Companions of the Way Community
The primary staff for all Franciscan Workers programs are the Companions of the Way. The Companions live and work with the poor and marginalized as volunteers in an intentional community, centered in a small housing complex at 715 Jefferson Street in Salinas (‘Mercy Center’). They receive their housing at no charge and a small stipend for unmet living expenses.
Our quest is to “Imagine Paradise, Practice Beauty”. The quest is not just a means for us, but an end in itself – to live lives of “holy daring”, with grace, gentleness, enthusiasm and joy. We are challenged to grow in a passionate commitment to God, one another, and to the world through a sincere practice of meditation and the “Fourteen Mindfullness Trainings.” We have a communal commitment to the “Declaration Toward a Global Ethic” and to the “Earth Charter”, both of which lend themselves to an expansive vision of personal and social possibilities.
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Wanted: POSSIBILITARIANS
The Companions of the Way intentional community in Salinas is looking for new members. Formerly known as Franciscan Workers, Companions members live simply and work to promote social justice in our community, in a manner similar to VISTA volunteers. Are you looking for a way to put your social justice values into action? Are you a ‘POSSIBILITARIAN’ at heart, and looking for a way to practice peace and justice and still afford to live in Monterey County? Companions of the Way Community might be your answer. Our work includes Dorothy’s Kitchen, the Women Alive! shelter, a silk-screening micro-enterprise and after-school programs for farm worker youth. Internships are welcome, as well as permanent community members. Contact Mandy Jackson at 831-776-8038 for more details. LIVE OUT YOUR OWN POSSIBILITIES! Call 831-776-8038 for more information.
Companions of the Way Community members live in a small apartment complex in East Salinas that is owned by the Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra (Mercy Center). They are committed to social and environmental justice and living simply. They are one of hundreds of intentional communities nationwide that perform service with very little compensation. The current Community has resident members that include an accredited elementary school teacher, two physicians and a Masters in Public Health Administration.
Companions of the Way service allows us to keep personnel costs very low in comparison to other organizations.
Goals
• Develop a new community recruitment action plan.
• Revise the welcome packet/information materials to include a digital version.
• Expand community to include four new members living at Jefferson Street.
• Solicit Internships at local and other colleges.
• Develop a plan for installing solar panels.
• Develop plans for and implement an improved (compared to 2006) community garden.
• Expand to the Green Gold Inn with hospitality program upstairs.
Celebrations!
We have added two community members in the past year. We also had two Internships over the summer that proved to be very helpful with operations. We are growing slowly- but-surely into a cohesive group of committed and dedicated individuals with an emphasis on social justice!
