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“When I ponder the heritage of Nano Nagle to her sisters and to the world, what comes to my heart are her traits of generosity and self-emptying. Nano shared all the resources she had with those made poor. In order to carry forth her works, Nano invested all of her personal wealth and family monies into her ministries. Carrying forward Nano’s legacy, Presentation people continue to address unjust systems. We advocate for improving human rights and are of the Earth by engaging corporations through dialogue and submitting proposals to the company,”
reflects Sister Ruth Geraets.
Sister Ruth is a board member for Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment (SGI). The SGI name stems from the Great Law of the Iroquois whose love of mother Earth and all creation led to their credo to consider the impact of their decisions on the current generation as well as for seven generations into the future. SGI partners with others to work for change within companies they invest, with the hope to dialogue and engage thought within companies and the trickle effect it could bring to the world.
Socially responsible investing used to be more about trying to focus on investments made to companies that aligned with mission and values. This has become trickier as companies merge with one another. As all things evolve, there are more ways to get involved as we work towards change. At SGI’s annual meeting, October 7, in Milwaukee, a lot of conversation was had about impact investing, bringing awareness with a consistent message to individuals and organizations on how to get involved and the importance of working together. There was also a lot of energy around millennials and the way they are engaging change organically. The conversation was stimulating and we were blessed to have seasoned attendees Sister Lynn Marie Welbig and Kendall Kliewer, attending on behalf of Avera. In addition, three new Presentation people attended the meeting. Sister Pegge Boehm, Jan Lenz and Brooke Grote witnessed to the call of our Presentation assembly to collaborate in furthering Presentation mission and ministry.
In our recent work, in spite of the U.S. government pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, socially responsible investors continue to collaborate and engage companies (in which they are stockholders) around areas of climate change. Supported by SGI, Sister Ruth and Sister Kathleen Bierne have been leading discussions with a transportation company and an energy company to look at ways to reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, our congregation partners with other members of SGI to sign letters sent to companies to evoke change and work with the staff at SGI on writing resolutions when appropriate.
Often times this can be slow and thankless work. Work that we won’t always see results for in this generation. Nano and many of her followers through the past 300 years have been strong business women, using their resources to minister to the needs of those made poor and to care for our common home. As Presentation people today, we receive her incredible traits of generosity and self-emptying. We are blessed to be daughters and sons of this compassionate woman. We commit ourselves to continue the path of Nano and partner together as we build awareness and go one pace beyond.