Year Joined MKLM: 1991-1995; 2000 Country: Brazil City: Sao Paulo Focus: Civil & Human Rights Project(s): 1. Speak Women! (Fala Mulher), 2. ESPERE (Hope) People Served: 1. 90 people weekly; 2. 275 weekly Project Goal(s):1. Help empower women to heal from domestic violence, rebuild their self-esteem and become full participants in society. 2. Help people heal from urban and interpersonal violence.  Teach conflict resolution and restorative justice skills.

Personal Data
Joanne is originally from Philadelphia, PA.  She worked for many years as a junior-high school teacher and school principal in Philadelphia and Washington, DC.   She participated in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Anacostia, DC. Joanne has done volunteer work at women’s shelters, with literacy programs, and in educational groups.  She also worked with RCIA programs and participated as a member of Parish Councils.

Joanne first joined Maryknoll Lay Missioners in 1991 and served in Brazil until 1995. At that time her work was with a grassroots housing group organizing people in shantytowns. Upon returning to the U.S., she served as the Co-Director of Franciscan Mission Service.  She rejoined Maryknoll Lay Missioners in 2000 and has served in Brazil since that time.

Current Ministry  
Currently Joanne lives and works in the mega-city of Sao Paulo. Her primary ministry is working with women in situations of domestic violence (Fala Mulher) and victims of urban and interpersonal violence in Human Rights and Popular Education Center with a program called ESPERE.     

Violence against women is a major problem in Brazil.  Amnesty International recently cited Brazil as one of the countries with the worst levels of violence against women in the world.  Joanne is a founding member of Association Fala Mulher, an organization that works to help women empower themselves, heal from violence, rebuild their self-esteem and become full participants in society.  Fala Mulher is part of a broader network of women working with municipal and national groups on public policies in Brazil to combat sexual and domestic violence against women.  Joanne represents Fala Mulher in various municipal forums and meetings.

Joanne works with self-help groups and formation courses in the areas of gender issues, domestic violence, and restorative justice.  She works with staff as well as with women in projects.  The courses are part of a program that integrates body, mind and spirit so women can rebuild their lives in a healthy manner and without violence. They focus on healing, conflict resolution, nutrition, human rights and income generation. The women are connected with other cooperatives and solidarity groups that struggle against injustice and exclusion. All of these components are critical in helping to provide women what they need in order to change their lives. The project benefits 200 women and their families each month.

In her work with ESPERE, Joanne teaches a course that helps people to heal from violence and to learn non-violent conflict resolution and restorative justice skills.  She work with teachers in neighborhood schools and educational centers, Bar owners in the region, police officers, and community groups.