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The Institute for Peace and Justice          


Kathy McGinnis
Jim McGinnis

 

 

Kathleen R. McGinnis, married to James B. McGinnis, 3 children (Tom, David, and Theresa), 2 grandchildren (Bria and Aidan).

 

EDUCATION:

BA from Fontbonne College, St. Louis, Mo--History

MAT from St. Louis University--American History

 

EXPERIENCE:

 

Formerly:  High school and junior high social studies and English teacher; adjunct faculty member at Fontbonne College and St. Louis University; faculty member of the Institute for Pastoral Studies at Loyola University in Chicago; faculty member for Seattle University's SUMORE program (summer).

 

Currently:  Executive director of the Institute for Peace and Justice; co-coordinator of Parenting for Peace and Justice Network; consultant to schools and school systems in the area of multicultural education and racism; adjunct instructor, Fontbonne University (teaching Hs252:  Methods of Teaching History and Social Studies in the Middle and Secondary Schools)

 

Areas of Research: Multicultural education; changing racial attitudes; institutional racism; racism in children's literature and in textbooks; sexism, especially in education; peacemaking skills in pre-schoolers; violence prevention and families.

 

Membership:  National Council of Social Studies.

 

Community Service: Mentor for Center for Women in Transition (for women who have just come out of prison); Quality Control Committee member for Community Women Against Hardship (anti-poverty program in St. Louis)

 

Current Board Memberships:  Alternatives for Simple Living (Sioux City, Iowa); Youth Advocate Program International (Washington, D.C.); National Youth Advocate Program (Washington, D.C.; Pax Christi, USA (Erie, PA);

 

PUBLICATIONS:

 

Author and co-author of numerous books, articles, and audio-visual presentations, which include the following:

 

--Understanding Institutional Racism,  co-producer with the Council for Interracial Books for Children, 1978.

 

--Parenting for Peace and Justice, Orbis Books, 1981; revised as Parenting for Peace and Justice, 10 Years Later, 1990.

 

--Families in Search of Shalom  Filmstrip ,Institute for Peace and Justice, 1981

 

--Educating for Peace and Justice:  A Manual for Teachers , three volumes, Institute for Peace and Justice, 1985.

 

--Starting Out Right:  Nurturing Young Children As Peacemakers, co-author with Barbara Oehlberg, Meyer-Stone Books, 1988.

 

--Dreaming God's Dream: Family Activities Guide:  Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Meyer-Stone Books.

 

 

AWARDS:

 

      Recipient of:

  • 1988 Fontbonne College Distinguished Alumni Service Award
     

  •  1991 Vatterott Foundation  Racial Justice Award

  •  2002 Archdiocese of St. Louis Catholic Women's Peacemaker Award

 

Co-recipient with Jim McGinnis of:

  • 1985 Salt Magazine “Women in the Church” award,

  • 1990 National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers’ “Recognition Award”,

  • 1991 Peace Abbey “Courage of Conscience” award

  • 1995 Pax Christi USA “Teacher of Peace” award,

  • 2003 Sisters of Divine Providence Ketteler Award for Social Justice

 


 

 

 

 

 

James B. McGinnis, 61, married to Kathleen McCoy McGinnis, 3 children:  Tom, 33;  David, 31;  Theresa, 29; and 2 young grandchildren.

EDUCATION:

Ph.D. in Philosophy (Ethics) from St. Louis University (l974); dissertation on Gandhi's understanding of freedom and nonviolence
 MA in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America (l965).

EXPERIENCE:

Founder and program coordinator of the Institute for Peace and Justice, which he began in l970 when he was a faculty member in the Philosophy and Education departments of St. Louis University (l970-l975).  Since l975, the Institute has been an independent interfaith not-for-profit corporation promoting peace and justice through education, social action, and prayer.

Founder and international co-coordinator with Kathleen McGinnis of the Parenting for Peace and Justice Network and animator of the Families Against Violence Advocacy Network (FAVAN).

Director of the Teens Acting for Peace Program, a special violence prevention training program designed to empower youth to live and teach the Pledge of Nonviolence in elementary schools and peace camp programs

Volunteer-in-Corrections with the Violent Offender Program at Missouri Eastern Correctional Center and facilitator for "Prison Pledge of Nonviolence" groups.

Faculty member at Kenrick Seminary, 1976-1985; Seattle University SUMORE Program, 1977-1989; Loyola University Institute for Pastoral Ministry Program, 1974-1979; and other summer pastoral ministry programs.

Peace education consultant and workshop presentor/trainer for many Roman Catholic dioceses, school offices, family life programs, and peace and justice commissions;  for Protestant peacemaking, family life, and religious education agencies;  for seminaries, religious formation programs, and religious communities; and for public schools.

Retreat director on "A Spirituality of Peacemaking", "The Journey into Compassion", "The Pledge of Nonviolence", "Reconciliation with the Earth", and related themes.

As "Francis the Clown", presentations to youth, children and intergenerational groups on peacemaking, caring for the earth, interracial reconciliation, global awareness,  solidarity with the poor; on clown ministry;  to persons in prison, persons with AIDS, and children and adults in hospice care.   Jim also does a 60-minute "Dramatization of the Life of Francis of Assisi" for youth, colleges, and intergenerational groups.

PUBLICATIONS:

Author of numerous books, articles, and audio-visual presentations:

1.  For Families and Faith Communities
   
 --Hope Springs from God (JED: Christian Education: Shared Approaches, United Church Press, l987) -- an intergenerational program on hope, the arms race, and poverty.

--Parenting for Peace and Justice:  10 Years Later (Orbis Books, l990) and the Spanish language translation, Ser Padres Para La Paz y La Justicia (Institute for Peace & Justice, 1995)

 --Helping Teens Care (Crossroads, 1991)

 --Families Caring: Intergenerational Leaders Guide  (IPJ, l995).

--Building Shalom Families for the 1990’s and Beyond, a video program and guidebook (IPJ, l994)

--Families Creating a Circle of Peace (IPJ, 1997)

--Familias Creando un Circulo de Paz (IPJ, 1998)

--A Call to Peace:  52 Meditations on the Family Pledge of Nonviolence (Liguori Publications, 1998)

--Jubilee Families...Living the Family Pledge of Nonviolence (US Catholic Conference and IPJ, 1999)

--Creating Circles of Peace:  Alternatives to Violence Kit for Churches (IPJ, 2002; 2nd edition)

--Creando Circulos de Paz: Prevencion de Violencia Paquete para Iglesias (IPJ, 1999)

2.  For Public & Parochial Schools & Religious Education Programs

 --Educating for Peace and Justice: K-5 (IPJ, l997)

--Educating for Peace and Justice: Religious Dimensions, K-6 and Grades 7-12 (IPJ l993; 8th edition)

--Creating Circles of Peace:  Alternatives to Violence Kit for Public Schools:  K-5 (IPJ, 2002; 2nd edition)

--Creating Circles of Peace:  Alternatives to Violence Kit for Public Schools: 6-12 (IPJ, 1999)

--Creating Circles of Peace: Alternatives to Violence Kit for Christian Education/Schools (IPJ, 2003; 2nd edition)

--Christian High School & Youth Group Program on the Pledge of Nonviolence (IPJ, 2003; 2nd edition)

--The Things that Make for Peace, for K-8 (IPJ & Pax Christi USA, 2003)

-- The Things that Make for Peace, for High Schools & Youth Groups (IPJ & Pax Christi USA, 2003)
   
3.  Hunger, Global Economic Injustice, Central America

--Bread and Justice:  Toward  a New International Economic Order (Paulist Press, l979) -- text, teachers book, and 3 filmstrips

--Those Who Hunger (Paulist Press, l979) -- tabloid, leaders guide, and slide presentation

--Solidarity with the People of Nicaragua (Orbis Books, l985)

4.  Prison Ministry

--Amazing Grace: The Story of the VOP (Violent Offender Program; IPJ, 2001)

5.  A Spirituality of Peacemaking;  Nonviolence

--Journey into Compassion:  A Spirituality for the Long Haul (Orbis, 1993)

-- "A Dramatization of the Life of Francis of Assisi" -- a 50-minute life performance and video of Jim McGinnis and his "Francis the Clown" persona portraying the life of Francis.

--A Call to Peace:  52 Meditations on the Family Pledge of Nonviolence (Liguori Publications, 1998)

AWARDS:

Co-recipient with Kathleen McGinnis of the

  • 1995 Pax Christi USA "Teacher of Peace" award

  • 1991 Peace Abbey "Courage of Conscience" award

  • 1990 National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers’ "Recognition Award"

  • 1985 Salt Magazine "Women in the Church" award