IEI Meetings: Growing Together in Understanding

This month’s quarterly in-person meeting in Leavenworth marked a transformative moment for the Integral Ecology Initiative (IEI).

IEI representatives from Leavenworth and Peru gathered with leadership from SCL and the Centro Pastoral San Vicente de Paúl (CPSVP), the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation team, and potential community partners for candid dialogue and reflection. The week-long conversations deepened our shared understanding of the IEI’s evolving role as integrator, connector, and convener within our institutions and the wider community.

By shifting our thinking about work as belonging solely to CPSVP or SCL to recognizing that integral ecology is a lens through which we can view all our efforts as one interconnected expression of our mission to care for creation and the vulnerable, we have opened our hearts and minds to new collaborative approaches to amplify our collective impact.

During the week, we exchanged strategic plans and explored how the IEI, JPIC, and CPSVP can support one another around unified goals like system change, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and education and formation.

One exciting outcome from our time together was identifying an initial collaborative project to develop an education and formation curriculum for integral ecology that draws on each of our unique strengths:

• JPIC’s social justice experience and leadership
• CPSVP’s direct work alongside marginalized communities in areas hard hit by climate change
• IEI’s expertise in building inclusive, multidisciplinary learning communities

Together, we discussed designing a program for English and Spanish speakers, with education and experiential opportunities for intellectual and spiritual growth that leverage CPSVP’s ability to connect directly to the lived realities of those we serve and incorporate JPIC’s ongoing land justice, anti-racism, immigration reform, and community organizing efforts.

While in Leavenworth, IEI, CPSVP, and JPIC also expanded our collaboration externally by meeting with the Climate and Energy Project (CEP). Already a SCL Charity and Systemic Change Fund recipient, the Kansas-based nonprofit’s clean energy, climate resilience, climate and energy policy, and civic participation programs demonstrate their commitment to our shared vision for protecting the planet and ensuring thriving communities.

Our two organizations agreed to jointly conduct stakeholder mapping to determine the feasibility of a partnership on a climate resilience hub in Leavenworth, which would bring together local action on climate change and serve basic human needs. These hubs act as a central point for vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by climate change to access information and education, receive essential supplies and services, and participate in community-building activities.

This week of connection reminded us that our work is strongest when it is rooted in relationship and driven by a shared mission to uplift both people and planet. By embracing our collective strengths and anchoring our efforts in the lived experiences of the communities we serve, we can lay the foundation for unified, impactful action across borders, ministries, and disciplines.

Baseline for Transformation 

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Planning Begins 

This month, the IEI officially launches its comprehensive effort to develop a Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Plan. This long-term roadmap will guide us toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening infrastructure, and increasing our community’s ability to adapt to climate change. The planning process will span 11 months and culminate in July 2026.

Sustainability consultants Verdis Group were selected through a competitive RFP process to create a plan that builds on SCL’s environmental groundwork and aligns closely with our broader strategic and IEI goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

To ensure our process and outcomes are equitable, relevant, and comprehensive, we’ll be tapping into the community’s expertise and experience in several ways. We will form a project team comprising a representative group of SCL employees to participate in planning workshops led by Verdis. This work group will help inform the strategic direction, goal setting, and implementation steps for the Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Plan. All community members and other key stakeholders will also have multiple opportunities for input and collaboration throughout the year.

Key milestones in the coming year include:

Summer 2025: Discovery phase with surveys, interviews, and data analysis
Fall 2025: Net Zero Pathway workshops and climate vulnerability meetings
Winter 2025-26: Visioning, barriers, and strategic direction workshops
Spring 2026: Goal setting and final plan development

The result will be a dynamic, actionable plan with measurable goals, prioritized action items, and clear timelines. It will serve as both a blueprint and a catalyst for change, empowering SCL to reduce its carbon footprint and increase resilience, holding us accountable for making meaningful changes, and advancing our mission to care for creation and each other.

Act with Us for People and the Planet 

Integral Ecology Curriculum 

To develop an education and formation curriculum for integral ecology that builds on SCL’s lifetime of social justice advocacy and carries our legacy into the future, we need you to share your gifts—gifts of knowledge, models, and relationships.

If you are interested in helping create a new curriculum to educate, inspire, and empower others for greater and enduring impact, please contact John Shively at jshively@scls.org.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Planning 

Your insights and participation are vital to our Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Plan. Be on the lookout for invitations to attend workshops, participate in interviews, and provide feedback throughout the year ahead.