Gail Phares: What I do and why

1) 28 March 2011** I am Southeast Regional Organizer for Witness for Peace, an area covering 12 southeastern states. I recruit for and lead at least two delegations a year. Other people in the region lead additonal delegationsr. I organize a fall speaker's tour and a f all organizer's retreat. In the springtime, I help to organize a walk for justice called the Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace.

2) I often have an intern working with me in the springtime as we prepare for the annual walk across NC with immigrants and farm workers called the Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace during Holy Week.. Yes we have a board of directors. Most of our work is carried out by volunteers all across NC and VA and KY and TN and SC....etc.

3) I truly enjoy leading delegations. I also enjoy fund raising. The annual Pilgrimage is deeply rewarding. I enjoy mentoring young people and empowering them to work for justice and peace. Right now I am juggling being a grand mother as well as trying to fulfill all my work with Witness for Peace. This is getting more and more challenging.

4) My activism has been at the core of my life. I believe that as a faithful Christian we all must work for justice and peace or in theological language for the Kingdom or Shalom. My activism has enlarged my "family" greatly and my life has been touched by many many people across the world. When my daughters were small it was a challenge to be a great mother as well as an activist. We were working to end the contra war in Nicaragua..and then US support for the genocide in Guatemala and to support a negotiated end to the war...and now for Fair Trade not Free Trade and a change in US immigration policy in Mexico and Central America and also an end to US support for the terrible War in Colombia and the so-called war on drugs.

5) Activism gives joy and hope to life. It is important to keep your life in balance. Make time to have fun and to rest. Working for justice is a life long work. It never ends. Make time to take walks - to enjoy friends....to enjoy nature...to mediate and pray.