Our Mission in Action
Catholic Charities' mission is to serve those most in need. We help individuals and families reach their full human potential as we call for justice in the community.
An Advocate With Quite a Story to Tell
With the 2007 legislative season well underway, many advocates have stepped up to the plate to bat for people struggling in poverty and homelessness.
Jann DeGrammont of Lakeville is one such advocate. A faithful member of the Office for Social Justice’s Housing Action Team, she joins with others to urge legislators for policy change and to educate the public about the need for supportive housing.
She does it because she knows what being homeless is like.
Life as a Homeless Teenager
At the age of 14, DeGrammont was living on the streets of Los Angeles with no parents or relatives for support. Her childhood had been spent moving from one foster home to another, and as a teen she turned instead to life on the streets.
“Today, people look at me and see a very successful woman, but I’m not ashamed of my story,” said DeGrammont. “My experiences make my (advocacy) work all the more important to me.”
Today, DeGrammont is your “average citizen.” She owns a condo, spends time with her now-grown children and enjoys retirement from her 25-year realty career. But she is probably above the average citizen in her desire to create a more just society for neighbors in need.
Making Her Voice be Heard
The Office for Social Justice created issue action teams exactly for people like DeGrammont — to give the average citizen an opportunity to be more deeply involved in advocating for those in need. The teams focus on key areas that impact impoverished people — health care, housing and immigration — and engage in educational outreach.
One way the Housing Action Team has helped increase public awareness is through holding homelessness awareness forums for congregations, including the one DeGrammont attends, All Saints Catholic Church. The team asked five homeless people to speak to the parish. The message of these individuals experiencing homelessness was simple: anyone can become homeless and no one should turn their backs on the homeless.
“[People who are homeless] have the same hopes and dreams as anyone else,” said DeGrammont. “Sure, some of them may be dirty. Some of them may be drunk, but they are all human beings — and they are my brothers.”
In an obvious and inspiring way, compassion stands at the core of DeGrammont’s efforts to advocate for justice.
“I’m full of compassion for my fellow mankind,” she said.
To learn more about how you can be an advocate through the Office for Social Justice’s issue action teams, call 651-291-4477. To learn more about Catholic Charities' housing initiatives in the 2007 legislative session, click here.
