Joanne Scofield


joanne scofield

KAIROS super volunteer Joanne Scofield was instrumental in putting together the Information Hub on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) that was launched on the KAIROS website on October 4, the date of the annual Sisters in Spirit vigils.   Joanne is quiet and unassuming, but she is indeed a super volunteer.

Joanne completed her Masters of Theology at Emmanuel College in 2015.   She did her Masters thesis on peacebuilding and worked closely with Chencho Alas, a peacebuilder from El Salvador. Her thesis was an analysis of the peacebuilding work of Alas, using the lens of John Paul Lederach’s Moral Imagination. This experience deepened her commitment to social justice work, especially the links between justice work in the South and in Canada.  She is an active member of the United Church of Canada.   At Emmanuel and at her church, she was introduced to KAIROS’ work on the TRC and reconciliation. In 2015 she was trained as a KAIROS Blanket Exercise facilitator.

Joanne was drawn to the issue of MMIW and she thought KAIROS was a good place to start.  She knew about KAIROS’ social justice work and liked the KAIROS approach to justice and action, so, she asked about doing research and communication on MMIW. KAIROS jumped at the opportunity, especially Jennifer Dany, KAIROS’ Digital Communication Coordinator, who has worked closely with Joanne to develop of the Hub.

The process of working on the MMIWG information hub has had a profound effect on Joanne.  At first she was interested, and felt she had the skills to contribute to this project, but working on the website broadened her perspective, deepened her understanding, and transformed her.  She now realizes that the issues are complex and systemic and that there are a multitude of needs.  She also has an appreciation of the breadth of advocacy that is being done.

Joanne hopes the Hub will provide information for advocacy and help inform and inspire good and productive allies as the inquiry progresses.

Joanne sees this work as a way she can use her voice, resources and skills to amplify the voices of Indigenous women.  She is drawn to KAIROS because she feels it respects these voices.

Joanne has also enjoyed working with the KAIROS team.  “They quickly brought me in,” she said.   “It felt like a meaningful project and one in which I could use my interests, my faith, experience and skills to contribute.”


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