EJC Staff and CommunityS. Rejane Cytacki, SCL

Executive Director

Sarah RonnevikProgram & Communications Coordinator

S. Janet Weyker, OPVolunteer Coordinator

Nathan OlesenMaintenance Worker

Dawn DeMuyt

Farm Corps Program Manager

S. Rose Marie Dischler, OPS. Kathleen Bohn, OP

S. Mary Ann Weyker, OP

EJC Board Members Charlie Tennessen, President Rose Woodruff, Vice-President S. Rosalie Lauer, OP, Secretary Jeanne Gramza, Treasurer Tiffany Behrends Marilynn Pelky S. Sharon Simon, OP Robin Smerchek S. Jane Weiss, OP, Sponsorship Office

“Rooted in Hope” Racine Dominican Eco-Justice Center

Summer 2017 Vol. 12 Issue 1 Issued biannually

Vision:Justice for Earth

Mission:Environmental education and care of Earth in the context of community, contemplation,

creativity, and cultivation

Values:Conservation, Education,

and Sustainability

For Programs & Tours:262-681-8527

rejane@ecojusticecenter.orgwww.ecojusticecenter.org

For Hermitage Reservations:262-898-2581 (day)

262-681-2146 (evenings)

Office Hours:Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Grounds Open: Mon - Sat 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sunday 1:00 - 4:00 pm

A Word from Our DirectorS. Rejane Cytacki

We have had a beautiful spring here at the Eco-Justice Center filled with the brilliant colors of our flowers. In early 2017 we said farewell to Michael Raschke, our long time maintenance worker. We now have two new employees at the Eco-Justice Center: Na-than Olesen is our new Maintenance Worker and Dawn DeMuyt is our new Farm Corps Program Manager. I would also like to take some time to remember Lorraine Barr, a long-time friend of the Eco-Justice Center, who passed away recently. She lived in the EJC farmhouse a fair amount of time these past four years. She loved the animals and had such a generous, giving heart. I was able to witness this as she donated many baked goods and silent auc-tion items for our 2016 Fall Festival. We now have three shrubs planted in her memory.We have been busy with several fieldtrips and our spring break camp. The wonderful news is that we were able to provide all our youth with a taste of fresh produce with the assistance of our hoop house funded by SC Johnson and Racine Community Foundation. Students were able to sample fresh spinach, kale, and radishes! We put a raised bed in the hoop to help keep our seeds protected from our rainy spring. We continue to prepare for our summer camps and Farm Corps.I am humbled by the support of the Dominican sisters starting an endowment fund. While the endowment will help support the Eco-Justice Center in the future, we con-tinue to depend on individual donations that assist us in our day-to-day operations and programming. Thank you to all of you who have supported the Eco-Justice Center with your time, talent and treasure. I hope many of you will join us for our upcoming Farm to Table fundraiser on August 20! (You’ll find more information on the back page.)

We Welcome Our Newest Employees

A Message from the Board PresidentCharlie Tennessen

The Board and Staff of the Eco-Justice Center would like to extend our warm gratitude to the five Racine Dominican Sisters who made our dream of an endowment come true this Spring. Please read more about the Endowment Fund inside.How can you extend your thanks for their gift? By living our mission of Community, Con-templation, Cultivation, and Creativity in your everyday life. By participating in the Cen-ter’s programs and activities. By supporting the Center, either as a volunteer, a regular fi-nancial contributor, or by “talking us up” with your friends and neighbors. The Eco-Justice Center is strongest when we all do our part. Please continue to do yours. Thank you!

Dawn DeMuyt, Farm Corps Program ManagerNathan Olesen, Maintenance Worker

Donors: December - May 2017We are grateful!

Ellen Albrecht Terence & Anne Andersen Glenn & Charlotte Arendt Dawn Bailey Kristin Bailey Robert & Laura Barr Randi & William Barr S. Nancy Bauman Tiffany Behrends Steven and Christine Bessler Todd & Amy Bogenrief Allen Bratkowski Betty Brenneman James Buckson Joseph & Lorretta Budzyn Linda Busha Laura Buska Leon & Carole Burzynski Nancy Carlson Michele Caskey S. Susan Chase & S. Karen Guth Mary Ciha Joyce & Charlie Clark James & Margaret Mann Coenen Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Cofran Ed and Donna Cytacki Milan & Edith Dakich George & Sue Demitrolas Mr. & Mrs. Brian DeRolf Mr. & Mrs. Wayne DeRolf Judy and Gary Dickens S. Mary Louise Dolan Mary Doucette S. Alice Drewek LeAnn Dugger Margaret Dunn Mary DuQuaine John Dutcher Michael & Amber Engel Mathew Faircloth Trudy Farrell David Fawver Joseph and Jeanne Foley Fr. Richard Haaland Kathryn Garski Geisler Family Donald & Betty Geozeff Jean Gfall Paula Giombetti Rob & Danke Giombetti James & Linda Graeper Jeanne Gramza Darice Griffin Richard Guenther Rev. Albert Guetzlaff Catherine & Douglas Gundlach Marlene H., Michael & Priscilla Hahn Frank Hall Jon & Julie Hansen Charles Heide Tom & Catherine Heinen Nancy Hennessy Joyce Hershberger David Hetzel Virginia Holle Maryann Holtcamp S. Victoria Hood Hospira Friends Wally & Kathleen Iselin Sandra Jamieson Adam Johnson Anne Karrels Carol Jean & Thomas Keller Michael & Diane Kelly Genevieve Kiklas Susan Kindschi Mike Klug Frank & Arlene Kramer Mary Lou Krozack

EJC Endowment FundRecently the Eco-Justice Center was gifted with the start of an Endowment Fund through the generosity of the five Racine Dominican Sisters who created the founding vision of the EJC. The gift was made possible because Sisters Kathleen Bohn, Rose Marie Dischler, Jean Ferstl, Mary Ann Weyker and Janet Weyker want to ensure the financial viability of the Center; they chose to donate their patrimonies to begin this EJC Endowment Fund. Patrimonies represent funds given to the Sisters as heritance from their families or funds they brought to the com-munity when they entered.The Endowment Fund is currently at $240,406. The EJC will be able to use the interest from the principal of the Endowment Fund once it reaches $350,000. At this time we invite anyone to make additional contributions so the Fund can reach the targeted goal as soon as possible. Thank you for considering the opportunity; any amount will be greatly appreciated.__________________________________________________________________________

Halie Weaver UW Parkside Winter-Spring Intern

Erin MaxwellNotre Dame Summer Service Volunteer

EJC VolunteersWe continue to be blessed with enthusiastic, committed volunteers who generously give of their time. Thanks to each and every one of you--there are simply too many of you to name! We are also grateful for the groups who have volunteered this past winter and spring. It’s amazing what we are able to accomplish together.• Lakeside Curative• St. Catherine’s High School• Prairie School High School• Franciscan Servant Scholars• Racine Montessori 7th & 8th graders• Horlick High School Key Club• Lewis University students• Johnson Financial Group

Interested in volunteering? Contact S. Janet at janet@ecojusticecenter.org

James Kruse Judith Lamar Margaret LaRose S. Rosalie Lauer Daniela Lehmkuhl Richard Leuenberger Jo Ann Leunberger Sherry Lui Karen Lundell Moreau MacCaughey Amy Macemon Patricia Mahoney Joseph Marco Cory & Roseann Mason Michael & Margy McCoy Annette McGregor Erin McLaughlin Michael Meier Martin Meissner Buckley & Bernadette Mercer Patty Meyer Moran Family Pamela Morath Paul Moriarty Anthony & Sherry Mosier Molly Motor S. Susan Newland Angela Nguyen Linda Noel Janet Novak

Programs & WorkshopsIt’s been a busy winter and spring, filled with interest-ing classes like Green Printmaking with Leela Young, and a series of baking workshops with Shawn Rediske at the Sealed Air YMCA (pictured below).

Spring break campers meet a duckling

Lewis University students help weed

Evelyn O’Connor Katie Patzke Marilynn Pelky Cynthia Percak S. Vickie Perkins Gladys Peterson Shannon Pintaro S. Diane Poplawski Jane Powell Gerald & Lisa Scott Ptacek Angela Purpura Pamela Ray Mark & Barbara Reckling Marilyn Rewolinski Linda Rooda Marianne Sambar S. Sharon Simon Ronald Jr. Schomisch & Dawn Meister Jeffrey and Joanne Schumacher Frances Scott Stephen and Ellen Servais Lois Servais Robert & Frances Simon Bruce Smedley Jerry and Robin Smerchek Connie Smetana Steven Smetana & Evelyn Hauser-Smetana Peter & Joann Speca Mr. & Mrs. Nick Splix Mary Ellen Steele Vivian & Russel Stetler S. Phyllis Stowell Tom Rutkowski and Natalie Chulew Joann Sustachek Jeff Sytsma Charlie Tennessen William & Carol Tennessen Jen Adamski Torres Brian Usher Mario & Laurel Valentino Erin & Sarah Van Carlson S. Therese Van Thull Amy & Spence Wagner Brian and Tiffany Weaver S. Carol Wester Joe Weinzatl Gene & Victoria Wiegand Tom Williams Julie Wiskirchen Rita Witynski Mary Woitach Colleen Wolf Joy Wolf Jonathan & Rose Woodruff Joan Wucherer Marybeth Safransky Zuhlke

In Memory of: S. Mary Blanche Arendt Lorraine Barr Dan Horkheimer Ann Mari Maher Don Meier Paul E. Morath Cassandra Purpura S. Therese Rotarius Aguinaldo Roybal Billie Schomish Sharon Arendt Severson Colleen Theusch

We regret any errors or omissions. Please report discrepancies via email.

Growing Healthy FieldtripsEJC has partnered with Hawthorn Hollow and Racine Unified School District to provide fieldtrip experiences to every 1st grader in the district, starting this fall. 750 students will be visiting EJC to see and sample veg-gies growing in our hoop house, learn about compost and farm animals, and investigate the ecology of this special place.

Mark your calendars! Fall Festival 2017 is Sunday, September 17

11am-4pm

Supporting Foundations & Organizations Corporation of New Melleray Junior League of Racine Forest County Potawatomi Foundation Morath Foundation Phillip J. Fellner Jr. Foundation RK Master Gardeners Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth SCL Social Justice Office SCL Xavier House Thomas & Marcia Buhler Fund We Share Foundation

In Kind Donations and Services Stephen Barootian Lorraine Barr Marty Meissner Joe Weinzatl

Farm Corps Returns for Season #2Despite a rainy spring and cool nights, the EJC Youth Farm Corps season is well under-way. With a beautiful raised bed built by staff member Nathan, an early crop of spin-ach, kale, lettuce, beets and peas has been enjoyed by many fieldtrip students. Organic compost is being added in large quantities, building up the soil in and outside the hoop. Crew members will work with summer camp-ers, give cooking demos at COP houses and will be at the WIC Market and Racine Farm-ers’ Markets in West Racine selling their or-ganically grown produce. You’re invited to come out and support this empowering job opportunity for the crew of four high school students and one college intern. We’re work-ing towards food justice, providing fresh and organically grown produce to the community. Below & above right: Crew Leader Laura Below right: Program Manager Dawn in hoop

Our 2017 Youth Farm Corps team is managed by market gardener Dawn DeMuyt along with our crew leader Laura Buska, a UW Parkside student enrolled in environmental studies and biology. Our Racine high school student crew is Caylan Mason, Chad Saliscente, Devan Ingersoll, and Jasmine Pawelski.

Racine Dominican Eco-Justice Center7133 Michna RoadRacine, WI 53402

Printed on recycled paper with soy ink.

This newsletter is available in color online at ecojusticecenter.org

Tax deductible donations can also be made on our website through PayPal.

Farm-to-Table FundraiserEnjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails while wandering the fields at Pine-hold Gardens. Then be seated for the evening’s outdoor meal, featuring local, seasonal dishes made by Milwaukee’s best chefs, led by Karen Bell (Bavette), and including Paul and Lisa Zerkel (Goodkind), Justin Apraha-mian (Sanford), Greg León (Amilinda), and Peter Sandroni (La Merenda and Engine Company No. 3). As we will be serving alcohol, this is an adult-only event.

A very special thanks to Pinehold Gardens for hosting this event and providing guidance.

Join us for a lovely evening that will support the Racine Area Youth

Farm Corps Program!

Sunday, August 20, 3pm - 7pm

Pinehold Gardens1807 E Elm Rd, Oak Creek, WI 53154

$100 / personTo RSVP, visit ecojusticecenter.org