Blog by Justice Promoter Kelly Litt[/caption]
A wise writer once said “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” Perhaps Charles Dickens was forecasting what the year 2017 might feel like when he wrote A Tale of Two Cities in 1859.
Many can resonate with the “worst of times” feeling with the frustrating battle over healthcare, overt acts of racism and bigotry, degradation and disregard for our Earth, incidents of violence, and an unwelcoming America to our immigrant sisters and brothers; it seems we are quickly sliding into a bleak season of darkness.
Yet, there is always hope waiting to be discovered. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit with the Girls for Peace Summer Camp that took place in July at the Martin de Porres Center here in Columbus. I spoke to the girls about my work as the Justice Promoter, and we talked about issues that are important to our Sisters and Associates.
I was amazed by how articulate and passionate this group was. The girls were between 8-12 years old, yet despite their young age, they clearly cared about critical subjects. They shared with me some of their passions and issues of concern: animal cruelty, immigration, sexual abuse and harassment, equality, water security, poverty, and human trafficking, among many others.
Many of them shared their experiences traveling across the country and to Central and South America. They spoke about volunteer work they’ve participated in. They seemed to grasp the connection of service and social justice and were excited when we spoke about ways to take action such as identifying and learning about issues they are passionate about, donating to organizations and volunteering their time, writing letters to those in charge, and advocating and talking to others about the importance of their issue.
It was obvious the girls learned a lot during this camp and connected to the Sisters in a very impactful, meaningful, and beautiful way. After visiting with these young girls, I found hope in their energy, their passion, and their imagination. We may feel that we are dealing with the “worst of times,” but these young girls are working to ensure the “best of times” are right around the corner.
Attached photo – the girls created a month of actions. 
