During their time as Workers, under the guidance of the Sisters, the young women learn to serve the unmet needs of the community with dignity and respect. They also learn how to run effective organizations for change, in a program that includes leadership training, retreats, workshops, community nights and mentoring relationships. The Workers live together in two totally nondescript houses: one in Minneapolis, one in St. Paul.

     There is nothing about the houses, inside or out, that gives away the residents’ common purpose. In the modest dining room of the St. Paul house, two more Workers, Megan Kuhl and Jennifer Haut, sit down to talk. They’re asked about the paths that led them to the program.

        The story Jennifer tells is probably the most common one. “I knew that I wanted to do a year of service after college,” she says. “I just wasn’t sure what form it would take. When I stumbled onto this program, I knew right away it was the one.”

        But Megan’s tale is slightly different: “I had no intention of volunteering. I wanted to get a job at a nonprofit after I graduated. But I stayed with friends at the Minneapolis SJW house and decided this kind of social conscience community was what I really wanted. ‘Megan,’ I said, ‘it’s calling you.’”

After some encouragement, both women warm to the topic of leadership. Megan speaks up first. “I’ve had a lot of training in leadership,” she says, “but this is a whole different kind. It’s not managerial at all. It’s living by pure example, knowing yourself, making yourself appealing to others so they’ll follow you. That’s the kind of leader I want to be, and this program encourages that.” Jennifer says, “Some of us think we have the background for leadership; some aren’t so confident.” Then she adds, “I think all 13 of us would define it differently.”

        Megan refers to the tagline of the St. Joseph Worker Program, which is women committed to social change. “Even saying that we want to be committed to social change is radical,” she says. “In a way it’s taking a leadership role just to say it.” She also points out that the CSJs are known for pushing the envelope as far as women’s leadership role within the church is concerned. “We’ve become accustomed to the way the Sisters do things. We think that’s how it should be.” Continued...
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