1 Th e Hartford Catholic St. Martin De Porres House Worker St. Brigid House “You cannot serve both God and money.” -Jesus

The children of this earth take refuge in the shadow of your wings. -Psalm 36

Brian Kavanagh S um m er 2015 2 The Hartford Catholic Worker Established November 3, 1993 Volume 23 Number 2 The Hartford Catholic Worker is published by the St. Martin De Porres Catholic Worker community four or five times a year. We are a lay community of Catholics and like minded friends, living in the north end of Hartford, working and praying for an end to violence and poverty. We are a 501c3 tax exempt organization. We do not seek or accept state or federal funding. Our ability to house the homeless, feed the hungry, and work with the children depends on contributions from our readers. We can be reached at: 18 Clark St., Hartford CT 06120; (860) 724-7066, [email protected] and www.hartfordcatholicworker.org We are: Brian Kavanagh, Baby Beth and Cullen Donovan, Jacqueline, Christopher, Micah and Ammon Allen-Doucot.

We are In Time of Silver Rain looking for a full In time of silver rain size bed The earth frame, box Puts forth new life again, spring and Green grasses grow mattress, a And flowers lift their heads, second full size mattress and And over all the plain a twin mattress. If you can The wonder spreads donate any of these things Of life, please give us a call at (860) Of life, 724-7066. Thanks. Of life!

In time of silver rain The butterflies Lift silken wings Jacqueline Allen-DoucotJacqueline To catch a rainbow cry, And trees put forth New leaves to sing In joy beneath the sky As down the roadway Passing boys and girls Go singing, too, In time of silver rain When spring And life Are new. -Langston Hughes

W We celebrate liturgy, usually a Catholic Mass, on the first Tuesday of every month exceptJuly or August. We gather at 18 Clark St. at 7:30 PM. Please join us on Sep- tember 1 for our next gathering. Bishop John Selders of Amistad U.C.C. will be our celebrant. W Please join Brian in his vigil for an end to war and torture. You can find him every Friday standing outside the Federal Building on Main St. in Hartford. Bring an appropriate sign and an appropriate spirit. 3

Christopher J. Doucot Onduring War four different and wars Memory to sup- from olfactory memory and sounds It is Memorial Day and the port the British war efforts before that echo forever. neighborhood is relatively quiet; he fully developed his nonviolent The firstMemorial Day did not some grackles are chirping over the consciousness and methods; and my include a glorification of weapons. gentle pulse of the Reggae Gospel late mother in law Mickey Allen was Rather it was a gathering of freed music emanating from a neighbor’s an Army nurse in Italy and north slaves on May 1, 1865 in Charleston, window. When I was weeding the Africa during WWII. Mickey, like South Carolina to commemorate the garden this morning this tranquility most of the veterans I know was death of Union soldiers and the end was momentarily overcome by some transformed by what she witnessed of the American Civil War. “Three obnoxious sonic litter as the years later, General John Logan thunderous shrill spewing from issued a special order that May four military jets flying in for- 30, 1868 be observed as Deco- mation dominated the sound- ration Day, the first Memorial scape across the region. These Day — a day set aside ‘for the warbirds were no doubt flying purpose of strewing with flow- about to commemorate the day. ers or otherwise decorating the I suppose the sight and sound graves of comrades who died in of warplanes is meant to force defense of their country during us to look up from our grills the late rebellion, and whose and gardens and remember that bodies now lie in almost every Memorial Day is meant for us city, village, and hamlet church- to remember our countrymen yard in the land.’”… and women who sacrificed their I wonder what would happen lives through military service. if the pomp of Honor Guards I admit that I looked up at the in shiny uniforms singing the jets despite knowing exactly national anthem at the Red Sox what I was hearing but the sight game as the Blue Angels swoop and sound didn’t fill my mind over Fenway was done away with thoughts of noble sacri- with. What if Memorial Day fice; rather I imagined what my was instead commemorated young Iraqi friend Mostafa was by those of us who have never thinking and feeling when he experienced war by listening to and his brother Haider heard the the stories of those who have? same roar on January 25th 1999. We need to hear veterans share They were little kids at the time, their stories of courage and less than ten years old, when an valor and also of their trauma American warplane deployed and regret. We also need to hear an AGM-130 missile that killed Desert Shield the testimony of the civilian Eleanor Mill Haider and blew off Mostafa’s survivors of war. Since the Civil hand. War is the last war to be fought I don’t intend disrespect here. in war. The destruction and suffer- on American soil we are sometimes Frankly, I have a whole lot of re- ing of war, known to the vast major- cavalier in our support for military spect for veterans. I admire their ity of Americans in only an abstract action and so we need to hear from willingness to sacrifice for a cause intellectual sense, is something that Mostafa, now in his early twenties, larger than themselves and wish that most veterans know viscerally. They about what life has been like grow- sentiment was more present in our have heard the roar of the jet and ing up in a war zone. We need to populace. Some of the most influ- then felt the concussion of the shock hear the stories of the young Af- ential people in my life have been wave when the bombs landed. The ghans from the Afghan Youth Peace veterans: Philip Berrigan was an burning of flesh and the spilling of Volunteers who have lived their infantryman in WWII before being blood, the autonomic moan of the entire lives during a time of war. ordained a Catholic priest who dedi- dying and the haunting keening of We can’t remember them if we don’t cated his life to resisting violence; the survivors are sights that can’t be Gandhi formed ambulance corps unseen, smells that can’t be purged (Please see: Memory ,p4) didn’t like to talk about himself. The ered letters between Franz 4 On Memory cont. paper place mats before us noted Jagerstatter and his bishop. that it was the year of the rat and so Franz was a lay Catholic, a farmer, know their stories. And if we don’t Gordon spent a good portion of the remember them our collective mem- husband, and father. He was the sex- dinner recounting how he loved hor- ton of his parish and had little for- ory of the wars we’ve participated ror movies that involved rats. Gor- in is a false memory that clouds our mal education but he did know that don was a devout Catholic who was Jesus told his followers in unambig- thinking and contributes to zeal for imprisoned in New Hampshire dur- the next war- a zeal not typically uous terms to love our enemies and ing WWII because he refused to be to not kill. When the Nazis drafted shared by those who have already drafted believing that his participa- been to war. Recall, it was a retired Jagerstatter he refused to cooperate. tion in killing would fundamentally Jagerstatter refused to abandon his American general who warned us violate the tenets of his Catholic about “the acquisition of unwar- faith despite his priest and bishop faith. We corresponded for several telling him it was him moral duty to ranted influence, whether sought or years when I was in my twenties. unsought, by the military-industrial serve the state. Franz solemnly took In his letters he would counsel me Jesus at his word when Jesus told a complex. The potential for the disas- on the spirituality of nonviolence, trous rise of misplaced power exists, potential disciple who wanted to first inform me on the militarization of say good bye to his family before he and will persist.” Catholic schools, and introduce me Another American general from would follow Jesus: “No one who to the idea of “the crystallization of puts a hand to the plow and looks a previous generation said more conscience”- that is how something plainly: “WAR is a racket. It always back is fit for service in the king- we might enthusiastically support at dom of God.” (Luke 9:62). On August has been. It is possibly the oldest, 18 can become something we find easily the most profitable, surely the 9, 1943 Jagerstatter was beheaded. morally reprehensible at 25. In 1964 Zahn published In Solitary most vicious. It is the only one inter- Gordon was a sociologist by national in scope. It is the only one Witness: The Life and Death of Franz training who studied the complicity Jagerstatter . In 1964 the American in which the profits are reckoned in of the Catholic Bishops of Germany dollars and the losses in lives.” phase of the war on Vietnam was set with the Nazi regime. (It is worth to escalate dramatically. In Solitary Memorials are about memories. noting that the Catholic bishops of But who and what do we remember? Witness was read by thousands of Germany and the Catholic bishops young American men who had mis- What do we choose to forget? War of America each declared their side is never glorious because it always givings about participating in orga- to be fighting a “just war” [sic]). nized killing. The witness and cour- involved the destruction of lives- in- During his research Gordon discov- nocent and otherwise. We should age of Jagerstatter encouraged many remember that on Memorial Day. men to resist the draft and the war. Rather than a good deal on a new Daniel Ellsberg has claimed that his car perhaps we could remember lives reading of In Solitary Witness was broken by war by working to house “the straw that broke the camel’s and care for homeless and haunted back” in his deliberations to re- veterans. Do we remember that lease the Pentagon Papers (Ellsberg veterans commit suicide at twice confirmed this story to me years ago the rate of the civilian population? at one of ’s birthday Or that at least 100,000 veterans parties). The release of the Pentagon are homeless? Maybe too we could Papers, which revealed that America financially support local efforts to was losing the war and had also rebuild the homes, schools, power secretly expanded it beyond Vietnam, plants and bridges we’ve bombed. hastened the end of the war. Do we remember the Marshall Plan? For many years the Catholic Do we remember those who re- Church did not remember Franz sisted war? When I was a young man Jagerstatter. In his hometown he I was in awe of the conscience and was thought to be a coward, a sacrifice ofGordon Zahn and Franz traitor, and a negligent father who Jagerstatter. abandoned his young girls. But in a I had dinner at a Chinese restau- 2007 ceremony held in Jagerstatter’s home parish he was beatified as

rant in Worcester with Gordon when Brian Kavanagh I was 19 and he was about 70. He the Vatican declared to his widow, was a quiet, avuncular fellow who (Please see: Memory ,p6) 5 Frances Crowe, Finding My Radical Soul, a Memoir With Mary-Ann Devita Palmieri cluding separate schools for whites an anti-war philosophy professor & Marcia Gagliardi and blacks. Frances felt the unfair- begins to mold her activist view. 281 pp. Published by Haley’s ness of this from an early age. The Here she also learns about and is Reviewed by Peter Georg residents were mostly Episcopalians inspired by Dorothy Day and The The story of Frances Crowe starts while the Hyde family were Catho- Catholic Worker. In contact with with her childhood and continues lics. Catholics were a rung down a Catholic sorority, she begins to through her early adult years with on the social ladder and felt some question church doctrine, especially the chapters falling, pretty much, mild discrimination. When Frances as it applied to women. This led to in a straight timeline. By the time attendance at discernment meetings Frances reaches middle age, the where Catholics talked openly about book’s chapters are arranged accord- their religious doubts. The die was ing to her current cause and there is cast. Not long after, Frances walked some chronological overlap which out of Sunday mass thinking “This can be a bit confusing. The authors is not me, this is not right.” recognized this and provided an During her time at Syracuse, outline of Frances’ life starting on Frances met and dated Tom Crowe. page 263 that the reader can use to They both graduated in 1941, Tom stay oriented. The outline is color- with an MD and Frances with an coded. Frances’ activities are in red undergraduate degree. Tom went and concurrent historical happenings to Hartford to intern at St Francis are in black. An index of acronyms Hospital while Frances returned to would also have been useful. Frances her old college in where did not pass up many opportuni- she worked as a dorm counselor. ties to engage in a cause and each That is where they were when the new organization comes with a new Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in acronym. December. Being an armchair activist, I read Tom enlisted in the Army as a the book looking for clues about was about five, the town prepared physician and Frances remembers how a girl from a small Midwestern to hang a convicted prisoner. While thinking “What am I doing here? I town turned into a radical boots-on- many in town were eager to attend need to get involved in the war ef- the-ground activist. She was born the gruesome event, that was not fort.” Not exactly what you would Frances Hyde in 1919 in the small the case in the Hyde household. expect from a young woman with town of Carthage Missouri just after Frances remembers being angry that her views. She admits that “like so the end of WW I. Her mother was people would celebrate someones many others I was swept up in war a farm girl of German ancestry. Her death. hysteria.” By the summer of 1942 father ran a plumbing supply busi- As her first act of activism, Frances found and enrolled in a ness. Momma ran a tight household Frances, upset that a new gym is program at Mount Holyoke College and set high standards and goals for being built for the boys at the high that trained women to go into in- her children. There is no reason to school, starts a petition drive to also dustry to replace the men who were think that she held strong political have one built for girls. Her effort drafted. Frances spent the war years beliefs or influenced Frances to de- is lauded but unsuccessful. Shortly working in administration, first at velop as she did. As a small business- after that an effort to establish the Sperry Gyroscope on Long Island man, dad was careful not to scare off JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer’s and later at in Greenwich his customers by expressing contro- Training Corps) in her high school Village. versial beliefs. He kept his thoughts led Frances to think deeply and While living and working in to himself. Dad was a compassionate conclude that she was against war New York Frances took courses man but not an activist. He helped to and killing and that she would never at several left-leaning schools. She shape her views but not her actions. join the Army. increasingly questioned both gov- The nature of her hometown Fast-forward past two years at ernment and war. She tells us that might have had a bit to do with turn- an all-girl college in Springfield, ing Frances toward radical activism. Missouri and Frances is attend- The town was racially segregated in- ing Syracuse University where (Please see: Radical Soul ,p7) dren like Haider then our children 6 On Memory cont. will never be safe. children and his detractors that If we don’t remember nonviolent Blessed Franz Jagerstatter is to be heroes like Gordon Zahn and Franz remembered because his life ought Jagerstatter or Magda Trocme and to serve as an inspiration to follow Sophie Scholl we will never know our conscience and to resist war. that there are alternatives to war. If we don’t remember how war The path to all wars is built upon has traumatized many of our veterans the selective memory and outright we will continue to neglect them. lies of those who would profit. The If we don’t remember that war path to peace is built upon remem- always kills innocents including chil- bering fully the suffering of those who fought, died, witnessed or resisted war. W Magda Trocme: Sheltered Victims of Nazis By Robert McG. Jr. husband's shadow; she was a highly its role as a place of refuge. (the following is excerpted from the October organized, tireless and practical Although her open-hearted 19, 1996 obituary of Ms. Trocme pub- woman who knew how to find food welcome to the Jewish woman who lished in the New York Times.) when there was no food and just knocked on her door one snowy which door to knock on to find night in 1940 has been considered Magda Trocme, a French par- room and welcome for those her the beginning of the Chambon son's wife who opened her door to own overburdened household could movement, Mrs. Trocme's daughter, a single shivering refugee in 1940 not accommodate... Nelly Hewett of St. Paul, stressed and helped inspire a movement that Like her husband, Mrs. Trocme, yesterday that in an area where se- saved thousands of Jews and oth- who taught Italian at the Cevenol crecy was a way of life and virtually ers from the Nazis in World War II, school, was a thoroughgoing pacifist. every home eventually harbored one died on Oct. 10 a hospital in Paris. But many of the villagers and farm- or more refugees, it is impossible to She was 94 and lived in Paris. ers of the region were not. Under know whether her mother had been Although she was a heroine to the rule of the collaborationist Vichy the first. Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Mar- Government and the later German After the war, Mr. Trocme tyrs and Heroes Memorial Authority, occupation many of them took part became the European secretary for to her dying day Mrs. Trocme could in the Resistance activities that were the Fellowship of Reconciliation, not comprehend a world that regard- common throughout France, but an American-based pacifist group,... ed it as in any way remarkable that what set the Chambon area apart was after his death in 1971, Mrs. Trocme she, her husband, and thousands of retired to Paris. other residents of the village of Le There she wondered at the atten- Chambon-sur-Lignon in the plateau tion her efforts had received over region of southern France had risked the years, including a 1989 book by their lives to feed, clothe, hide and Philip P. Hallie, ''Lest Innocent Blood protect those who would have died Be Shed,'' and a television documen- without their help. tary, ''Weapons of the Spirit.'' But then Mrs. Trocme was an To her mind, at least, she had anomaly, a free-thinking woman done nothing more than provide whose life was dedicated to the curi- the obvious help to those in obvious ous principle that just as food is the We can walk on the water and rescue need. She no more understood the answer to hunger the only rational Our fellow-sharers in Christ from fuss over her efforts to rescue Jews antidote to violence is nonviolence. being drowned in injustice, ignorance than the consternation she caused Mrs. Trocme owed her own and ugliness, if only we have as her neighbors when policemen came prominence in the rescue movement much confidence as Saint Maurus. to arrest her husband (he was later in part to the fact that her husband, It was because he loved his little friend released) and she served them din- Andre Trocme... Placid so much that he ran ner. But as scores of refugees who without hesitation and saved ''I don't understand,'' she said. ''It came to her own door discovered, him from drowning. was dinner time.''W Mrs. Trocme was more than her text and art by Ade Bethune 7 living in New York “providedFinding a Rochester My they Radical met and befriended Soul, cont.the Vietnam great environment for experienc- a Quaker couple. By 1958 Tom had War and in ing progressive ideas.” After three become a Quaker. Frances waited the late 1960s and a half years in New York during until 1978 to join while complaining educated WWII she was ready to say “war is that “ say more than do.” herself on not the answer.” The 1950s were mostly spent car- the process Tom and Frances married in May ing for a young family. By the early through of 1945 while he was on leave in 1960s the activist pace in the Crowe which a po- Erika Weihs New Orleans. On Aug 6, 1945, as household began to pick up as tential draftee Frances was preparing for Tom to Frances and Tom are both involved might obtain return home, the U.S. dropped the first with the National Committee status (CO). bomb. She heard about for a SANE Nuclear Policy (SANE) She then counseled interested young it on the radio and recalled that and then with Physicians for Social men and according to her records the act “shook me to my core.” She Responsibility (PSR). At about the saw and helped over 1700 people thought “there has to be some way same time both attend an American in the course of a couple of years. to stop this madness.” The transfor- Friends Service Committee (Quak- In her counseling, she discussed a mation was complete and the course ers) institute week. Frances is asked “crystallization of conscience” and set for the remainder of her life. She to establish a regional AFSC in defined it as a slow evolution where would work to stop madness wher- Northampton which will organize a person takes a step, decides how ever she found it. events and invite people to speak comfortable it is and then takes Between 1946 and 1952 the about peace and justice. If this is another. This aptly describes her young couple moved from Roches- not enough, Frances is also work- own evolution toward radical activ- ter, NY where Tom Did his Residen- ing with the Women’s International ism. By this point in the book, I’ve cy to Hartford, CT for his first job. League for Peace and Freedom concluded that a deep inbred aver- They finally settled into Northamp- (WILPF). It is through the WILPF sion to injustice coupled with the ton, MA where he would practice that Frances finds her causes: peace times and places in which she lived and they would live their lives. education, stop war, eliminate led her to become the radical activist Along the way Frances gave birth to nuclear power and nuclear weapons that she is. a daughter and two sons. While in Frances was naturally opposed to Frances was first arrested in 1972 during an anti- dem- onstration at Westover AFB. She was released in time to go home and make supper. As the years and the causes mounted, this happened again and again. As she became more radical she refused to pay fines, even small ones. She spent time in jail as a consequence. Over the next many years Fran- ces advocated and demonstrated for the end of apartheid in South Africa, peace and justice in Central America, disarmament, the shut- down of nuclear power, housing for the homeless, a home for the NPR broadcast Democracy Now! and Brian Kavanagh many other causes. At 96 she is still at it and is a celebrity in the New Bomb Eating Mantis England activist community. At the end of the book she invites us to Bless O Lord, the Bomb Eating Mantis get to our core and rejoice in life. Quietly feeding among the blossoms Indeed!W Sufferer of Chronic indigestion. 8 Remembering with gratitude Fr. James Fanelli and Sr.

By Elaine Betoncourt CSJ MarisLoving Stella him as we do/Hickey we know that CSJyears ago as novices/ and remember every- We lovingly mourn and express he gave us the best/ of his mind and heart/ thing our gratitude to our friends and sup- and gave it lovingly. With stories they can tell’ of Maris’ porters Fr. Jim and Sr. Maris who He was a man of integrity/ who trea- kindness and humor/ her keen mind, mu- went to God within a week of each sured his faith/ honored the art of educa- sical talent and integrity/and her undying other on April 18, 2015 and April tion/ and prized his friendships. loyalty/ to the preservation of their beauti- 24, 2015 respectively. As a disciple he knew/ that he was ful friendship Fr. Henry Frascadore, a close called to serve others/ to serve them as well And the entire Josephite community/ friend to both of these special as he could/ and to serve lovingly . . . obviously treasures her./ through the years people, was presider and homilist Jim had a brilliant mind/ continu- they have elected her/ because of her ability at each of their Masses of Christian ally sharpened/ by reading, writing/ and and honesty/to leadership positions/ here in Burial. Poet that he is, Fr Henry reflection. this house, in this country/ and abroad. . . chose to frame his eulogies in po- And the effect of this daily discipline/ I compare our friendship/ to a rowboat’s etry. Excerpts follow. was obvious in the articles/ which appeared ride/ along a casual river/following the Saying of Fr. Jim -- regularly In the Courant and Transcript/ contours of the land/ bending and turning Jim was a student of Jesus/ from him/ or heard in his papers presented publicly as easily’ a loving relationship/ shared gener- he learned that words matter/ but witness NCEA conventions . . . ously/ for fifty-two years … what a gift! matters more. Each of us/ can remember a word or idea Friday/ Maris said to the Lord/I of his/ that will never be forgotten.

And of Sr. Maris Stella— I met Maris/ on the steps of Fordham in 1962/ and we met again a year later/ on the steps of South Catholic 53 years we have walked together She taught me a lot during those years that-/ good teachers teach with their lives/ call students by name/ and look them in the eye when they do. Maris was a faithful imaginative person/ who didn’t believe that “what is” “is” and will always be “is” Things can change when “is” becomes “if” – If we look at people Humility, generosity, and kindness/ and things/ through the eyes of God. lived out daily/ are infinitely more effective It was that view of life/ which drove in practice/ than eloquent definition . . . her to search for the “ifs”/ in education, Jim was a teacher/ in the tradition of community and society. Jesus Christ/ whether behind a desk/ or Happily we here tonight attest to the standing in a pulpit fact that she found them. thought that a lifetime of beauty was In both situations/ he taught from the Tonight the beggar’s hand is out- enough/ but seeing you now/ face to face/ I simplicity/ of his life/ not from the pages/ stretched/ to be filled quickly with memories know/ there is so much more to come/thank of another . . . By her band of sisters/ who met 66 you/ no, the Lord said, thank you.W

teacher affects eternity; [s]he can never tell where [her]/his influence stops.” A -Henry Brooks Adams light of the fact that 42% of the youth in in Florida and his killer went unpunished. 9 Notes, cont. Hartford do not graduate High School…we re- “We will help develop a network... to to 13 year olds. They read the book “One For ally make sure to hold up our graduates and form a national policy specifically aimed The Murphys” and then had a pizza party celebrate their accomplishments. We will also at redressing the systemic pattern of anti- and met the author Lynda Mullaly Hunt. be celebrating our Public Allies Josh, Cassie black law enforcement violence in the US. Plans are under way for a new book club to and Isaiah (aka G-Baby). The Public Allies The Justice Department’s new investiga- begin in the fall. program is amazing… tion into St Louis-area police departments Another club was started by one of our Their mission is to advance new leader- is a good start, but it’s not enough... new kids, 11 year old Kevin. He approached me ship to strengthen communities, nonprofits We will also demand... that the in the back yard and said “I heard that you and civic participation. They do this by iden- federal government discontinue its sup- are the woman in charge of this place. I want tifying diverse young adults and preparing ply of military weaponry and equipment to start a dance club. You give me something them for leadership through paid full-time to local law enforcement. And though to play the music on and I will teach the kids nonprofit apprenticeships and rigorous lead- Congress seems to finally be consider- to dance.” About 20 kids signed up!!We ing measures in this regard, it remains are hoping to find some adults who would essential to monitor the demilitariza- like to help out and share their moves. If you tion processes and the corporate sectors know anyone…please send them our way! that financially benefit from the sale of We are very excited that “Nightfall” military tools to police. will be held in Keney Park this fall. On We will call on the Attorney General Oct.10th there will be an amazing evening to release the names of all officers -in parade of giant puppets music and dance. volved in killing black people within the This year Dwight and I are having the Green last five years, both while on patrol and House kids work on a giant Martin Luther in custody, so they can be brought to King Puppet!! Come see us at Nightfall!! justice – if they haven’t already. The Hartford Courant named Chris And we will advocate for a decrease and I “HOMETOWN HEROES” last week. in law-enforcement spending at the It was nice to be honored….but it was a bit local, state and federal levels and a rein- embarrassing to be highlighted outside vestment of that budgeted money into the context of the great big community the black communities most devastated of people that make this place happen. by poverty in order to create jobs, hous- Beth was not mentioned, and Brian was ing and schools. This money should be mentioned but they spelled his name like redirected to those federal departments the “lace curtain Cavanaghs” and not the charged with providing employment, Kavanaghs of the peat moss!! I was sad housing and educational services.” that Morliana and Marisol were spoken We feel like these are ideas we want to uphold and make happen for our of as people we helped, and not as family. Happy Birthday Naseem! W Micah was aghast that the article claimed community. he did not volunteer here. As he put it… “who else answers the door at midnight?” The ership training. A very generous donor made Sitting in the back of the social kids at the Green House thought it was great. it possible for The Worker to share a Public worker’s car, I try to remember how This year we did a big push to get murals Ally with our partners at Husky Sport. We my mother has always said to never painted to replace the older rotten ones. are very happy with our Ally Cassie. She and show your fear. She’d be disappointed Dwight has done an amazing job designing the rest of the Allies in Hartford organized a to see me now. Shaking. Just going without a fight. murals that incorporate hand prints and series of events called Passport to Nonviolence for the community. We have been so proud The social worker, Mrs. Macavoy, great quotes. He even got a commission to pulls out of the hospital parking lot paint a mural for Community Solutions on to see these young people who came to us as children grow into such wonderful commu- while I play with the electric-lock Westland Street. This summer we hope to get button on her car doo. Lock, Unlock. 3 more finished. We are also seeking bottle nity activists. Lock. Unlock. She glares at me in the caps for a mosaic we are working on so if you For our own activism, we have com- mirror as says, “Please... stop that. have ‘em we’ll take ‘em. mitted ourselves to lend support and work the door needs to stay locked.” The grad party will be June 20th and we beside Bishop John Selders and other neigh- I love it when people use the word have; Latiqua graduating from Eastern CT borhood friends to be part of the Black Lives please but they sound like they want to State University, Sasean and Tyrell graduat- Matter movement. Here is a statement from remove your face...” ing from high school and Duane, Chazz and the movement organizers who began to come (From the opening of One For the Trevelle graduating from middle school. In together after Trayvon Martin was murdered Murphys) 18 Clark St. 10 Hartford, CT 06120 (860) 724-7066

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Notes From De Porres House Jacqueline Allen-Doucot last few months our community has been For the life of me I cannot understand why I think because it was such a long hard working frantically to break up the constant the legislators and educators in this nation winter it seems extra beautiful this spring fights that erupt when the kids from Clark refuse to see the desperate need for compre- around Clark Street. The trees we got the city School are released from the buses that return hensive nonviolence and conflict resolution to plant more than a decade ago have bud- them from the overcrowded schools they training. It should begin in kindergarten. It ded into beautiful colors. I try to see them as have to go to because of the PCB poisoning at should be mandatory for everyone… To that an analogy to the neighborhood we live and their school. I am so frustrated by the never end we are organizing a training with the CT build community within. There are seasons ending shootings and the almost perfunctory Center for Nonviolence for the young adults of to the growth, sad- our community. We have hope that ness at changes…times we can continue to study and work when things look bleak and build on this in the next year to the point of death… and maybe invite others to join us. and then spring comes. Chris was honored by Trinity With the resurrection College by being asked to deliver we long for, Spirit comes the Baccalaureate Address to the creeping back into dry class of 2015. He spoke at length hard places and hope about the challenges of graduates grows with the budding to attend to the newest frontier in of new life and energy. need of their gifts and talents…. Lately it is so hard to the margins of our society. Read write about the children his entire speech on our website! We here in the North End heard that the NCR will be printing without coming to tears. excerpts of the talk soon. It was a It feels as though there memorable evening for us as we is a huge wall between were able to meet James Lawson these children and the and his wife Dorothy, who have children of the surround- The Green House Book Club been our heroes for many years. ing suburbs. At times I It has been beyond challeng- feel like our only work is to bring outsiders vigils held afterwards. In a Hartford Courant ing to get any reading, homework or tutoring over the wall. That is a goal not because the editorial recently it was lamented that “make done after school. The children are so riled ones coming over the wall can help or “save” no mistake, the shooting of a pastor outside a up from being crowded into classrooms or rescue or even share the resources of the church on Capitol Avenue early Sunday morn- at schools other than their own. Many of privileged that are so lacking here. It is a goal ing as he planted American flags for Memo- the middle school boys don’t even come in, because without each other...we are not whole. rial Day is going to resonate. It’s going to make choosing to stay outside. We are focusing on We are a broken Mystical Body. it that much harder to attract businesses and art, field trips, cooking and Thursday science Signs of the broken body are everywhere. middle-class residents to Hartford, even to at- experiments (thanks Northwest Catholic). Our Since January 1st there have been 16 murders tract visitors.” In a nutshell that sums up what friend Jen O’Neill from St John Fisher in Marl- in Hartford. Today there will be a rally at a priority the poor of the North End mean boro started a wonderful book club for our 10 Clark School to protest gun violence. For the to the people who run the show in this city. (Please see: Notes, p9)