Focus Communities FAQs

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE FOCUS COMMUNITY PROGRAM?

This program is for any community of women religious considering plans for the future stewardship of their land/property, beyond their community’s presence, and would like to do that in alignment with their values of ecological, racial, and economic justice. 

DOES OUR COMMUNITY HAVE TO BE COMING TO COMPLETION IN ORDER TO APPLY?

No! This program is for any religious community that is divesting of property or considering property divestment, now OR in future years. 

When we say “land legacy,” we simply mean the legacy of the land beyond the days of a community’s ownership/stewardship, regardless of whether the community is continuing in some form or not. 

OUR COMMUNITY WON’T BE READY TO TRANSFER OUR LAND IN TWO YEARS. IS THIS PROGRAM STILL FOR US?

This program is designed to support communities who will likely be transitioning land anytime in the next 2-20 years. The goal isn’t for you to transfer land at the end of the program - it is to take meaningful action toward land justice as you discern the future of the land. Meaningful action will look different depending on the needs and circumstances of each community. For example, within 2 years, you may find that your community:

  • Has successfully transferred (or has begun the process of transferring) the deed of a property to a new group of regenerative stewards who are most marginalized by racism and our extractive economy;

  • Passed a resolution at your chapter to prioritize future owners from these marginalized communities;

  • Has begun the process of a cultural use easement with a local Indigenous tribe, allowing ongoing legal access for ceremony and other cultural practices;

  • Is preparing a vote at your next assembly to give 60% of the income from future property sales to a BIPOC collective in search of land in your region;

  • Or another creative option for moving toward land justice!

DOES A PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY NEED TO OWN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LAND OR PROPERTY?

If your community is giving serious consideration to how you will go about the divestment of property - whether rural or urban, with buildings or undeveloped, now or in the future - this program will be a great fit.

CAN RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE THE U.S. APPLY?

Not this year. For this year’s cohort, we are limiting applicants to communities inside the United States. We hope to build our team’s capacity to travel and to offer other country-specific legal advice as soon as next year’s cohort. Please continue to check out our public offerings, and reach out if there is a specific way we can support you through a workshop, talk, or other resource.

CAN MEN’S RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES APPLY? 

Not this year. For this year’s cohort, we are limiting applicants to women-led communities. We hope to build our team’s capacity to support men religious as soon as next year’s cohort. Please continue to check out our public offerings, and reach out if there is a specific way we can support you through a workshop, talk, or other resource.

CAN OTHER WOMEN-LED CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES OR ORGANIZATIONS APPLY?

Yes. While we will prioritize the acceptance of communities of Catholic sisters into our program, we welcome applications from other Christian communities and retreat centers interested in creating a land justice property plan.

WILL THERE BE POTENTIAL FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION?

To the extent that we are able, we will support Focus Communities in the same region to collaborate and share their journey. 

HOW MUCH TIME WILL OUR PARTICIPATION ENTAIL? 

In the first year, Land Justice Team members in a Focus Community can anticipate dedicating 3-5 hours/month to related educational offerings and assignments. 

That said, this work is designed to dovetail and reinforce the work that is already on your plate as a community, like property planning, Laudato Si’ platform commitments, etc. We want to create an experience that helps you do that work more creatively, with stronger partnerships, and with more tailored support than you would alone. 

IS ATTENDANCE MANDATORY AT EVERY FOCUS COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING? 

No. We do require that you attend a majority of group meetings, but you are not required to come to all of them. You can determine who from your team should attend each one. 

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US? 

Participation in the Focus Community program requires:

  • The support of your community’s elected leadership to explore the incorporation of land justice (racial and ecological healing) in your community’s property planning. 

  • A commitment to focus on the future planning of property/properties beyond your community’s present stewardship, in alignment with land justice.

  • A team of 3-5 people from your community who:

    • Have watched the Intro to Land Justice video, and agree with the goals!

    • Commit to moving through the curriculum as a team, including recordings, conversations, and discussion questions

    • Commit to attend the majority of community calls (2 hours, every 6 weeks) that unpack curricula and support cross-community learning and support

    • Ideally includes one member of elected leadership (strongly encouraged, not required)

  • Your community hosting the Land Justice team to facilitate an in-person, Community Workshop / Retreat to support community-wide buy-in and formation in 2024!

  • At least one team member’s attendance at an annual four-day, in-person gathering

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? 

Participation in the Focus Community program is free. Participating communities are welcome to contribute to a free-will offering at the end of each year. 

ARE YOU CONSULTANTS?

We consider ourselves educators, solutions-finders, and creative organizers more than consultants. Rather than come to you with answers and suggestions, we want to support your community to a) have powerful education and formation with relationship to land justice to inform your choices, and b) have access to creative, movement-led solutions for land that traditional consulting firms might overlook. 

WE ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH A [CONSULTANT, LAWYER, REAL ESTATE AGENT, ETC.] WOULDN’T THIS BE REDUNDANT? 

No! We hold a different role than staff or consultants. Our goal is to bolster and support existing roles and resources in your community by providing specific insights on land justice. We hope your lawyers, CFO, consultants, and/or real estate agents feel free to participate, give feedback, and be involved in the processes we share. This process is meant to support the expansion of your ideas toward land justice – not duplicate the work you’re already doing.