Before Jason Crosby, our former program coordinator, left ICPJ to return to his Kentucky roots, he shared the following thoughts with our Steering Committee. I think they are worth sharing widely.

The primary thrust of ICPJ’s work is to change the world.  ICPJ is accomplishing that task.  In the nearly three years I’ve been with the organization we educated hundreds of people about poverty in our community through the Welfare Simulation Program.  We raised $115,000 in 2005 and 2006 to feed the hungry locally and globally.  We helped ensure a raise in the Michigan minimum wage.  We brought more than 300 people together from across the state for a conference about what people of faith can do to change the course of economic globalization.  We organized lobby trips to Washington D.C. and Ft. Benning, Georgia.  We enhanced our fundraising efforts so that we have more resources to deal with threats to peace and justice.  Incredibly, this is only a fraction of what ICPJ has accomplished to make our world more peaceful and just since I’ve been with ICPJ.  This organization truly is changing the world.

In the process of ICPJ”s work to change the world, however, I’ve seen ICPJ bring about other, equally valuable changes.  ICPJ changes people.  ICPJ changed me.

I learned a great deal more about various peace and justice issues.  The issues education I’ve gotten from ICPJ changed my worldview.  I have been forever changed by ICPJ’s commitment to remain interfaith, compassionate, and loving, while simultaneously advocating for peace and justice.  I have been changed by the opportunity to further develop my organizing, campaign planning, and advocacy skills.  I have also been changed because I have realized that to work for peace and justice out there, I must strive to know peace and justice in my heart and life.

I’m not the only person changed by ICPJ.  I’ve seen ICPJ change its interns, volunteers, task force members, and board members.  Yes, our primary objective may be to change the world, but we’re also changing people’s hearts and minds.  I am fortunate to say that I am proof of that.

I also want to offer a few other words of encouragement:

• Have fun – The work we do is serious and should be taken seriously.  But, if we can’t laugh and enjoy this work, why would anyone want to join us?
• Tiny, bite sized pieces – Continue to give people simple ways to interact with our issues.  Examples of “tiny, bite-sized pieces” include the Shadow Project and the Food Stamp Challenge.  These initiatives, though simple, did a lot to educate people.
• Think Big – ICPJ is a peace and justice group in Ann Arbor!  We can grow our membership and budget.
• Share the ICPJ story – After spending time with our members, I’m convinced that we already possess the talent, creativity, and energy needed to grow the peace and justice movement.  We just need more ICPJ members to tell more people about who we are and what we do.

 I admire you all.  I will miss you all.

 Good bye,
Jason Crosby

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