"While Suffering is Inevitable In This World, I believe that Justice can bring beauty for ashes from all we face"
The everyday person finds themselves in the midst of war with racism, sexism and classism. These three cultural ailments have infiltrated public policy and affected the most vulnerable of communities. Through community building and finding common ground, organizers like Tess Feiler continue to fight for justice.
A congregation member of Arch Street United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, Tess has committed to battling oppressive systems crediting the intersection of faith and justice to keeping them going.
Tess’s history with civil participation dates back to her undergrad years at West Chester University, where they came across a group of Christians who had a very progressive outlook on the faith, which contrasted greatly from the conservative stance that was popularized in her upbringing.
While taking in new progressive perspective, Tess found themselves asking the question; what does faith in action look like? That question would be answered when Tess witnessed a blackface incident that took place at the Bible College she would transfer to. After witnessing this atrocity, Tess would organize the student body and demand accountability and consequences from school leadership. While not winning every demand that was made, some wins came from this incident of racial hatred, and Tess would learn that organizing takes time, work and dedication.
These principles now carry into Tess’ time organizing with POWER Interfaith, as they’re involved with the affordable housing campaign in Philadelphia. Being compelled with deep compassion, empathy and faith, Tess helps organize town halls, where community members can come face-to-face with local legislators seeking accountability and solutions to the housing crisis taking place in the city. Everyone deserves refuge from homelessness and poverty, and with people like Tess organizing for the people, there will always be someone fighting for collective freedom of Philadelphians, and Pennsylvanians alike.
