Moral Purpose
Dorothy Day exemplifies someone with a Moral Purpose in that, regardless of where she was or what she was attempting to do, she always had a deep sense of “call.” This call, to serve her brothers and sisters in need, was what I believe was her moral purpose. She didn’t put herself first (even though she certainly could have) but rather worked to always find the best way to be an advocate for her brothers and sisters most in need of her assistance.
The Change Process
I believe that Dorothy went through significant periods of change in her life. One example would be when she experienced an awakening to her call to service and advocacy on behalf of the poor and dispossessed. A second example would be when she went through her own spiritual awakening and left her life in the socialist movement behind and joined the catholic faith. Both of these instances required a great deal of trust on Dorothy’s part because she was entering unfamiliar territory and, was not in a position of power. Despite these limitations, Dorothy trusted in her own sense of moral purpose and call to service and forged ahead into this unfamiliar territory.
Building Relationships
Dorothy exemplified relationship building in an interesting way. As was stated in the reading Leadership and Sustainability, she possessed a healthy level of emotional intelligence (personal and social competence) and was very much in sync with those with whom she ministered as well as those to whom she ministered on a daily basis. Dorothy worked directly with the poor and dispossessed but she also was an advocate for these groups and, this advocacy often put her in direct opposition with those in positions of power. Even in these times of conflict, her ultimate goal was to bridge the gap between those who were in positions of power and those who were powerless, homeless or hungry. Dorothy was not docile when it came to her advocacy. She was often found at public protests or speaking publicly against oppressive conditions and was frequently arrested for her participation in these events. Despite often harsh treatment by the police during these arrests, Dorothy would return to these protests in her continued efforts to bridge these gaps. To quote Michael Fullan, "emotionally intelligent people and leaders live better and more effectively in complex times." This statement certainly could be applied to Dorothy Day.
Knowledge Building and Sharing
As I have stated in previous posts, Dorothy was a life-long learner and was always in a state of knowledge building and sharing. She was constantly reading, studying and discussing the key issues of her time. Being a journalist by trade, she needed to not only possess this knowledge for herself but for her readers as well. This was especially true regarding the Catholic Worker. The main purpose of this newspaper was to educate others so that they could become co-advocates for the poor and dispossessed.
Coherence Making
As an advocate for the poor and dispossessed, coherence making was one of Dorothy’s main responsibilities. She had to help the poor gain a sense of their own worth and value as human beings and at the same time, help those in positions of power remove their blinders in order to see the poor and dispossessed as the human beings they truly were. She has often been described as a “bridge” between the rich and the poor and I believe this is an accurate description because through her writings and her advocacy, Dorothy Day opened the eyes of all persons to the reality of the needs of their brothers and sisters. When a person sees something for the first time, they are changed forever and I believe this experience of change is also an
experience of coherence.
Fullan, M. (2004). Leadership and Sustainability. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Dorothy Day Part II
When I examine the life and leadership of Dorothy Day, I am immediately struck by her style of leadership. When I apply the Strengths Finder 2.0 themes to Dorothy, I find that she possesses the themes of: Learner, Empathy, Belief, Developer and Connectedness.
As stated in the previous post, Dorothy was an avid reader and always ready to learn something new (Learner). This not only dealt with her profession as a journalist but also with her own personal growth. In her autobiographical work, "The Long Loneliness," Dorothy Day makes reference to her love for the "classics." She would study philosophy, art, history, literature on a regular basis and these were never far from her side. Along with her deep passion for learning, Dorothy could be described as a "hands-on learner."
Throughout her life, Dorothy searched for a concrete way to help her less fortunate brothers and sisters (Empathy). Because of the extreme poverty she encountered, she often would find herself utilizing the nursing skills she had obtained while studying and working at Kings County Hospital. If her brother or sister were ill or in need of a bath and some clean clothes, Dorothy would tap into these skills and help these less fortunate brothers and sisters begin to heal. Often giving them what little she had for herself.
Dorothy (who was mentored by Peter Maurin) taught those who worked with her at the Catholic Worker that you not only had to be the voice of the voiceless, sometimes you had to be caretaker, nurse or spiritual companion(Belief). This type of responsibility would sometimes cause her newspaper staff to protest such requirements. They were, after all, newspaper reporters, writers, typesetters and printing staff were they not? With a gentle smile and a confident glance from Dorothy, these staff members knew that this too was their responsibility and, they would proceed with whatever Dorothy asked of them(Developer).
Dorothy experienced several turning points in her life. As a child, she and her family survived the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and while they themselves were unharmed, Dorothy witnessed her parents caring for the victims who had lost everything. This modeling would have a profound impact on Dorothy(Learner, Empathy). As a result of the earthquake and the loss of employment by her father, the family moved to Chicago. It was here that Dorothy first witnessed the desperate lives of those trying to survive in an inner city environment. While the poverty in Chicago was certainly noteworthy, nothing prepared Dorothy for the extreme and dire conditions she found when her family moved to New York City during the great depression. It was here, in this extreme poverty, that Dorothy's conversion to a life social activism and advocacy for the poor and dispossessed was formed.
Another significant turning point that occurred in Dorothy's life had to do with her conversion to Catholicism. Up to this point, Dorothy was a non-practicing member of the Episcopal faith and spent most of her time with her fellow socialists working to fight against the oppression of the government and organized religion. Even as she continued these protests and was married in a civil union to Forster Batterham (a self proclaimed anarchist and atheist) Dorothy's sense of God calling her to something greater continued(Belief, Connectedness). Because of what she viewed was a deep and sinful act on her part (the abortion of her first child conceived out of wedlock), Dorothy continued to resist this call. When she became pregnant with her daughter Tamar Theresa (something she didn't feel was possible because of the previous abortion) Dorothy knew that this child was a blessing from the very God she continued to run from and this "miracle," as she called it, was the confirmation she needed to answer God's call and join the Catholic religion. As a result of this decision and, because he was an atheist, Dorothy's husband Forster divorced her. While the loss of her husband was devastating to her, Dorothy found great joy in her new found faith and it was through this faith that she would meet her spiritual mentor and best friend Peter Maurin. With their combined faith and Dorothy's talent as a journalist, they were able to found the Catholic Worker Newspaper and eventually, the Catholic Worker Movement.
Dorothy experienced many failures in her life. She was a college drop-out, lasting on two years at the University of Illinois; She was unsuccessful as nurse, finding the severity of the illnesses to harsh to handle; she experienced an abortion and a failed marriage; was subject to multiple arrests and police brutality for her protests on behalf of the poor and, she struggled constantly to find a way to best serve the needs of her poor and dispossessed brothers and sisters. Although these certainly can be described as failures, it was these same experiences that helped to form Dorothy into the very person so many of the poor and dispossessed called friend(Connectedness). To this day, many call her a "saint" and there are efforts underway in Rome to have her declared just that.
Like the biblical figure of Saul, who became St. Paul, Dorothy Day took her many failures and the hardships she endured and turned them into a life of service to the most vulnerable of God's children. A conversion experience both for Dorothy and for all those who knew her.
Day, D. (1952). The Long Loneliness. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
As stated in the previous post, Dorothy was an avid reader and always ready to learn something new (Learner). This not only dealt with her profession as a journalist but also with her own personal growth. In her autobiographical work, "The Long Loneliness," Dorothy Day makes reference to her love for the "classics." She would study philosophy, art, history, literature on a regular basis and these were never far from her side. Along with her deep passion for learning, Dorothy could be described as a "hands-on learner."
Throughout her life, Dorothy searched for a concrete way to help her less fortunate brothers and sisters (Empathy). Because of the extreme poverty she encountered, she often would find herself utilizing the nursing skills she had obtained while studying and working at Kings County Hospital. If her brother or sister were ill or in need of a bath and some clean clothes, Dorothy would tap into these skills and help these less fortunate brothers and sisters begin to heal. Often giving them what little she had for herself.
Dorothy (who was mentored by Peter Maurin) taught those who worked with her at the Catholic Worker that you not only had to be the voice of the voiceless, sometimes you had to be caretaker, nurse or spiritual companion(Belief). This type of responsibility would sometimes cause her newspaper staff to protest such requirements. They were, after all, newspaper reporters, writers, typesetters and printing staff were they not? With a gentle smile and a confident glance from Dorothy, these staff members knew that this too was their responsibility and, they would proceed with whatever Dorothy asked of them(Developer).
Dorothy experienced several turning points in her life. As a child, she and her family survived the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and while they themselves were unharmed, Dorothy witnessed her parents caring for the victims who had lost everything. This modeling would have a profound impact on Dorothy(Learner, Empathy). As a result of the earthquake and the loss of employment by her father, the family moved to Chicago. It was here that Dorothy first witnessed the desperate lives of those trying to survive in an inner city environment. While the poverty in Chicago was certainly noteworthy, nothing prepared Dorothy for the extreme and dire conditions she found when her family moved to New York City during the great depression. It was here, in this extreme poverty, that Dorothy's conversion to a life social activism and advocacy for the poor and dispossessed was formed.
Another significant turning point that occurred in Dorothy's life had to do with her conversion to Catholicism. Up to this point, Dorothy was a non-practicing member of the Episcopal faith and spent most of her time with her fellow socialists working to fight against the oppression of the government and organized religion. Even as she continued these protests and was married in a civil union to Forster Batterham (a self proclaimed anarchist and atheist) Dorothy's sense of God calling her to something greater continued(Belief, Connectedness). Because of what she viewed was a deep and sinful act on her part (the abortion of her first child conceived out of wedlock), Dorothy continued to resist this call. When she became pregnant with her daughter Tamar Theresa (something she didn't feel was possible because of the previous abortion) Dorothy knew that this child was a blessing from the very God she continued to run from and this "miracle," as she called it, was the confirmation she needed to answer God's call and join the Catholic religion. As a result of this decision and, because he was an atheist, Dorothy's husband Forster divorced her. While the loss of her husband was devastating to her, Dorothy found great joy in her new found faith and it was through this faith that she would meet her spiritual mentor and best friend Peter Maurin. With their combined faith and Dorothy's talent as a journalist, they were able to found the Catholic Worker Newspaper and eventually, the Catholic Worker Movement.
Dorothy experienced many failures in her life. She was a college drop-out, lasting on two years at the University of Illinois; She was unsuccessful as nurse, finding the severity of the illnesses to harsh to handle; she experienced an abortion and a failed marriage; was subject to multiple arrests and police brutality for her protests on behalf of the poor and, she struggled constantly to find a way to best serve the needs of her poor and dispossessed brothers and sisters. Although these certainly can be described as failures, it was these same experiences that helped to form Dorothy into the very person so many of the poor and dispossessed called friend(Connectedness). To this day, many call her a "saint" and there are efforts underway in Rome to have her declared just that.
Like the biblical figure of Saul, who became St. Paul, Dorothy Day took her many failures and the hardships she endured and turned them into a life of service to the most vulnerable of God's children. A conversion experience both for Dorothy and for all those who knew her.
Day, D. (1952). The Long Loneliness. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Welcome to the Dorothy Day Blog!
Greetings One and All!
The subject of this Blog is Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Newspaper which later gave way to The Catholic Worker Movement.
Dorothy Day was born on November 8, 1897 in Brooklyn, New York to Grace and John Day. Her father John was a writer for various newspapers and Dorothy would follow in her father's love for writing. She worked as a journalist on a number of small newspapers usually writing about the oppressive conditions of the poor. Throughout her life, Dorothy searched for a way to empower her fellow citizens, especially those most in need. Dorothy was a vocal advocate for the worker, organizing and participating in protests for the organization of unions, working for the right of women to vote and working against child labor. She is best known for her co-founding of the Catholic Worker Newspaper and Movement with Peter Maurin (a former Christian Brother from France). The results of this foundation are visible today in the multiple Catholic Worker Houses located in all corners of the world. The rationale behind these houses is simple; give a cup of coffee, some hot soup and fellowship to those most in need regardless of their social class, religious faith or issues of addiction.
I chose Dorothy Day because I believe she exemplifies a leader who took her gifts/talents and used them for the greater good of her fellow human beings. As I researched Dorothy, I was struck by the fact that she struggled to figure out the best possible way to be of service to her follow human beings while utilizing her gifts as a writer and public speaker. Dorothy never stopped learning. She was constantly reading and educating herself; always willing to advance her knowledge base which she would then apply to her writings, speeches and daily works with the poor. Because of her love for knowledge, Dorothy was a strong advocate for education. Her efforts against child labor were paralleled by her efforts to find ways to educate the children working 16 hour days in the garment industries of New York. These efforts often resulted in Dorothy taking on the role of teacher herself or, employing the gifts of her co-workers. It is this passionate love for learning and her drive to serve those most in need that influenced my selection of Dorothy Day as my subject for this leadership blog.
References
Day, D. (1952). The Long Loneliness. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
http://www.catholicworker.com/ddaybio.htm
http://www.dorothydayguild.org
The subject of this Blog is Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Newspaper which later gave way to The Catholic Worker Movement.
Dorothy Day was born on November 8, 1897 in Brooklyn, New York to Grace and John Day. Her father John was a writer for various newspapers and Dorothy would follow in her father's love for writing. She worked as a journalist on a number of small newspapers usually writing about the oppressive conditions of the poor. Throughout her life, Dorothy searched for a way to empower her fellow citizens, especially those most in need. Dorothy was a vocal advocate for the worker, organizing and participating in protests for the organization of unions, working for the right of women to vote and working against child labor. She is best known for her co-founding of the Catholic Worker Newspaper and Movement with Peter Maurin (a former Christian Brother from France). The results of this foundation are visible today in the multiple Catholic Worker Houses located in all corners of the world. The rationale behind these houses is simple; give a cup of coffee, some hot soup and fellowship to those most in need regardless of their social class, religious faith or issues of addiction.
I chose Dorothy Day because I believe she exemplifies a leader who took her gifts/talents and used them for the greater good of her fellow human beings. As I researched Dorothy, I was struck by the fact that she struggled to figure out the best possible way to be of service to her follow human beings while utilizing her gifts as a writer and public speaker. Dorothy never stopped learning. She was constantly reading and educating herself; always willing to advance her knowledge base which she would then apply to her writings, speeches and daily works with the poor. Because of her love for knowledge, Dorothy was a strong advocate for education. Her efforts against child labor were paralleled by her efforts to find ways to educate the children working 16 hour days in the garment industries of New York. These efforts often resulted in Dorothy taking on the role of teacher herself or, employing the gifts of her co-workers. It is this passionate love for learning and her drive to serve those most in need that influenced my selection of Dorothy Day as my subject for this leadership blog.
References
Day, D. (1952). The Long Loneliness. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
http://www.catholicworker.com/ddaybio.htm
http://www.dorothydayguild.org
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