Fairlawn Avenue aspires to be a congregation passionately engaged in social justice work, in actions that "transform society, individual lives and ourselves". Last April, we invited three outstanding social justice advocates and activists to talk with us about their experiences of moving from a vision of social justice to effective transforming action. Everyone who attended the panel presentation and discussion was impressed, informed, and inspired – ‘pumped up and inspired’ as one participant reported.

Our guests were: Debra Dineen, Executive Director of Toronto Christian Resource Centre (TCRC); Mark Aston, Executive Director of Fred Victor Centre; and Michael Shapcott, Director of Community Engagement at the Wellesley Institute. Each spoke of their personal and professional experience working with individuals and communities who are marginalized and disadvantaged by inadequate income and limited opportunities.

Debra Dineen spoke of her experiences as community member, volunteer and community worker in Regent Park. Debra is best known to our congregation through our financial and volunteer support of TCRC and the 40 Oaks housing project. Her focus for this evening, however, was the development of Pathways to Education – a dramatically successful program that encourages and supports disadvantaged students to attend and graduate from high school. The success of Pathways to Education can be directly related to its beginnings as a community- based response to the needs of local youth. Pathways grew out of and owes its success to "listening to the community and building on its assets."

Mark Aston is also well known to Fairlawn as we have had a long relationship with Fred Victor Centre (FVC) – formerly Fred Victor Mission. Mark sees social justice work as inherently political. Social justice concerns itself with the resources and benefits of society – who has access and how they are distributed. There are three levels at which social justice can be promoted. All three levels are interdependent and inter-connected:

• The individual level – access to resources, such as affordable housing
• The local or community level – development of community-based programs, such as Pathways to Education
• The larger public policy level – policy development and advocacy

Mark spoke of FVC’s transformation from a charity-focused to social justice-focused organization. A key component of this transformation was the realization that people who are homeless need more than shelter for a night and that they are the best proponents of what they need.

Finally, we were fortunate to meet Michael Shapcott for the first time. Michael is recognized as one of Canada’s leading housing policy experts as well as a long time advocate for housing and the homeless. Michael sees social justice as focusing on community-based programs as well as structural systemic changes. Both are required. For the most part, local United Churches have traditionally focused primarily on support for community-based programs and have not been as active working for systemic change.

Following the presentations there was a lively period of questions and discussion. The panel was excellent and that now we need to put our vision and all we have learned into action. Several suggestions were put forth as next steps including taking strong advocacy positions on a number of issues and working with groups that have solid social justice experience.

The social justice team is planning to convene a forum for social justice groups within our neighboring churches - another step along the way to developing an effective and sustainable program of social justice action. If you have ideas or are interested in learning more or becoming more active, please take a look at our Social Justice web page at www.fairlawnavenueunited.ca/social_justice.htm  or contact the social justice team at FairlawnSocialJustcie@gmail.com