Louise Akers, S.C., D. Min.
Cincinnati Office Coordinator
370 Neeb Road #101
Cincinnati, Ohio 45233
(Tel) 513-451-9444
(Fax) 513-451-7932
akerslou@aol.com

Louise Akers, S.C., D. Min., has presented numerous workshops, courses and reflection days on justice related issues. Her past ministries include justice education & advocacy in formal classroom teaching on both the high school and university levels, parish coordinator in the Archdiocesan Social Action Office of Cincinnati, founder & coordinator of Cincinnati’s Intercommunity Justice & Peace Center, social concerns director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. In 1974 her master’s thesis in theology focused on the “Prophecy of Martin L. King, Jr.”, in 1996 she completed her Doctor of Ministry with a project entitled “Patriarchal Power and the Pauperization of Women”. Ministry opportunities include working with migrant farm workers, involvement with the civil rights & women’s movements along with international experiences in Malawi-Africa, Nicaragua; El Salvador; Mexico; Czechoslovakia; East/West Germany; Italy; Mondragon, Spain; Beijing, China; and Paris, France.

Education

• Doctor of Ministry / Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA
• Course Work / Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, MA
• Certificate / Women's Theological Center, Boston, MA
• M.A. Theology / University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
• B.A. History / College of Mt. St. Joseph, Cincinnati, OH

Faculty Positions

• Adjunct Faculty, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 2004, 2000, 1999, 1986
• Visiting Professor, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, 2003-2000
• Adjunct Faculty, Union Institute, Cincinnati, OH, 2001-1999
• Faculty, Women Defined Theologies, Grail Women Task Force, 2001-1999
• Xavier University Institute, Cincinnati, OH, Summers, 2000, 1998
• Adjunct Faculty, College of Mt. St. Joseph, Mt. St. Joseph, OH., 2000-1981
• Faculty, Active Spirituality for a Global Community, College of Mt. St. Joseph, 1987-1985
• Adjunct Faculty, St. Meinrad Seminary, IN, Summer, 1985
• Chairperson of Religion Department, Seton High School, Cincinnati, OH, 1979-1975
• Teacher, High School: Religion, English, History, New Mexico, Ohio

Professional Experience

• Coordinator, Office of Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation, 2008-2004
• Call to Action Workshop on "The Vision & Voice of Martin L. King, Jr. in Today's World," November 2007
• Call to Action Workshop with Soona Samsami, Mulim Woman, "Women Responding to Fundamentalism," Chicago, November 2006
• Speaker, "Martin L. King, Jr.: Prophet," Freedom Center, Cincinnati, November 2006
• Panelist at House of Representatives on "Women: Key to Establishing Democracy in the Middle East," Washington, D.C., July 2006
• Keynote Speaker at National Conference for Cathechetical Leaders, "Diversity: Challenge, Call and Gift," Chicago, May 2006
• Coordinator, Office for Peace, Justice, Integrity of Creation, Sisters of Charity, 2004-2005
• Consultant, NETWORK, Washington, D.C., 2002-1999
• Director, Studies in Spirituality Program, Cincinnati, OH, 1997-1999
• Consultant & Program Manager of Economic Justice Program, Grailville, Loveland, OH, 1997-1999
• Associate Director of Social Concerns, Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), 1996-1994
• Participant, U.N. 4th World Conference on Women, Beijing, 1995
• Founder and Coordinator of Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, Cincinnati, OH, 1992-1985
• Parish Coordinator, Social Action & World Peace Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, OH, 1984-1979
• Committee Member, Racism, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, OH, 1993-1990
• Radio Show Host, “Faith & Justice Forum,” Cincinnati, OH, 1992-1985

Board Experience

• Greater Cincinnati Women Church 2008-1988
• Member, Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice, 2008
• CSTAT (Catholic Social Teaching Action Team), 2008
• Member, Advisory Group, Women in Church Leadership National Advisory Committee, 2008-2007
• Women's Freedom Forum, 2008-1994, Vice President, 2007-2008
• Member, Mission Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, 2006-2001 Vice President 2004- 2003
• Member, Peaslee Neighborhood Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2003- 2000, 1992-1989
• President, NETWORK, Education Program Board, Washington, DC.,1998-1996
• Member, Mary’s Pence, Chicago, IL, 1998-1996
• Member, NETWORK, Washington, DC,1996-1989, Vice President - 1995-1992
• Member, Religious Task Force on Central America, Washington, DC, 1996-1994
• Member, Greater Cincinnati Women Church, Cincinnati, OH, 1992-1988
• Member, Advocates for Women's Housing, Cincinnati, OH, 1989-1987

Work-Related Experience

• Participant in 50th Session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women, March 2006
• Panel Participant, "Women: Driving Force Against Fundamentalism," National Press Club, D.C., live on C-Span, July 2005
• Panel Participant, Women-Church, "Women, Religion & Justice", May 2004
• Ongoing Participant on TV and radio talk shows, panels and public forums
• Ongoing Presentations (workshops, lectures, seminars, retreats, reflection days)
• Creation of educational materials - videos, newsletters, packets, course syllabi, brochures, transparencies, power point, 2004-1985
• Panel Participant, Fortieth Anniversary of Vatican II, Xavier University, October 2002
• Panel Participant, “Religion, Feminism & Human Rights”, Ecumenism Office, Cincinnati, November 2002
• Facilitator, Cincinnati Police-Community Relations Collaborative, 2001
• Panel Participant, Women’s Solidarity Against Fundamentalism (Islamic & Christian), International Women’s Day, Washington, D.C., March 1996
• Participant, White House Meeting with First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, to discuss plans for National Teleconference, Post Beijing, 1996
• Participant, Capitol Hill Breakfast with UN Ambassador Madeleine Albright, preparation for Beijing, 1995
• Keynote Speaker, Global Education Associates, “Religious Life: A Creative Force”, 1995
• Initiated and facilitated development of experiential approaches to learning:
  Women at the Border - day of immersion for LCWR members along U.S.-Mexican Border, CA. Focus immigration and women workers in maquiladoras, August 1995
• Mondragon, Spain - two-week tour to visit Mondragon, a cooperative begun in 1940s based on Catholic Social Teaching, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, ongoing since 1989
• Women Walk/Talk - bringing African-American and White women from suburbs and city together to focus on justice issues (e.g. housing, shelters, poverty, domestic violence) within central city, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, ongoing since 1986
• Urban Plunge - two-three day immersion program into central city for parishes, faculties, students, Social Action and World Peace Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, ongoing since 1984-1980
• Invited to & participated in U.S. State Department Conference on Central America, April 1984
• Work with Mexican- American migrants, Summers: Ohio, 1979; Michigan, 1970-1966
• Involvement in the Civil Rights, Peace and Women Movements

International Professional Experience

• Participant at Women's Freedom Forum in Paris, France, 2007-2008
• International Women's Ordination Conference, Ottawa, Canada, July 2005
• Honored guest, International Conference on Women Against Fundamentalism, Paris, France, June 2004
• Pilgrimage to Italy (Rome, Assisi, Sienna, Padua, Ravenna, Florence, Venice) July 2002
• LCWR Representative to UN Fourth World Conference & NGO Forum on Women in Beijing, China, August/September 1995
• G.A.T.E. (Gaining Awareness Through Experience) participant, Nicaragua, July 1989
• Participant, Mondragon, Spain, May 1993-1989 not on-going (Designed a two week economic cooperative based on Christian social principles)
• G.A.T.E. participant, Czechoslovakia and East Germany, April 1987
• Speaker, International Peace Conference, Torgau, East Germany, April 1987
• U.S. Religious Delegation, El Salvador, December, 1985
• Sister of Charity Representative to United Nations Regional Conference, Havana, Cuba, in preparation for Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi, Kenya, November, 1984
• Study Program, Nicaragua, March 1983
• Retreat in the Streets, Mexico, April 1982
• Malawi, Africa, Summer 1978

Organizational Memberships

• Amnesty International, 2008-1996
• National Museum for Women in the Arts, 2008-1995
• NETWORK, 2008-1974
• National Committee to Promote UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 2006-1994
• Women's Freedom Forum, 2008-2005