are focused on training, educational opportunities, community time, spiritual growth, activism, and learning community organizing skills. For SJWs, global change begins not only at the local level, but at the level of the individual. The program empowers its volunteers to utilize their own passion and talents to create a better future both for themselves, and the local and global community. Here are a few of the dynamic tools that SJWs use to become change agents.
Monthly days of action/reflection deepen Workers’ understanding of the core values. Examples include an Enneagram workshop, StrengthsFinder assessment, and service at Bread and Roses Cafe at the St. Joseph Center.
One to Ones are a cornerstone of good community organizing. They are simple meetings, perhaps over coffee or lunch, where two people sit down together and consciously share a piece of their stories and their passions. This is a skill that assists each SJW to make strong connections with leaders and other mentors in their local area. Each month a certain number of one to ones are chosen by the SJW and orchestrated into her work schedule.
Throughout the year, the program offers various in-town and out-of-town opportunities to enhance social justice knowledge and experiential learning. In the past these have included trips to Tijuana, Mexico to help build a house with Corazon House Build, participating in the LA Freedom Walk against human trafficking.