Ann Keefe

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Sister

Ann Keefe
Roman Catholicism
Alma materFordham University

Sister Ann Keefe (1952–2015) was an American activist,[1] a nun in the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph,[2] and the co-founder of The Nonviolence Institute,[3] which significantly reduced the murder rate in Providence, Rhode Island.[4]

Early life

Keefe grew up in Warren, Massachusetts, the third-oldest of nine children. Her father was a liquor salesman and her mother worked for Polaroid and was a teacher. Her family regularly attended church. Keefe's parents were inspired by the civil rights movement and the evolution of the church through the Second Vatican Council. Keefe was inspired by the nuns at her school, Marianhill Central Catholic High School, and their passion for social justice. In 1970, Keefe joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, Massachusetts and attended Elms College. She went to graduate school at Fordham University, where she earned her Master of Social Work degree. In 1982, she joined the team ministry at St. Michael's in Providence.[4]

The Nonviolence Institute

In 2000, Keefe and Father Ray Malm co-founded the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, now named The Nonviolence Institute, in response to escalating gang violence and the murder of 15-year-old, Jennifer Rivera.[5][6] According to The Providence Journal, the organization utilizes "a group of street workers (including former gang members) who mediate disputes and try to steer teenagers away from gangs." Staff members work in schools, homes, hospitals, prisons, and other community spaces to intervene with nonviolence.[7]

Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth

In 1992, Keefe started Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth which has, "provided free arts education and training to more than 5,000 Providence elementary and middle school youth, most from the ethnically and culturally diverse neighborhoods on Providence’s Southside."[8] Keefe started the organization after a group of boys rocked her car as a prank, causing her to be concerned with the lack of creative outlets available for local youth.[9]

The organization works with 500 youth a year in an effort to foster creativity and confidence in children. In 2014, the organization received the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from Michelle Obama. The award granted the nonprofit "$10,000 and a year of communications and capacity-building support from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities."[9]

Taming Asthma

In 1998, Keefe co-founded, with Diane Sangermano, Taming Asthma, a free asthma treatment organization for uninsured and underinsured residents in Rhode Island. By 2003, the organization's volunteer physicians and respiratory therapists served 500 patients a year. For their work with Taming Asthma, Keefe and Sangermano were honored by The American Red Cross of Rhode Island and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island with the Community Heroes Award.[10]

Other contributions

Keefe helped build and run the Community Boating Center,[11] the Sophia Academy,[12] the Family Life Advocacy Center,[4] Witness for Peace,[4] the Southside Community Land Trust,[4] the Providence Community Library,[13] AIDS Care Ocean State,[14] the Annual Good Friday Walk for Hunger and Homelessness,[15] the Providence Human Relations Commission,[16] the Economic Progress Institute,[4] and the St. Michael's Thanksgiving Mass and free holiday meal.[17]

Awards

  • Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless Carol McGovern, RSM Memorial Award, 1998[2]
  • The Goff Women's Achievement Award, 2003[2]
  • Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhode Island Public Health Association, 2008[2]
  • The Providence Newspaper Guild's John Kiffney Public Service Award, 2010[18]
  • YWCA Rhode Island Women of Achievement Award, 2013[19]
  • The Ignatian Volunteer Corps Della Strada Award, 2014[20]

The Sister Ann Keefe Community and Faith Service Award was created by the Rhode Island State Council of Churches (RISCC) and is given annually to individuals and organizations who support and foster nonviolence in the community.[21][22]

Death

In 2015, Keefe died from brain cancer. On the day of her death, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza ordered all city flags lowered to half staff in Keefe's honor. She was honored in statements made by Elorza,[23] Nellie Gorbea,[24] Jack Reed, David Cicilline, and Gina Raimondo.[17] Over a thousand people attended Keefe's funeral.[25] Marty Cooper, director of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance, said, "Governors, senators, congressmen, mayors of great cities and leaders of all faiths respected Sister Ann. She was a Rhode Island icon to be proud of."[26] In May 2015, Congress passed legislation to name the United States Postal Service facility located at 820 Elmwood Avenue in Providence as the “Sister Ann Keefe Post Office.”[27][28]

References

  1. ^ "Sister Ann Keefe, beloved R.I. activist; at 62". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  2. ^ a b c d "OBITUARY: Sister Ann Keefe, SSJ". Catholic Communications Corporation. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  3. ^ "Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence". Peace Insight. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Jones, Brian C. (2013-01-02). "Sister Ann Keefe". Rhode Island Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  5. ^ "Sister Ann Keefe, beloved Providence activist, dies at 62". ABC6. 2015-01-19. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  6. ^ "Our History". Nonviolence Inst. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  7. ^ "Teny Gross taking nonviolence model to Chicago". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  8. ^ "Providence CityArts Celebrates 25 Years! – Art, Culture and Tourism". Art Culture Tourism. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  9. ^ a b Mulvaney, Katie (2014). "Providence CityArts for Youth to be honored at White House". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  10. ^ Erickson, Robin (2003). "Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI and the American Red Cross of RI Announce August Community Heroes". Rhode Island Red Cross. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  11. ^ "Sister Ann Keefe, 1952-2015". The Providence Journal. 2015. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  12. ^ "Remembering Sister Ann Keefe". Rhode Island Monthly. 2015-01-20. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  13. ^ "PCL Pays Tribute to Founder and Board Member, Sister Ann Keefe". 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  14. ^ "U.S. House honors late Sister Ann Keefe". The Public's Radio. 2015. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  15. ^ Lowney, Brian J. (2008-03-14). "Come walk and stamp out poverty". Rhode Island Catholic. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  16. ^ "Sister Ann honored for her dedicated service to the community". Rhode Island Catholic. 2015-08-06. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  17. ^ a b "Passages: Sister Ann Keefe, tireless advocate for social justice, dies at 62 / Gallery". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  18. ^ "In Memoriam – Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield". Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  19. ^ "Fitz's Hits: YWCA Rhode Island Women of Achievement; Pawtucket School Committee". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  20. ^ "Madonna Della Strada Award Ceremony". Ignatian Volunteer Corps. 11 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  21. ^ Shuman, Cassius (2020-12-18). "Clements receives Sister Ann Keefe Award from Nonviolence Institute". Providence Business News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  22. ^ Ahlquist, Steve (2017). "Eighth Annual Heroes of Faith Awards a snapshot of religious advocacy in Rhode Island". Uprise RI. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  23. ^ Howland, Bonnie (2017-05-10). "Mayor Elorza statement on passing of Sister Ann Keefe". City of Providence. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  24. ^ "Statement by RI Secretary of State Gorbea on the passing of Sister Ann Keefe". Rhode Island Government. 2015. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  25. ^ Griffin, Dana (2015-01-23). "Sister Anne Keefe funeral mass". ABC6. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  26. ^ Cooper, Marty (2015-01-30). "Sister Ann Keefe was a mensch among leaders". Jewish Rhode Island. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  27. ^ "Congress Passes Bill to Name Post Office After Sister Ann Keefe, Measure Now Goes to President Obama to Be Signed Into Law". Jack Reed United States Senator for Rhode Island. 2015. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19.
  28. ^ "Post office to be renamed for Rhode Island nun Sister Keefe". WJAR. 2015-07-26. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
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