The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Illinois supports Project IRENE (Illinois Religious Engaging in Nonviolent Endeavors). Project IRENE is sponsored by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious – Region 8 (LCWR – Illinois). The goal of Project IRENE is to become a “powerful, collective voice seeking justice in order to make a difference for women and children in the State of Illinois”. Alerts are sent out to contact legislators or the governor as needs arise. Then, Sisters and Companions in Illinois contact their appropriate Illinois legislators in their legislative disctrict or the Governor to urge them to act positively on a particular bill concerning a variety of issues, including:
- arrested/incarcerated persons
- fiscal year budgets
- funding for food
- housing
- human services
- immigrant services
- legal services
- trafficking/prostitution
- transportation
- workplace issues