Dominican Associates Stories

(English version below) Escrita por la futura asociada Melinda Mullin

Los carismas son regalos únicos que se le dan a un individuo para que los use en beneficio del mundo. Para Liz Valdez James, ayudar a dar voz a los que no la tienen es la forma en que elige usar su carisma. Liz siente que Dios le ha dado oportunidades para ayudar a los refugiados, los marginados y los que no tienen voz. Como ella dice, "Todos estamos equipados para ayudar a aliviar el sufrimiento de otra persona."

Liz, una mujer vibrante y articulada, con un comportamiento amable y responsable, nació en Chicago de padres puertorriqueños y colombianos, y luego su familia se mudó al sur de Florida en busca de un clima más cálido. Considera el sur de Florida su hogar y su amor por él es evidente cuando describe los lugares que le gusta visitar, como los Everglades, la playa y las ciudades cercanas de Ft. Lauderdale y Miami.

Liz cree que su pasión por ayudar a los marginados y sin voz se debe en parte a que su padre sufría de esquizofrenia. En los años 80 y 90, había poca discusión sobre problemas de salud mental, y tuvo un impacto duradero el silencio y los malentendidos que experimentó su familia. Su rostro se ilumina cuando habla de su padre. Ella se apresura a señalar que usa sus dos apellidos como una forma de honrarlo.

Liz ha pasado los últimos 16 años fomentado la participación de la comunidad a través de su trabajo en la Universidad Barry en el sur de Florida. Hace tres años, después de asistir a una sesión informativa en seis partes en la universidad, Liz se sintió llamada a hacerse una Asociada de Adrian Dominican. En una entrevista reciente por Zoom, ella compartió su experiencia de cómo esa decisión ha enfocado su trabajo. La fe, dice, es "un ancla que te sujeta durante las tormentas de la vida". Si bien se describe a sí misma como una persona activa y vive de acuerdo a las escrituras, “La fe sin obras está muerta”, dice. Valora especialmente el énfasis dominicano en la contemplación. La contemplación le permite escuchar la palabra de Dios, lo cual fomenta la comprensión de nuevas formas de ayudar a otros. Cuando encuentra una necesidad, Liz estudia el problema y establece un plan para resolverlo.

El proyecto actual de Liz surgió del reconocimiento de que los residentes de La Paloma, una pequeña comuna entre dos ciudades, tenían poca influencia en su gobierno y sus intereses eran pasados por alto con frecuencia. Trabajando en un comité directivo en la Universidad de Barry, Liz desarrolló un proyecto para empoderar a los ciudadanos de La Paloma. Contrató estudiantes universitarios para el proyecto, lo cual además les dio experiencia en construcción comunitaria a los estudiantes. Para determinar las necesidades de la comunidad, los estudiantes entrevistaron a los residentes y compilaron datos e información para ayudar a identificar potenciales líderes. Para mantener el interés y participación de los residentes de La Paloma, Liz y sus estudiantes  conducen un programa de radio los viernes por la noche, La Paloma Neighborhood News, para discutir los últimos acontecimientos de la comunidad y tomar llamadas de la audiencia. Además de involucrar a los residentes de La Paloma, Liz espera que en sus interacciones con los estudiantes pueda inspirarlos a explorar una vida de fe.

La fe de Liz se extiende también a sus actividades personales. Al notar cómo Dios creó la naturaleza con todas las cosas harmonía, quiso usar ese modelo para crear un bosque de alimentación de permacultura en su patio. La permacultura es un sistema de jardinería que tiene como objetivo crear ambientes como lo hace la naturaleza. En lugar de campos de cultivo, un diseño de permacultura incorpora árboles, arbustos y plantas de manera que todos beneficien y haya diversidad incluso en las áreas más pequeñas. Liz espera que dentro de dos años su bosque produzca suficiente para alimentar a su familia.

Para aquellos que quieran apoyar el carisma de Liz, ella sugiere ponerse en contacto con los líderes locales y los legisladores federales en nombre de los marginados en sus comunidades locales, ayudar a los grupos de refugiados y orar tanto por los que no tienen voz como por los que les ayudan. Si tiene preguntas, comentarios o simplemente quiere mandar una nota para decirle que está orando por ella y el éxito de sus proyectos, comuníquese con Liz

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Written by Prospective Associate Melinda Mullin

Charisms are unique gifts given to an individual to benefit the world. Associate Liz Valdez James sees her charism as helping to give voice to the voiceless. Liz believes that God has given her opportunities to help the refugee, the marginalized, and the voiceless. As she says, "We are all equipped to help ease someone else's suffering."

A vibrant, articulate woman, with a gentle take-charge demeanor, Liz was born in Chicago to parents from Puerto Rico and Colombia. Her family moved to southern Florida in search of warmer weather. She has embraced southern Florida as her home. 

Liz believes her passion for helping the voiceless and marginalized came about in part because her late father suffered from schizophrenia. During the '80s and '90s, mental health issues were discussed very little and the silence and misunderstanding her family experienced had a lasting impact. Her face lights up with pride as she discusses her father. She is quick to point out that she uses both her last names as a way to honor him.

Liz has been fostering community engagement through her work at Barry University in Miami, Florida, for 16 years. Three years ago, after attending a six-part information series at the university, Liz felt called to become an Adrian Dominican Associate. In a recent interview over Zoom, she shared her experience of how that has brought focus to her work.

Faith, she says, is "an anchor that holds you through life's storms." While she describes herself as an active person who lives by the Scripture, "Faith without works is dead," she especially values the Dominican emphasis on contemplation. Contemplation allows her to hear God's word, which fosters insights into new ways to help others. When Liz recognizes a need, she studies the problem and formulates a plan to solve it. 

Liz's current project arose out of the recognition that the residents of La Paloma, a small, unincorporated neighborhood sandwiched between two cities, had little say in its governance. Their concerns were often overlooked. Through her work on a steering committee at Barry University, Liz developed a project to empower La Paloma citizens. She enlisted the help of students to carry out the project, giving them first-hand experience of community-building. Liz hopes that in her interactions with students she can be a role model, encouraging them to explore living a life of faith.

The students gathered data on the needs of the community by interviewing residents. They also identified potential community leaders. To encourage residents to identify problems and consider solutions, Liz and her students host a radio show on Friday evenings, La Paloma Neighborhood News, to discuss the latest community happenings and to take calls from listeners. 

Liz's faith identity extends to her personal activities as well. By noting how God created nature with all things in relation to each other, she used that model to create a permaculture food forest in her backyard. Permaculture is a gardening system that aims to create environments the way nature does. Instead of acres of fields, a permaculture design incorporates trees, bushes, and plants in ways that will benefit them all and add diversity to even the tiniest of areas. Liz hopes her food forest will take care of all her family's produce needs in two years.  

If you would like to support Liz's charism, she suggests contacting local leaders and federal policy makers on behalf of the voiceless and marginalized in local communities, assisting refugee groups, and praying for both the voiceless and those assisting them. For questions, comments, or just a note to say you are praying for her and the success of her projects, contact Liz.

This Charism Carriers Connections article was featured in the June 2021 Associate Life Newsletter.

By Sharon Foley Bock, Associate

Perhaps the seed for Faye Jahnigen’s blossoming into Associate life was planted in the late 1970s when she was a patient at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, California. It was there that she first met the Adrian Dominican Sisters. After several years, a substantial amount of reflection, and connections with several Adrian Dominicans – including Sisters Anne Russell, OP, Clara Ann Budenz, OP, and Mary Keefe, OP – Faye became an Associate during the Dominican West Chapter Assembly in November 1998.

Faye’s life story is rich with remarkable experiences. She grew up in Detroit, “about three blocks from Hamtramck,” one of the few people of color living in a predominately Polish and Italian neighborhood.  She was taught by the Sisters of St. Dorothy and by the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Sisters from Monroe, Michigan. 

Faye earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California-Santa Cruz and a master’s degree in health service administration from St. Mary’s College, Moraga, California. As a result of her tour of duty in Germany in the U.S. Army, she speaks fluent German.  

Before her retirement in 2011, Faye worked at the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency as a radiology technologist.  In this capacity she worked with the forensic pathologist in preparing expert witness testimony for criminal cases. 

Now, she’s pursuing flute lessons and wants to learn Greek. Coming full circle, Faye does volunteer work in the Surgical and ICU waiting area desks at Dominican Hospital. Without a doubt her educational and work background are a valuable asset in this position!

Without hesitation, Faye declares that her Mission Group, Anawim, sustains her as an Associate.  She is one of four Associates in the nine-member group. Recently, Faye was asked to co-chair with Sister Judy Byron, OP, the Dominican West Mission Chapter Resilient Communities Committee. While all four of the Chapter Enactments resonate with her, particularly because she is a woman of color, Faye thinks her focus will be on Resilient Communities because of her work with that committee. 

In addition to her work with and financial support to the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Faye serves her parish as a cantor, Eucharistic minister, and acolyte. To continue developing her own spirituality to seek truth, make peace, and reverence life, she is working with a spiritual director. Faye is also a faithful follower of Father Richard Rohr, OFM, whom she describes as “a prophet for our times.”

“Through the years, I’ve gotten to know some really good, holy women,” Faye states. She speaks lovingly of the women she with whom she is still involved, and fondly recalls several who have passed to their heavenly reward, including Sisters Diane Erbacher, OP, Chris Ostrowski, OP, and Helen Walsh, OP. Faye cherishes her participation as an Associate and attended the May 2018 Associates retreat in Santa Cruz, California.