In the not-too-distant past the individual representatives of the various Vincentian NGOs would see each other at UN events and sometimes sit together. While we knew of each other, we were all working solely for our own organizations. When we officially all gathered as the UN Vincentian Family for the first time just a few years ago we began a process of learning to work together. Both a mission and a vision statement were adopted and we were able to organize quickly to offer a couple of events as the “Vincentian Family at the UN”. As time passed it became apparent that we needed a strategic plan to give us direction and structure for working together. We held our first planning day in September, 2017, at St. John’s University, facilitated by Mr. Karl Nass from DePaul University. At that time we laid out our personal organizations’ interests, visions and constraints for the group to consider. Under Mr. Nass’ direction we were able to identify priorities and strategize processes. The resulting document, outlining goals, methods and outcomes has served us well and has been used this past year to keep us on course.

UN Vincentian Family and Friends (missing: Ed Keane, SVdP)

Now, another year has quickly passed and we are organizing another planning day. We must consider the global Vincentian project to combat street homelessness, plus each of our own organizations’ interest in continuing the fight for people living in poverty, preventing violence against women, pushing for the rights of women and girls, putting an end to human trafficking, dealing with climate change, protection of the environment and many other causes close to the heart of Vincentian Family members. We will be holding our next strategic planning session in September 2018 at St. John’s University. We have asked Dr. Linda Sama from St. John’s University, who is also a collaborator with many Vincentian family members and a Lady of Charity, to be our facilitator. A few pre-planning meetings are scheduled this summer and then we will meet and map our course for the next year.

Natalie Boone, AIC NGO representative to UN-NY