Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF, is a Wheaton Franciscan, who has been a teacher, principal and diocesan director of religious education. She holds a Doctorate of Ministry Degree from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, IL. Sr. Sheila has been involved with counseling and managing domestic violence and sexual abuse programs, and has provided assistance to church groups and civic organizations on those issues. She has pioneered the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) structure for the province. As the coordinator of the JPIC Office, Sr. Sheila promotes legislative advocacy on social justice issues on behalf of the province. More information about the JPIC Office of the Wheaton Franciscans can be found at http://www.wheatonfranciscan-jpic.org.
Sr. Sheila has direct experience with peacemaking efforts in corporate culture and ministry settings and can speak to the practice of nonviolence in personal and communal contexts. She has developed Integrity of Nonviolence, a value centered process dedicated to the promotion of nonviolence stance by providing strategies and interventions for social change within the workplace, and community settings.
The JPIC Office of the Wheaton Franciscans, under Sr. Sheila’s guidance, was instrumental in the formation of the DuPage Glocal AIDS Action Network (DGAAN) www.dgaan.org , an advocacy group, as a result of the Heart of America Tour with Bono of U2. DGAAN is an ecumenical organization and Sr. Sheila works closely with two professors of Wheaton College, who are founding co-chairs of DGAAN. Their advocacy efforts have received national attention and DGAAN’s methods are currently being modeled by DATA (www.data.org) for use by other advocacy groups.
Sr. Sheila’s involvement with Franciscans International (FI) led her to membership on the coordinating committee of Non-Governmental Organizations at the United Nations, which focuses on issues related to HIV/AIDS worldwide. She has also been a representative for FI at other events at the United Nations. In fact, she was a member of the Franciscan delegation to the January, 2007 World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. At that time she participated in an FI training program for persons in Africa involved in HIV/AIDS programs and advocacy efforts.
Due to her advocacy efforts, she was invited to participate in an advocacy trip to Africa planned by Catholic Relief Services. This was a very informative, challenging and inspiring experience with congressional staff, national personnel from CRS and the USCCB and personnel from grassroots efforts comprising the American delegation. She visited HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, justice and peace initiatives, food securities and small businesses.
Sr. Sheila was a mentor to Sr. Florence Muia, ASN in helping her to establish and to advocate for Upendo Village in Naivasha, Kenya. Upendo Village provides a comprehensive program for persons living with HIV/AIDS in that area. http://www.upendovillage.org
Sr. Sheila is also a member of the Diocese of Joliet Advocacy Committee and the Council for Global Solidarity and Missions.
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